Review: Melt-Banana – 3+5
Melt-Banana’s a bit of a tough band to define these days, at least with just one term. Grindcore? Noise rock? Punk? Maybe hyperpop? Whatever they are, it’s been a while since we’ve heard from them, with the duo’s last LP releasing in September 2013—nearly 11 years ago. Fetch was pretty well-received upon its release and a decade plus of anticipation can raise expectations for a band to follow up with something spectacular.
I’m pleased to say, Melt-Banana delivers.
Fans of their last release will be pleased to find that 3+5 is very much in the same vein, with guitarist/effects artist Ichiro Agata continuing his use of glitchy guitar sounds, Lightning Bolt-esque riffs, and soundscapes that are as joyful and chaotic as they are massive. And as well as those three adjectives alone would serve to summarize the sound of this album, I’d like to add another: playful.
As described by the promotional material, 3+5 is “informed by Japanese culture in general, and the subcultures of gaming, anime and homegrown underground music in particular.” From the moment that “Code,” the opening track, begins, this influence is heard loud and clear, with electronic effects emulating the menu sounds of a video game start screen. As more and more aspects of the song come in, the tension mounts until it’s released in an ear-bursting blast of joyous noise. The rest of the song rides out this wave of energy, with the next track, “Puzzle,” practically dragging the listener by the hand and making it clear that this driving force is only going to continue.
Image via japanvibe.net
That sense of continuity remains constant throughout the album. While none of the tracks lead directly into each other, the whole album just feels so coherent, which is no small accomplishment for a band as erratic as Melt-Banana. What makes it all the more impressive is the fact that there are so many moments in nearly every song on the record where something unexpected happens. It’s not always something big: a progression that doesn’t go where you’d expect it to; a change in the structure of a riff; a moment where the track glitches out; etc., but it’s always done well. It never throws off the flow of a song; it merely sends it in a different direction.
Of course, it’s rare for an album to be completely perfect. When it comes to 3+5 however, I truly can’t find anything to complain about. My one and only nit-pick (if you can even call it that) is that there are some tracks that I like less than others. All in all though, I’m very impressed with what Melt-Banana has to offer with this record. Transparently, this is not just the album that I have listened to the most in preparation for a review, but the album that I have been the happiest to listen to as many times as I have. Well into my 4th and 5th listens, there were moments on this album that would put a smile on my face to hear and that still get me excited 5 or 6 listens later. For fans of Melt-Banana this record is certain to be a delight, and for those who have listened to this band before but haven’t found it to be their cup of tea, I would still recommend giving this one a listen. It’s worth a throwaway mention that while Yako’s vocal style is unchanged, it does feel more subdued on this release, so to those for whom her voice has been a barrier to entry, I say this one’s well worth checking out.
4.5/5 Flaming Toilets ov Hell
3+5 is out tomorrow on A-ZAP RECORDS.
