A certain mystery clouds Asobi Seksu, as each note the New York outfit delivers reveals very little about the four-piece; each is shadowed behind heaps of ethereality, atmosphere and reverb. The plaintive pop engendering from a good quiet strum in one’s room is there, but the production and mood constructed to bellow in and out of the piece overshadows everything else, leaving the core a bit blurry and enticing.
Knowing too much can make life dull, though, and ruin the surprises and the hidden dreams buried within everyday realities. This ethos is crowned king, as both songs here - ‘Thursday’ and ‘New Years’ - leave much to the imagination of the listener, both lyrically and melodically. Both are true treats to listen to; both are dreamy, moody and atmospheric, melancholic even. But deep down the listener knows that they’re much, much more.
‘Thursday’ is more confusing than ‘New Years’, because it reveals less. Lead singer Yuki is difficult to understand, in either English or Japanese – she switches in an entirely deliberate fashion – leaving the metaphors peering through these tracks mysterious. ‘New Years’ is more upbeat and leg-swinging, but much of it is sung in Japanese. I do not speak Japanese: once again, colour me confused.
Still, I like being confused, stuck at trying to verbalise the intangibles within Asobi Seksu, something I feel I am failing at here. Whatever this is, whatever this means, it is good stuff, if difficult to interpret, understand or theorize. Sometimes the best ideas are left unsaid.
I really like
this song.
I heart this song
and New Years too
it is
great
I think I'd actually give this song a ten.
It's one of the most perfect pop songs I've heard. New Years is very good too.
Great song. They're great
live too. Everyone should go see them when they tour later this year.
Me too
I'm actually *shocked* that it only got an 8. I don't even care what the reasoning is.
i love this song
it reminds me of mew too which is always a good thing
Brilliant couple of songs
and miles better than their debut album.
Woot
the album is so lovely.
This has 10 written all over it.
Or, at the very least, a solid 9. Just perfect shoegaze pop.
Thursday
really deserved a 10. Dream pop perfection.
agreed.
The album should get a ten too. Strawberries is my fave off the album, followed by Red Sea and this.
strings
is excellent too.
Fuck it, the whole album is.
is the album out?
Oui
The album "Citrus" was released last year. It's okay, but none of the other songs come anywhere near "Thursday"
Citrus is going to be re-released
with exclusive extra tracks!
I'm heppy for them, they deserve it!
cool
i'll wait for the re-release
great, but
no rihanna
Apparently
there's an American indie band called 'Umbrellas'.
They must be gutted.
More to the point I listened to their album just now and it was simply glorious.
Asobi Seksu, that is, not Umbrellas.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
this song. what a piece of sonic gold; sounds like fluffy-bunnied meadows and the flight of melancholic butterfly fluttering...ahhhhh heaven
They're pretty much the Cocteau Twins in their later days
albeit a little more upbeat.
That makes them amazing. I love this song.
that's all good...
i'm glad this type of music is back...was a shame when it vanished in the UK early 90s. The album's great, though it does rip off at least 3 MBV guitar riffs note for note. Still, imagine how sh*te it would be if they were ripping off robbie williams or westlife.