It's been so long since the Japanese-American duo Cibo Matto released new material, I almost forgot they existed at all, just a fever dream of '90s cool and hip-hop experimentation. They even appeared performing on the 2nd season premiere episode of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer; yes, 'Buffy.' It wasn't the Peach Pit, but it was close.
Although members Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori have released various solo albums over the last decade or so, the band as 'Cibo Matto' have not released an album of new material in...15 YEARS? See, I knew it felt like a '90s time capsule. That is about to end this week; Cibo Matto are back. And no, it is not an album with songs about food.
Hotel Valentine is the band's new album, a concept piece about life in the titular hotel for a ghost who doesn't know how to leave or doesn't want to. The album splits the difference between the sounds of the first two Cibo Matto studio albums: the skittery trip-hop electronics of their debut Viva! La Woman (my favorite) meets the more band-based, acoustic elements of Stereo*Type A (much less so).
I'm a sucker for the idea of a trip hop revival (it's time) so the moody track 'Empty Pool' is right on time. But the album is not all hazy samples and lackadaisical tropicalia; the track 'MFN' would slip in perfectly on M.I.A.'s last album. The candy-colored video proves these women have not lost their love for hyper-neon visuals.
These ten short tracks never overstay their welcome; we're in and out of this Hotel in 37 minutes. Along with Neneh Cherry's upcoming new album, it is time for a serious re-evaluation/renaissance of reclusive '90s alt-pop/alt-hip hop artists.
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