Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009

© AWDR/LR2

From the first strains of cheap, Orientalesque synthesizers on opening track “Daibutsu Hands feat. FFF,” listeners are reassured that zany Kyoto trackmaker/rapper/human beatbox Shabushabu hasn’t lost his inimitable sense of humor. But what has he gained? A better control of his synthesizers, sequencers and FX boxes, for one. Compared to thinner-sounding debut disc All In One Pot, Shabushabu’s sophomore outing explodes with everything from phat electro basslines to skittering programmed rhythms and talking drums, all of which make the goofball raps (if only we could understand them!) and cheeky takeoffs of Asian music stereotypes more effective.