It’s always hard to match the forte of a great album and bands manage to do it on rare occasions as most of their ideas and creativity are exhausted in their first / second albums. Asobi Seksu’s second effort Citrus had received critical acclaim, and it’s hard to reach the same standards of its invincible first half. Thus I approached Hush with lower expectations despite the wonderful single “Me & Mary“.

Although the single arguably remains the best material on Hush, I can safely say that it has managed to be an album and not a patchwork of songs. Citrus was so good because it had incredible songs yet this one is rated high more because of its sonic quality and the brightness throughout the album.

It’s hard for me to talk about the inspirations as informative as the RYM peeps, where a huge battle has been taking place, since I’ve never been a fan of MBV/ Cocteau Twins and their ilk in the first place, but I can sense the general trend that Shoegaze is being incorporated more and more in 2009 music. I’d rate this one favourably as there are a few songs that match the songwriting skills on Citrus and the fuzzy & dreamy sound is perfected. Out on Polyvinyl.

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