Back to the Mono Kero!

Released via Mike Patton's Ipecac imprint, home of other sonic peculiarities the Melvins, Fantomas, and whatever the hell else Patton stamps his signatures on, Japan's Ex-Girl are a surprisingly intricate, talented all-girl trio. One expecting the cutesy, Hello Kitty goofiness of Shonen Knife will be shocked to find that Back to the Mono Kero! is closer to Zappa catalog. In fact, the opener, "Waving Scientist," sounds like an outtake from Joe's Garage. These girls can sing, and with excellent range, as evidenced by nearly every track. The music is progressive, noisy, and strange, running the gamut from new wave inspired keyboard workouts, to dense, multi-part prog rock freakouts — yes, occasionally complete with Fripp-esque guitar. Imagine Zeni-Geva or Melt Banana toning things down a thousand-fold, and adding rich melodies to their jazzy time signatures. Close, then, to a female Ed Hall. Each listen provides a distinctly different reading, as the songs continue to unfold like extra-terrestrial flowers: nuanced and heavy-weight in their rich, colorful density. Stranger still is the band's cover of Robin Scott's new wave hit "Pop Muzik." And Ex-Girl is a visual treat, as well, outfitting themselves in Day-Glo, go-go-styled outfits, and body paints.