My 遊び Valentine

Play it: Asobi Seksu Citrus

Much like Norway's Serena Maneesh, NY's Asobi Seksu won't let the shoegazer sound die (to which I give a big 'thank you!') While Citrus doesn't forget any new ground, the influences are of the highest quality. A litte Ride here and there, some of the Primitives and Lush creep in, but mostly it's My Bloody Valentine seeping in throughout. Some of the guitar sounds would even make Kevin Shields blush. While some might find it tiring playing 'spot the influence,' there's enough creativity and spice (singer Yuki Chikudate sings in Japanese much of the time) to make it feel more inspired then ripped off. Song highlights include the poppy "Thursday," "Strawberries," and exquisitely arranged "Strings." A must for shoegazer fans.

Fun fact: Asobi (遊び) means 'for fun' and Seksu is a variant of the Japanese word for sex - Sekusu (セクス)
Asobi Seksu official site

tags: album review, music, asobi seksu, shoegazing, my bloody valentine, ride, the primitives, indie rock, japanese