KILA KILA KILA

OOIOO are really hitting some experimental territory here, not that they were ever commercial, but with Kila Kila Kila they added enough free jazzy elements and noodlings to the point where these pieces start to lose structure and focus. Still, there's entertaining moments to be found, with some of them being incandescent.

As much as the chimes & bells tune "Ene Soda" is kinda pretty, it's not until almost a few minutes into the third track, "Shizuku Ring Neng", that things start to cook. Drummer Yuko Yoshimura really makes the difference here, connecting all the dots under her groove and providing the needed energy to keep the machine working. Yoshimi, meanwhile is coming up with all kinds of melodies and noises with various instruments while singing with a style that ranges from 'cute' to just plain 'weird'. I dig the "wona" chants going on in that tune; they induce that warm & fuzzy effect on me.

"On Mani" is another cool track, which brandishes string instruments and trumpets to carry the melodies over the funky rhythms. Aya has certainly gotten pretty good at her bass playing by this time, since when she joined she really didn't know how to play it. Then there's the epic "Aster", which would be my other favorite track just after "Shizuku Ring Neng", that starts slow and atmospheric, then swells into the wacky 'jazz over a tight beat' vibe the band seemed to be reaching for with this particular album. Other tracks don't hold my interest too well. "Northern Light" is saved by Yuko's stellar jazz drumming keeping things afloat, making her the most notable member concerning this release. She's awesome. The last track features some nice piano moments, but man does that tune takes its time to eventually go nowhere in particular.

This isn't an average affair. It's got great moments, and moments far from great, so an unsteady ride it is. And it's daring, adventurous and sometimes even fun, which certainly helps regarding its replay value. It takes a while to get there though, so patience is required.