Asobi Seksu

Asobi Seksu was an American dream pop band based in New York City. Their music drew influence from the shoegazing genre as well, and similarly used a textured and effects-heavy vocal and guitar sound. The band consisted of Yuki Chikudate (vocals, keyboards) and James Hanna (guitar, vocals).

History

They were originally known as Sportfuck and issued an EP under that name in 2001. The band then changed their name to Asobi Seksu, from the Japanese 遊びセックス (asobi sekkusu), "play sex". Their full-length self-titled debut album was self-released in 2002, and later re-released on the Friendly Fire Recordings label in May 2004. They regrouped with a new rhythm section for their second album, Citrus, which was recorded in New York City's Gigantic Studios with producer Chris Zane and released in 2006 by Friendly Fire Recordings. One Little Indian Records signed the band in Europe and re-released the band's first album and the follow-up Citrus in 2007.^[1]

In early 2009, the band released their third studio album Hush. The album was released to generally positive reviews, with many critics citing a shift in the band's shoegaze direction to a more mellow, dream pop sound.^[2][3]

In May 2009, Yuki Chikudate released a single with Pocket called "Sampo". The track included remixes by Mux Mool, Blue Eyes, and Craig Wedren.

A tour-only CD retitled Rewolf, featuring newly recorded acoustic versions of the band's back catalog, was released worldwide in November 2009,^[4] followed by a fourth studio album, Fluorescence, on February 14, 2011.

The band announced an indefinite hiatus on September 30, 2013, via their Facebook page.^[5]

On July 23, 2014, Asobi Seksu announced that they would reunite for a one-off show opening for Slowdive in Boston on October 26, 2014, at Slowdive's request.^[6]

Song appearances in media

Asobi Seksu's songs have been featured in various television shows, including The L Word and the British television series Skins. The song "Layers" from Hush was also featured in an episode of Ugly Betty. Their non-album track "Stay Awake" was included on the Adult Swim compilation album Warm & Scratchy in May 2007. Their song "Ramen Girl" was the closing credits song for the 2008 film The Ramen Girl. The band provided music for So Yong Kim's 2007 film In Between Days and contributed an original score for Kim's 2009 film Treeless Mountain. The song "Thursday" was featured in The Exploding Girl, produced and edited by Kim and directed by her husband Bradley Rust Gray. Kim also directed the music video for the song.^[7] "Thursday" was also used in LateRooms' 2012 advertisement^[8] and in the trailer for the 2014 film Affluenza.

Former members

• Yuki Chikudate - lead vocals, keyboards (2001-2013)
• James Hanna - guitar, vocals (2001-2013)
• Larry Gorman - drums, sampling (2009-2013)
• Gunnar Olsen - drums (2009)
• Bryan Greene - drums (2006-2008)
• Benjamin Shapiro - drums (2006)
• Keith Hopkin - drums (2001-2005)
• Billy Pavone - bass (2006-2013)
• Haji - bass (2006)
• Glenn Waldman - bass (2003-2005)
• Steve Griesgraber - bass (2002-2003)

Discography

Studio albums

• Asobi Seksu (2002) (re-release, May 18, 2004)
• Citrus (May 30, 2006) (#21 UK Indie Chart in 2007)
• Hush (February 17, 2009)
• Fluorescence (February 14, 2011)

Live albums

• Live at the Echo 10/6/06 (October 31, 2006)
• Live from SoHo (2007)
• Acoustic at Olympic Studios (tour-only CD; reissued for general release as Rewolf) (February 8, 2009)

Singles

From Asobi Seksu

• "Walk on the Moon" (May 14, 2007)
  1. "Walk on the Moon" – 4:35
  2. "Sooner" – 3:48
  3. "Walk on the Moon" (Enhanced Video)

From Citrus

• "Thursday" (August 6, 2007)
  1. "Thursday" (Radio Edit) – 3:26
  2. "New Years" – 3:03
• "Strawberries" (November 12, 2007)
  1. "Strawberries" – 3:59
  2. "Strawberries" (CSS Remix) – 3:19
  3. "Strawberries" (The Whip Remix) – 4:48
  4. "Strawberries" (Ulrich Schnauss Remix) – 3:45
• "Goodbye" (March 10, 2008)
  1. "Goodbye" (Paul 'P-Dub' Walton Radio Mix) – 3:18
  2. "Thursday" – 4:17

From Hush

• "Me & Mary" (November 18, 2008)
  1. "Me & Mary" – 3:07
  2. "Breathe Into Glass" – 3:52
• "Familiar Light" (February 23, 2009)
  1. "Familiar Light" – 3:23
  2. "Familiar Light" (Twins Remix) – 3:21
• "Transparence" EP (August 25, 2009 – US)
  1. "Transparence" – 3:53
  2. "Urusai Tori" – 3:19
  3. "Transparence" (Aa Remix) – 3:03
  4. "Miniature Cities" – 5:51
• "Layers" (December 7, 2009 – UK)
  1. "Layers" – 4:01
  2. "Urusai Tori" – 3:19
  3. "Transparence" (Aa Remix) – 3:03
  4. "Miniature Cities" – 5:51

Non-album singles & EPs

• Sportfuck EP (2001) (released when the band was still known as Sportfuck)
• "Stay Awake"/"Then He Kissed Me" (November 20, 2007)
  1. "Stay Awake" – 5:31
  2. "Then He Kissed Me" (The Crystals cover) – 2:33
• "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" (December 10, 2007)
  1. "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" (Ramones cover) – 3:08
  2. "New Years" – 3:03

Other Appearances

• "Vicious Bears" (September 2011, Polyvinyl Records's Japan 3.11.11: A Benefit Album)^[9]

External links

• Asobi Seksu's NEW official website
• Asobi Seksu on Myspace
• Asobi Seksu on EMI Music Japan (Japanese)
• Vital Stats: Asobi Seksu at Anthem Magazine

References

1. ↑ Exclaim.ca
2. ↑ allmusic ((( Hush > Overview )))
3. ↑ Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Asobi Seksu: Hush
4. ↑ Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Asobi Seksu: Rewolf
5. ↑ http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/09/asobi-seksu-announce-hiatus/
6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/asobiseksu/posts/10152149533732624
7. ↑ Asobi Seksu - Thursday - YouTube
8. ↑ New LateRooms.com TV advert - For your every need. Part 1 - YouTube
9. ↑ "Polyvinyl Records - Japan 3.11.11: A Benefit Album". Polyvinyl Records Official Web Site. Retrieved August 7, 2012.