Last year, Japan's Ogre You Asshole easily took a top spot on our Top 10 EPs of 2010 list with their grossly under-appreciated Ukarete Iru Hito mini-release. Now in 2011, they're once again making a big impression on us with their new Homely album.
Like the tracks of Ukarete Iru Hito, those of Homely find the foursome stretching way beyond the Built to Spill-indebted sound of their early releases. Take the record's lead-off single "Rope" (or ロープ if you're going by the katakana), which comes off like some minimalist art pop experiment, complete with treated horns, funked-up bass and angular post-punk guitars, all beautifully wrapped together in one tight, concise package.
It's an album highlight, for sure, but hardly the only gem to be found on Homely, which was released in Japan earlier this year via Vap but has yet to score any sort of North American distribution deal.
For now, you can check out "Rope" via a video packed full of some some geometric, retro-future visuals below. And as an added bonus, we've tacked on the video for Ukarete Iru Hito stand-out "Balance" ("バランス"), which would make Wayne Coyne proud. Seriously, not even the Flaming Lips have bathed themselves in so much confetti.
Rope:
Balance:
Like the tracks of Ukarete Iru Hito, those of Homely find the foursome stretching way beyond the Built to Spill-indebted sound of their early releases. Take the record's lead-off single "Rope" (or ロープ if you're going by the katakana), which comes off like some minimalist art pop experiment, complete with treated horns, funked-up bass and angular post-punk guitars, all beautifully wrapped together in one tight, concise package.
It's an album highlight, for sure, but hardly the only gem to be found on Homely, which was released in Japan earlier this year via Vap but has yet to score any sort of North American distribution deal.
For now, you can check out "Rope" via a video packed full of some some geometric, retro-future visuals below. And as an added bonus, we've tacked on the video for Ukarete Iru Hito stand-out "Balance" ("バランス"), which would make Wayne Coyne proud. Seriously, not even the Flaming Lips have bathed themselves in so much confetti.
Rope:
Balance: