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ESSENTIAL NEW MUSIC

Essential New Music: Saicobab’s “Sab Se Purani Bab”

Saicobab is the newest project of Yoshimio (a.k.a. Yoshimi P-We), who helms OOIOO and sings/drums in the Boredoms. Both Saicobab’s and Sab Se Purani Bab’s names are fanciful translations from Japanese and Hindi, respectively, of the words “ancient baby.” But even if you have a complete command of both languages, you’ll likely be stymied if you try to deal with this music on a purely linguistic level. As in OOIOO, Yoshimio performs exactingly structured songs, but she often seems to be flinging syllables into elaborate shapes for musical rather than lyrical effect. The combination of acoustic instrumentation (double bass, sitar, hand percussion) with her electronically treated voice moves this material farther from rock music than OOIOO was willing to stray, but anyone who appreciated that combo’s giddy exuberance and arcane tunefulness will find plenty to like on this record’s seven intricately arranged tracks.

—Bill Meyer