Wednesday, August 24, 2016

ALBUM OF THE DAY: Chakra - Satekoso (1981)


This is a bizarre and multi-faceted album from Japanese art-pop group Chakra, a bubbly and complex work that brings to mind fellow Japanese new-wavers Yellow Magic Orchestra.  But while YMO pulled most of their influence from Roxy Music and Ultravox, it's not so clear where Chakra derived the basis of their sound; as a whole this is profoundly alien-sounding.  Mishio Ogawa's vocals exist in the same cartoon-thespian realm as Kate Bush and Björk (also aliens), at times sounding "cute", and at others, sufficiently demented.  Each listen will reveal something new from "Satekoso"; don't be fooled by its jubilant exterior, there is a much to be discovered here.

No comments:

Post a Comment