ENDANGERED SPECIES

Lurking in the most unknown of territories on PA, eX-Girl on paper does not sound like a band that has something of anything to do with prog rock. I will readily admit that I hear more J-pop and J-rock than prog rock, but eX-Girl is such a warped version of those genres that I really sit back and take notice. I hear things akin to groups like Mr. Bungle, OOIOO and Koenjihyakkei in places, but eX-Girl are their own ''endangered species''.

The structure of the band a bit more than a power trio (bassist/founder Kiriola takes synth duties) with tremendous outside help from producer/creator Hoppy Kamiyama. While the basic summary of ENDANGERED SPECIES's style is a twisted spin on J-pop, eX-Girl goes for broke pulling in various music styles (I hear prog metal, noise rock, jangle pop, operatic vocals and techno), but does it in a way that doesn't sound jagged or completely nonsensical. ''Hettarkorii no Ottokotou'' is the only song that patches a bunch of genres together (ending on a prog metal excursion) in Mr. Bungle like fashion.

As for other songs, ''Dodo'' and ''Pretty You Ugly'' follow more conventional J-pop wisdom (barring the 11/8 breakdown in ''Dodo''). ''Pujeva'' harkens to Koenjihyakkei in terms of the operatic vocals alternating between techno and buzz-Zeuhl. ''Venus vs. Gas Onna'' is more of a prog track with a bassline Squire would be proud of. ''Mr. Triscuits'' is the highlight being an extended J-pop track with heavy prog overtones; the lowlight belongs to ''Pulse'', a noise tune like what OOIOO might try only more boring.

I'm very fond of this album and wouldn't mind draining my iPod's battery life over it. I choose to reserve my emotions understanding that it leans too much in the pop direction. Those that love Mr. Bungle should find the time to check the band out. Within the scope of avant-prog, eX- Girl one of the best ''fringe'' acts, but overall, they aren't that dominating or convincing of the avantness for me to extol. OOIOO is the band to seek if you want an eclectic challenge in the avant world.

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