Melt Banana
3+5
A-Zap Records
With their first studio album in over a decade, Japanese noise rock legends Melt Banana are back, with 3+5, a record which is frantic, hooky, and spastic, all at the same time. 
Clocking in at just under 25 minutes, it’s an all killer and no filler affair, and sees vocalist Yasuko Onuki and guitarist Ichrio Arata doing what they do best.
The opening track “Code” lays the groundwork for the entire record, giving the listener a pretty good idea of what to expect. Yasuko’s high pitched chirping vocals, Arata’s flowing and frantic guitars, all mixed together with spacey samples that when all tied together, work in creating a sonic soundscape that takes the listener on a panicked ride through space and time at hyperspeed.
By the time the 9 track album wraps up with “Seeds,” it is quite clear that Melt Banana can still be counted on to deliver a noisy, droney, and riff laden masterpiece.
Photo by Raymond Ahner
