Review Summary: Everything you should expect from a Japanese noise-grind band called "Melt-Banana".
Melt-Banana are a Japanese electronica-noise-grind band and in truth they are everything grind should be: loud, fast, and ***ing crazy. Simultaneously they are everything grind is not. Frontwoman Yasuko Onuki doesn't adopt the typical scream scream screamscreamscream BARK groooowl... vocal style, but instead uses an almost indescribable squeaky yell that sounds literally like a female Pikachu. It should also be noted that the band's "grind"-ness isn't drawn so much from thick downtuned guitars as much as it does from pure speed and volume. But what it lacks in crunch, It makes up for with an LSD-laced electronic whir and a sound smack between
Merzbow and
Genghis Tron.
Cell-Scape is a 10-song wacky neo-disco with significant J-pop elements blendered in. The result is ridiculously catchy considering the strobelight pace the album takes almost immediately. "Chain-Shot To Have Some Fun" and "A Dreamer Who Is Too Weak To Look Up To" are the best examples of how Melt-Banana's oddball formula works wonders for them. The zappy electronic parts are just as important as the guitar, and at several points even take the forefront of the song. Not to say there isn't a fair share of rocket riffs as well....because there is. Melt-Banana are a strange beast, but so are
Sunn O))), and MB are significantly easier to tackle.
And that's where the true merit of Melt-Banana lies: between the weird noise of Merzbow, the electro-grind of Genghis Tron, and a healthy (note: HEALTHY) dose of "WTF?",
Cell-Scape manages heavy, catchy, and original in a mashed-up box. It's short, it's sweet, and it's to the point...even if no one know what the point is.
