Miho Hatori - Straight out of Purgatori

Perhaps I have grown cynical in my old age of 25, but it seems that it is very rare for me to find any music that I like. Aside from anything that Steely Dan has made, there isn't much out there for me. I constantly ask around but find nothing new. My brother usually takes the liberty of floating me a few recommendations here and there. Thus, I was introduced to the Girl band Cibo Matto.

Right away I knew I had found something I like. On the surface, I was pleased to hear something new. Also I really liked the sampling in the background and the songs were catchy. Some people may think that the accent of Yuka Honda and Miho Hatari (lead vocals) are a little too much. I find the accent soothing. Miho Hatari has experience in a few other hip hop bands, i.e. Butter 08 (Grand Royal Records) and Handsome Boy Modeling School. Yuka Honda is really the most vital part of the band. She has experience playing almost every instrument and writing the music. Both Yuka and Miho are have great voices and happen to be pretty cute(not relevant but worth mentioning). The other ingredients that go together to form Cibo Matto include Sean Lennon (yes he is related to John) and Timo Ellis both backed up Yoko Ono (played Guitar). Last but not least Duma handles percussion instruments. What is great about this band is the diversity. They have heavy metal songs (not on this album), Jazz, Rap, and various cover songs.

This album is a great introduction to Cibo Matto because the catchy songs are easy to like. Little did I know I was introduced to Cibo Matto unknowingly years ago, when I saw "know your chicken" (on previous lp) as one of the videos on Beavis and Butthead (you know you used to watch it too). Anyway, the hit track on the album is Sci-Fi Wasabi. The track is a good introduction to Cibo Matto because the sampling and the words are very familiar. The song is actually about NYC bike messengers as well as Miho's and Yuka's affection for video games (using a game as analogy for life). Some of my other favorites include
*Track 1: Working for Vacation: has a great beat (two melodies in the background)
*Track 7: Clouds: Though the song sounds somewhat robotic, the chorus is strangely hypnotic. Song is about beauty of Clouds moving through the sky
*Track 8: King of Silence: This track could apply to a lot of situations. Vocals in this song are especially good
Nevertheless, they are all good. Speechless is one track that I am not especially fond of.

Beyond Stereotype A, there are many other avenues to explore to hear Cibo Matto. Personally, I have grown very fond of their cover of "About a girl." (original by Nirvana) The great thing about Cibo Matto covering a song, is that they really make it their own...much like Cake's cover of "I will survive" (original by Gloria Gainer) as an illustration of what I mean. Another favorite of mine is a title called Buttf***er (excuse the French). If you do go out looking for more of Cibo Matto's work, be sure to note that they have covers in French as well.