Raw

Synapse is a collaboration featuring Haco and Ikue Mori along with multi-instrumentalist Aki Onda and special guest Uchihashi Kazuhisa (Ground Zero, Altered States). Anyone familiar with any of these players knows that they are uncompromising, idiosyncratic musicians, to say the least. Tzadik calls this "experimental pop." Just plain "experimental" is probably closer to the truth, because the only real similarity to just about anyone's concept of "pop music" is that it consists of elements that could be called "vocals" and "music." Haco is a delight, as always, singsonging lyrics mostly in Japanese, but peppered lightly with some English (Mary Poppins gets name-dropped in "Morning Song"). The music consists mostly of weird electronics and sampling swirling around Haco's lyrics. With Mori contributing electronics, Onda adding more electronics along with sampler and cassette player, and Haco adding some synth, it gets pretty difficult to tell who's doing what and what the sources are (even Kazuhisa's "guitar playing" is sometimes difficult to pick out). Fans of Haco should be pleased; she assumes a de facto leadership role, having written all the lyrics, and is the only consistently identifiable musician. People into avant-garde electronics might also be interested, but this is challenging stuff to be sure and for people with the most open ears. However, listeners attracted to Tzadik releases tend to know what they could be in for.