The Phoenix Network:
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
CD Reviews  |  Classical  |  Live Reviews  |  Music Features

Cibo Matto

Pom Pom: The Essential Cibo Matto | Warner Bros./Rhino
By MATT ASHARE  |  March 27, 2007
3.0 3.0 Stars
070330_inside_cib
This kind of collection is made for bands like Cibo Matto whose expansive musical vision is spread across a petite discography (two albums and an EP, in this case) — you really can fit all of the hipster downtown NYC-by-way-of-Japan duo’s essential tracks on one disc without leaving anything out. Pom Pom is also well timed: Cibo Matto may have called it quits in 2001, but they were ahead of their time in their playfully omnivorous Gorillaz-style approach to pomo pop, borrowing from as far and wide as breakbeats, Bacharach, and Brazil to create pop confections somewhere just to the left of Beck. Yet for all the experimentalism of Yuka Honda’s mix-and-match productions, the songs here remain accessible. “Sugar Water,” with its trip-hop beat, æthereal vocal harmonies set back in the mix, and half-sung, half-spoken vocals delivered in Miho Hatori’s best little-girl voice, brings to mind Björk. Elsewhere, everything from hip-hop beats and scratching to nylon-string acoustic guitars helps create elaborate, melodic soundscapes for Hatori to sing in English, French, and Japanese about “Sci-Fi Wasabi” and what it takes to “Know Your Chicken.” Of the two previously unreleased tracks, only a Dan the Automator remix of “King of Silence” is revelatory — mostly because Dan and Hatori would go on to collaborate in the first version of Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz
Related: On the racks: October 24, 2006, Gorillaz in the midst, Start with some Spice, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Music, Music Reviews,  More more >
  • Share:
  • Share this entry with Facebook
  • Share this entry with Digg
  • Share this entry with Delicious
  • RSS feed
  • Email this article to a friend
  • Print this article
Comments

[ 11/27 ]   Pixies + Jay Reatard  @ Wang Theatre
[ 11/27 ]   They Might Be Giants  @ Wolf Den @ Mohegan Sun
[ 11/27 ]   Legends In Concert  @ Fox Theatre @ Foxwoods
[ 11/27 ]   John Fogerty  @ MGM Grand @ Foxwoods
[ 11/27 ]   Fat Angus  @ Steve’s Backstage Pass
ARTICLES BY MATT ASHARE
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   SEND IN THE CLOWNS  |  July 02, 2009
    The New York Post got to resurrect its priceless "Wacko Jacko" headline. Barbara Walters scored Super Bowl-level ratings without having to lift a pretty little finger. And Michael Jackson, well, no matter how you slice it, he got screwed royally.
  •   ARRESTING DEVELOPMENTS  |  September 16, 2008
    Lack of talent, charisma, and/or personality can prevent a good band from achieving greatness — but too much of a good thing can also be a problem.
  •   ROCK THERAPIES  |  July 22, 2008
    A little over four years ago, the Boston music scene lost one of its cuter couples when singer-songwriter Blake Hazard and guitarist/producer John Dragonetti left town for LA.
  •   FORTUNATE ONE  |  July 07, 2008
    It was no surprise to find Chris Brokaw in Hawaii last week, just two Saturdays before he’s due back in Cambridge to pull a double shift upstairs at the Middle East.
  •   BOSTON MUSIC NEWS: JULY 11, 2008  |  July 08, 2008
    The New Year, a band the Kadanes started with Chris Brokaw on drums a decade ago, are still a going concern.

 See all articles by: MATT ASHARE

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2009 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group