XOO MULTIPLIES

With "Xoo Multiplies", the band wanted to go away from their 70's KRAFTWERK robotic influences and to search themselves. The track-list featured here is from the UK version of the album. This release contains mostly tracks from YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA's former record, "Solid State Survivor". The only novelties here are "Nice Age", "Multiplies" and "Citizens of Science", so I will only concentrate on them.

The opener "Nice Age" is an enjoyable synth pop ballad which announces clearly YMO's intentions to change their sound. The song is quite electronic and has a DAVID BOWIE's feel. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for the other two songs... "Multiplies" ressembles a western song with Russian accents. The tune could be fun but becomes rather repetitive. "Citizens of Science" has some interesting futuristic sounds in it, but is a bit chaotic and lazy.

The Japanese version features a complete different track listing, with much more tracks, only novelties alternating with (useless) people speeches. However, it is somewhat inferior to the UK version, as most new tracks are boring or uninteresting. The only good surprise of this release is "Kai-Koh", a punchy and relaxing electronic pop song with an oriental flavour.

"Xoo Multiplies" marks a change in YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA's sound as a transitional but uneven album. I will give 2 stars for the Japan version and 3 stars for the UK version, but it is mainly due to the presence of the songs from Solid State Survivor. Then, better go for the original record!

What the??? After the expected electronic synth openers I'm exposed to some totally bizarre and somewhat disturbing spoken comedy.

Not to worry... things kick off again with 'Tighten Up ' which should bring a smile to the most miserable of faces, this time there's added female vocals to boot.

Uh-oh... we're back with another spoken word bit from the 'Snakeman Show'. Now this one is too weird to be funny. I wonder if it got lost in translation between Japanese and English? All this talk of 'yellow pigs and small cocks' leaves me a bit uneasy to tell you the truth. Maybe we Brits just have a different sense of humour.

A strange little album which is alternately upbeat, juxtaposed with the spoken word awkwardness of 'Snakeman Show'.

Another criminally short album which barely breaks 29 minutes.