Customer Reviews

Super Relax [Vinyl]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Four versions of Cibo Matto's syrupy, surreal "Sugar Water," including an outstanding acoustic (!) version, plus five other tracks. These Japanese grrlz, transplanted into New York, combined the pop of their homeland with the edge of The City to create a monstrously catchy brand of avant-pop. The live improv on "Crumbs" is unnerving and inspiring at the same time, and the groovy, lounge-y cover of "Aguas de Marco" deserves a place on any mix tape.

Cibo Matto are a pop band. Better, they're a pop duo, consisting of Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda, two talented females from Japan. Better still, they're a pop duo who has recorded with, among many others, Marc Ribot, Dave Douglas, John Medeski, Billy Martin, and Mike D. (yes, of the Beastie Boys).

But this is not about guests. This is about Miho and Yuka, who somewhat inexplicably built up quite a following among music makers and music listeners alike. Two full lengths and two EPs later, however, the two disbanded to their own endeavors. Knowing that there was no new music coming, I paid more than I would have liked to get a copy of Super Relax, their second EP.

The disc runs forty-three minutes; the four versions of "Sugar Water" occupying just over half. The first (the original, from "Viva! La Woman") is the most inspired. Though the acoustic version, Coldcut remix, and the Mike D. / Russel Simins / Mario Caldato Jr. remix are decent additions, the five other tracks here are the most important.

"Spoon," which was also released on 1999's "Stereo Type A," appears with thicker instrumental accompaniment, but for the most part sounds the same. "BBQ," recorded live, is the obvious low point here. The sound quality leaves much to be desired, and the energy of the crowd does not come through to the listener very easily. "Aguas de Marco," an Antonio Carlos Jobim cover, sounds like a percursor to Miho's post-Cibo Matto work with Smokey Hormel. Her voice couples with Sean Lennon's perfectly, with Ribot's Latin-flavoured guitar providing the instrumental grounding. The second cover, of the Rolling Stones' "Sing This All Together," a glorious, sweeping arrangement complete with three vocalists who do indeed sing all together. Before the Coldcut remix of "Spoon" closes the album is another Cibo Matto original, "Crumbs," that holds true to their sound and would easily fit on "Stereo Type A."

Is it worth the insanely high price of the import version? For a completist, yes. But if you're just an average listener looking for some high quality Cibo Matto tracks you've never heard and kind find it for a reasonable price, it's definitely worth your while.

The duo of Japanese emigants Yuka Honda and Miho Hattori combine J-pop sensibilities with the hip-hop,techno, rock and funk music they heard in their adopted city of New York City to come up with the Cibo Matto sound. They've become well-known for songs about food and in that regard, this one doesn't disappoint: you get not only the original version of "Sugar Water" from VIVA! LA WOMAN (and 3 remixes of same) but also "Spoon","BBQ" (in a live rendition recorded 10/26/96 at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA), "Aguas de Marco" (an Antonio Carlos Jobim cover), and "Crumbs" (a home recording made at Yuka's pad). The other track is a cover from the Rolling Stones' psych album THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST. ("Sing this All Together")

Joining them as guests are Russell Simins (drumming and backing vocals on the Mike D. remix of "Sugar Water"), Sean Lennon (playing bass on all but "Crumbs",the Coldcut and Mike D. remixes of "Sugar Water", and the original of the same, drumming on "Sing this All Together", and backing vocals for "Aguas de Marco" and "Sing this All Together"), Timo Ellis (drumming on "BBQ",guitar and backing vocals for "Sing this All Together", percussion for the acoustic "Sugar Water"), Dougie Bowne (drumming on "Spoon","Aguas de Marco" and acoustic "Sugar Water" plus percussion for "Crumbs", Marc Ribot is guitarist for "Spoon","Aguas de Marco", and the acoustic "Sugar Water", Dave Douglas offers the trumpet on "Aguas de Marco", Curtis Fowlkes handles trombone on that song, and the Beastie Boys' Mike D. is on backing vocals for the Mike D. remix of "Sugar Water".

HIGHLIGHTS:
The intensely rhythmic "Spoon" turns making tea into a metaphor for a couple's lovelife. ("Though the water boils/Don't turn off the heat/Can't find the spoon that we once had/The sugar cubes will melt no more") Yuka's creepy electric piano anchors the verses while a solid backbeat keeps it moving along. "Aguas de Marco" is a nice Latin number. "Sing this All Together" charms. Of the versions of "Sugar Water" here, I preferred the funky Coldcut remix with lots of 70s era R&B accents. (That version also maintained the Ennio Morricone "Sospesi Nel Ciero" sample heard on the original, though it appears the Paul Weller "Hung Up" sample is gone)

LOWS:
Those complaining about the sound quality of the live cut of "BBQ" are justified: it sounds like a bad, distorted audience tape, rather than a commercially released recording. They should have gone with a better quality performance. "Crumbs" is an avant-garde instrumental with no discernible melody.

BOTTOM LINE:
I have to confess to not really being a "fan"...this disc is my wife's. But I did find myself enjoying a fair number of these. That having been said...the group in general is given to oddities (the lyric to "Sugar Water" is a good example) and definitely isn't for everyone. Don't buy this one without sampling it first from your library or a friend.

Super Relax is outstanding, being a big fan of Cibo Matto since Viva la Woman came out this band always makes waves. Electronica mixed with unique lyrics, these two beautiful gifted musicians will defintley become cult favorites in all underground music collections. And lets not forget Coldcut his remix is so ill. You know you can't go wrong when DJ Coldcut is putting in his final touches. I highly recommend this single and any other CD's by Cibo Matto or Colcut for that matter. Five Stars All The Way!

this is a maxi-single of the song "Sugar Water" (one of the stronger tracks from their "Viva! La Woman" album. there are some cover songs on here as well as a live track and some remixes. some good moments here and there but nothing too fantastic. i like the "Aguas de Marco" cover.

ok I first heard cibo matto when i was in fourth grade during the episode of buffy where they play at the bronze. I loved them right off the bat but forgot about the band until a couple monthes ago when the episode aired again on fx i immediatly went out and bought this cd and fell in love with it... sugar water is definatly an enchanting mysitical song..the whole cd is addictive definatly a must buy.

Sugar Water is a classic single and amazingly the remixes don't suck! I love BBQ and wish the live version here did not sound like a bootleg, oh well. I highly suggest this one!

It had been somewhat difficult to find Cibo Matto's Super Relax release for a reasonable price. Eventually I found one used on Amazon. The single "Spoon" is worth the purchase of Super Relax alone. This version is far more groovier than the version on their StereoType album. Granted, there are 4 versions of "Sugar Water", but if you like the song for its tranquility, then you'll be all good. Another great song on this album is their rendition of one of my favorite Bossa Nova songs, Aguas de Marco. If you like this rendition, or Bossa Nova in general, try a compilation album of various artists called Bossa Nova Brazil.

Since there are so few Cibo Matto releases out there, you may want to acquire all you can. With this EP, you're in for a real treat. The remixes are okay, but I find the real treat to be the new songs. "Aguas de Marca" is a lovely sign of things to come with Miho Hatori's work with Smokey Hormel. And "BBQ" alone is worth the price of the album. It's a live track that absolutely rocks--turn it up to 11. You'll find yourself wishing they had alternate versions of *this* song, which I've found nowhere else.

i love cibo matto! it's like, mesmorizing, and relaxing. an awesome cd, if you ask me. i love "sugar water" and "spoon" my absolute favorites!