Asobi Seksu - XOYO, London, 19/4/2011
by Chris O'Toole
published: 23 / 4 / 2011
intro
At a show to promote their latest album 'Fluoresence' with a new robust line-up, Chris O' Toole at the XOYO in London finds New York shoegazing band Asobi Seksu failing to build on or create new ground
A classic case. With breakthrough album ‘Citrus’ Asobi Seksu won plaudits aplenty, topped end of year lists, toured the world, and finally retired to work on a follow up. Sadly, that follow up, 'Hush', and subsequent remix effort 'Rewolf', diluted the myth around the band, suggesting they had punched above their weight early on and were now struggling for new ideas. While originally fans had gone wild over the distinctive voice Yuki Chikudate and the textured, manipulated guitar playing of James Hanna, these tricks now seemed hackneyed. Perhaps with this impression on their minds, the group retooled – hiring Billy Pavone and Larry Gorman to take over on bass and drums respectively – and presented 'Fluorescence' earlier this year. While not a radical change of direction, the album beefs up the Asobi Seksu sound, reconfiguring the existing elements into a heavier machine. Pavone in particular adds a muscular accompaniment to the sometimes ethereal playing of Hanna. So as the crowd filed into XOYO – pretty much the hottest venue in London at present – there were many questioning faces among the assembled. How would this change of emphasis translate live? Answer: not very well, sadly. While Chikudate is still a beguiling, captivating singer, her charms – she is also a dextrous keyboard player – are somewhat submerged by the more aggressive, propulsive players behind here. And with Chikudate lost, what remains is a rather run of the mill American rock group. Hanna, certainly, has imagination, battling with a host of peddles, machines and contraptions to ensure his guitar never sounds the same for more than a few seconds, but it lacks impact on stage and can become blurred. Of particular concern is the decision to allow Gorman a microphone. Sitting behind his kit at the back of the stage, he produces a disembodied wail which crushes all before it, sounding like a drunken karaoke performer murdering his own songs. If we allow ourselves a cliché and imagine Chikudate as a butterfly or some other such beauty, Gorman is a howitzer aimed directly at the crowd, obliterating any nuance or subtlety left in the already more robust Asobi Seksu. New single 'Perfectly Crystal' stands up well, but it is only when the band reaches back to 'Citrus'-era material – 'Strawberries', 'New Year', 'Thursday' – that the gap between what this band was and what it is becomes clear. There is still enough good will around to offer Asobi Seksu one more lap, but, with fans fading fast, the follow up to 'Fluorescence' could be make or break.
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2007) |
New York based band Asobi Sejsu have recently signed tgo One Little Inidan to release their second album, 'Citrus'. Chris O' Toole talks to the distortion-friendly rockers about drinking, gambling and music |
live reviews |
Water Rats, London, 26/6/2007 |
New York band Asobi Seksu recently made their first tour of Britain. Chris O' Toole wtaches them play a hypnotically evocative set at the Water Rats's in London |
reviews |
Me and Mary (2008) |
Stunning, more pop-based new single, the first from their forthcoming third album, from New York/Japanese shoegazing act, Asobi Seksu |
Strawberries (2007) |
Citrus (2007) |
Thursday (2007) |
Walk on the Moon (2007) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.The Church - Interview with Steve Kilbey
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Flaming Stars - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPDwina Gibb - Interview
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Barrie Barlow - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Kula Shaker - Natural MagickIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for Bread
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Inutili - A Love Supreme
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart