(Tomlab)

Slightly unsettling but slightly excellent

Ashley Yao and John Chao are Misha, a duo from New York. Expecting minimalist electronica for some reason, I popped the CD in but was greeted with a wonderfully expansive electronic pop sound relatable to the Fiery Furnaces but less wild and grating, though no less eclectic. Chao is an effective vocalist, both when singing and providing vocal samples. Underneath some pretty beats and effects are very simple, immediately accessible and enjoyable pop tunes that latch on without trying. Anaconda embraces soothing tropicalia, Weatherbees is an exercise in retro-pop. Crystal In Love is Mercury Rev soaked reverb musings with effervescent keys and echoing vocals before breaking into slabs of pure falsetto pop. Cruelish Heart is an odd combination of chipmunk vocals, strains of Bollywood and an R&B beat that somehow maintains a cohesive whole. The instrumentation spread over the record is always varied, interesting and colourful. An intriguing and altogether great pop record.

MICHAEL PINCOTT

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