When art-rockers Ponytail disbanded in 2011, Dustin Wong made a couple of solo albums to add to his diverse discography. He then decided to move to Tokyo, where he met Takako Minekawa, a solo artist in a thirteen year hibernation. They brought us Toropical Circle in 2013, and this is their follow-up, Savage Imagination; a childlike interpretation of experimental pop.
On first listen, this record sounds almost entirely instrumental, but if you understand Japanese, you may be able to discern lyrics about “quantum physics, human consciousness and flying above a desert”. But the way in which most of these songs are composed means that her voice is used as more of an instrument than a tool for expressing her deepest desires. On that note, whilst it’s not particularly calming, this is probably one of the most happy and free records released all year.
Their modus operandi seems to be to start off really simple then just keep growing until you literally can’t fit any more melodies in, which can get a bit anxiety-laden at points, but it does mean you get this wonderful mix of clashing polyphonies. And the borderline ridiculous mixture of samples means any of these tracks would right into a game of Super Mario. The building of tones in this way gives an opportunity for fun you can have with the mixing board which they make full use of, moving the dials around to bring certain things into the foreground and then away again; this is especially present on ‘Dancing Venus of Aurora Clay’. In excluding any kind of basslines, they stay in the realm of alien pop, which their artwork represents perfectly, but the addition of vocals from Wong deepen the breadth of sound, and so it’s on tracks like ‘Pale Tone Wifi’ that they really thrive.
They each bring their best qualities to the table, Wong’s signature looping of guitars and Minekawa’s melody writing; it’s a hypnotising combination which renders them seductive. This is a collaboration made in heaven, or more likely, outer space.
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