Asobi Seksu
"Life is short, filled with stuff....Rest In Peace."
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Websites:
Bio: Yuki Chikudate - Keyboard, Vocals
James Hanna - Guitar, Vocals
William Pavone - Bass
Larry Gorman - Drums
Asobi Seksu (colloquial Japanese for "playful sex") released its self-titled debut ... (more)
album in 2004 to significant critical acclaim, winning rave reviews from the New York Times, Nylon, Under the Radar, YRB, and XLR8R, among others; scoring a #1 video on mtvU’s Dean’s List with the song "Walk on the Moon;" garnering a top ten spot on CMJ’s radio charts; and becoming an instant favorite in the NYC scene, playing packed shows at the Bowery, Knitting Factory, and Mercury Lounge.
For its second album, Citrus (released in 2006), the band headed into Gigantic Studios in New York City to record with producer Chris Zane (Les Savy Fav, Calla, the Cloud Room). The result was tremendous: a powerful, sweeping album, sung in both English and Japanese, that showcases Yuki and James’ ever-growing songwriting skills. Citrus received worldwide acclaim and expanded Asobi Seksu's fanbase all over the United States, and into Europe, Japan, Australia, Korea and Mexico, who all saw the release of Citrus hit their shores.
Asobi Seksu have always been masters at creating musical textures; gauzy, cloudy dreamscapes for their slower songs and squalls of guitar and daisy-chained effect pedals for their barnstormers. What truly distinguishes them, though, is that the band has now married this ability to a finely honed pop sensibility. The songs they write aren’t just "pretty," they’re melodically rich and incredibly catchy. As their captivating live show attests, Asobi Seksu have outgrown the comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and Lush, and have finally realized their potential as one of New York’s greatest bands.
James and Yuki have almost completed writing songs for the new record and will be hitting the studio, once again with producer Chris Zane, this summer. The new album will be released on Polyvinyl Record Co., the band's new US label. Stay tuned for further details.
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