#krautwave

Lo-Shi - Flasque EP Release date:March 17, 2013 Label:Call and Response Records  

Track List: #1 Rampant #2Piston #3 The Pink Lodge #4 Mother K #5 Calling MIR #6 幽客

Lo-Shi are two French producers based in Tokyo, Gotal (on guitars and loops) and Arbuste (on synths) who describe their sound as “NudeCouscousTaoistBeatCore.” (OK.)

The post-punkers recently released an EP’s worth of material that they named Flasque. Quite literally, the album was sold in memory-sticks packaged in small glass spice bottles containing real spices. It is nice to see when there is harmony reflected in the way artists express their craft; innovative packaging and production reflecting the concept of the album besides the usual format of CD and album art.

On a 2nd listen, it is interesting to see how the album opens itself up to you. Rampant, the mid-tempo opening track, invites you in like a slightly shady proposition in a noir film. The band likes to use looped and sampled videos from old movies to visualize their music. For example, take a look at the music video of Piston below.

Piston from Lo-shi on Vimeo.

Mother K, with its urgent rhythm, breaks the tedium that might come with post-punk’s repetition of loops, and the EP comes to a lifting ambient resolution in幽客(Yu-kaku). Sometimes you gotta take a chance with shady propositions; it could make for a fascinating journey.