Ape Sounds
Ape Soundsis the debut LP from Japan's Nigo, best known for his clothing label Bathing Ape--a cult product dripping withPlanet of the Apesmotifs and celebrated status as a hyper-cool brand. Not a regular musician, Nigo performs an art director's role (although he also plays drums) on the album--guiding a creative team of Lavelle, DJ Kudo, Money Mark, Ben Lee, Cornelius, and Takagi Ken (Major Force). The result is (at times) a self-consciously cool mix of punk, trip-hop and knowing adult pop. Some of it's fun--"Kung Fu Fighting" combines laconic Japanese rap with a neatly orchestrated remake of a Bruce Lee soundtrack. Ben Lee's contribution, "Free Diving," is breathlessly fantastic--a wry and urbane vocal walking smoothly over an explosive, pop-rock thrashout. Also good is "The Very Urgent Dub," in which Money Mark brings sass to a Pablo and Maurizio-referencing stoner anthem. Some cuts feel vague but whatever Nigo lacks in expression he more than compensates for with style.--Tony Marcus