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The dozen tracks on Hush" offer more in the way of tone and texture than they do melody and groove.
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This is a strong, satisfying record that will comfortably consolidate the band’s reputation as a genre favourite.
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Asobi Seksu do something My Bloody Valentine can't--leave Shields behind.
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Hush not only breaks down new barriers for the band, but more importantly, is just a pleasure to listen to.
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MojoHanna's sub-Kevin Shields guitars and Chikudate's sparkling keyboards eddy across the Blondie-esque layers. [Feb 2009, p.113]
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Asobi Seksu have reached that point where their manipulation of a song’s basic building blocks has come to feel natural and confident.
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UncutThe dozen tunes here are sumptuous slices of bliss-pop with an art-punk edge. [Mar 2009, p.78]
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Hush quells qualms with the relaxed assurance every third album should carry.
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As far as listening experiences go, you can certainly do a lot worse than sitting back in your chair, being consistently affected by Asobi Seksu's sunlit wandering. Unfortunately, it would probably be better for Hush if the band stepped into the shadows every once in a while.
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Throughout Hush he proves adept at constructing interesting soundscapes built on guitar tones and dynamics and not just sheer volume and distortion.
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Despite their gift for undeniably soothing melodies and luminescent keyboard and guitar textures, the duo’s album falls into the “grower” category, and it’s possible that less resilient listeners won’t stick around to be dazzled by its early morning shimmer.
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The band still have the knack with a melody, and there's always room for a winning formula melding atmospherics with a good tune, but somehow the addictive charm of the highlights of "Citrus" such as 'Thursday' and 'New Years' just aren't present on Hush, and you're left feeling underwhelmed.
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On their third release Asobi Seksu have toned down the fuzz’n’raunch of old and come over all Cocteau Twins-y and mature--not necessarily a bad thing, just quite a bit less visceral.
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Q MagazineThey remain most compelling when Hanna lets rip, as on the propulsive, grinding 'Me & Mary.' [Mar 2009, p.93]
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Under The RadarHush finds the band careening dangerously close to the realm of pastiche. [Winter 2009, p.69]
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Alternative PressHere, vocalist Yuki Chikudate's stacked, reverberating vocals sparkle like the glint of light off of fresh morning dew. [Apr 2009, p.134]
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It is a work that shows a band still struggling to come to terms with itself, discovering on record the music it wants to make, and settling for a safe middle ground in the end.
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Overall Hush feels like a duller version of its predecessor--its skies clearer, its horizons broader, an expansiveness that makes it feel all the more depleted.
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Time and time again, songs begin promisingly only to disappear into themselves, or emerge with a striking bridge in the middle of nothing.
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New York dreampop combo meander a bit.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 9
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Mixed: 1 out of 9
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Negative: 1 out of 9
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angelicarApr 26, 2009This is a great album, less direct the their previous ones, more subtle and cerebral and needs of time and attention to be completely understood.
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keineheldenmehrMar 1, 2009Very impressive album, doesn't quite surpass citrus, but still worth a listen.