Hai!

So that's what the Sergeant Kabuki-Man makeup is all about: This is an amazing collaboration between Siouxsie & Budgie and taiko drummer and composer Leonard Eto. Thunderous drumming + Siouxsie's intense vocals + crazy Budgie antics = incredible music. Percussion is central to this album - check out Budgie's liner notes explaining the making of the record. Taiko has a way of stealing the show; however, the other instruments get more room to shine on the second half of the album. Beyond the drumming, the instrumentation, vocals, and melodies have the languid, sinister presence of the Banshees' _Tinderbox_ album. The Oriental stylings are far more complex and authentic than, say, the choppy old S&tB number "Hong Kong Garden," but the ambient recordings of rainfall and temple bells can sound like Kitaro-esque new age at times. Happily, this is Sioux Records, not Windham Hill, so overall this record is a smashing success. 100% clean. Every track is good, but try: 1. Taiko-rific! 3. Drums plus a simple 4-note progression and Siouxsie ululations gave me chills. 4. Goofy love song to Godzilla. 7. Slow-paced, many-layered track that lets Siouxsie's still-golden voice shine.

-riana 2/4/04