Fantastic Plastic Machine
As if we needed further proof that kitsch is the musical Esperanto, Tomoyuki Tanaka, the DJ behind Fantastic Plastic Machine, spins a blend of American consumerism, French savoir-faire, and Japanese engineering that's as frothy as a vacationer's cocktail. This artificially sweetened confection has a taste and consistency similar to Eurohipsters Dimitri from Paris and Stereo Total--as well as more obvious counterparts like Pizzicato Five. From the giddy romp "Dear Mr. Salesman" (featuring P5's Maki Nomiya) to the swirling beats, brass, and bubbliness of "Please, Stop!," Tanaka's nostalgia is broad enough to incorporate a bossa nova cover of Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out" to a Middle Eastern romp called "Allen Ginsberg" that's as authentic as heat-and-serve couscous. Despite the prefab aesthetic, it's fun all the same.--Erik Pedersen