Set yourself up as a Chain D.L.K. reviewer and you never know what you're going to get, especially from artists or labels you're unfamiliar with. Such is the case with the package that housed Melt-Banana's "3 + 5" album. For those of you unfamiliar with Melt-Banana (me included), they appear to be a legendary noise-rock band from Tokyo, Japan, formed around 1991/1992 by singer Yasuko Onuki with Ichiro Agata and his glitchy, cyberpunk guitar. This is their eighth album (released here on their own A-Zap Records label. I presume that either these folks thought I'd know who they were and what they're all about, or I'd go find out somewhere (which I did) as there wasn't even a hint of a promo sheet in the package. Never having heard Melt-Banana before, the only frame of reference I have is this album, and I will try and convey most of what you need to know about making an informed buying decision on it.

First, you get 9 tracks in about 24 minutes, only a few being over 3 minutes in length, and not much over at that. If you think that's quick, you ain't heard nothin' yet. Beginning with "Code," you get a few short electronic effects, then a squall of total noise, speedcore guitar riffs, processed cartoon mouse squeaky vocals, and breakneck drum programming. (Not breakcore, but really, rally breakneck, around 190bpm??) I don't really know what language Yasuko is singing in (the timbre is very high and pacing is very fast) but it kinds of sounds like English. If you could imagine the Shobijin (Mothra twins) on methamphetamine, you'd have a better idea. Now take that into a video arcade gone completely bonkers with machines making tons of music noises and crazy sequences and you've nearly got it all. Nearly...

Underlying all this in almost every song is a strong pop-sensibility, perhaps not what you might expect from a noise-rock band. Yep- melody, hooks, all the elements, just shot out of a lazer-cannon and sprayed across the imaginary walls like some kind of ethereal day-glo paint. There is no doubt whatsoever that these two absolutely know what they're doing and exercise ultimate control over each composition. It is crazy disciplined and on-target, precise in ways your average hardcore or noise rock band could not hope to achieve. I watched a couple of their earlier videos just to get a flavor for how they pull this kind of thing off live, but "3 + 5" seems to be well beyond what they've done in the past comparatively. The energy expenditure seems to be enormous on this album, I think both for the performers and their listenerrs. I've heard a fair amount of noise-rock in my time (both Japanese and otherwise) but I don't think I've ever heard anything as intense or potent as this. Song titles are mostly just one word, I think because no more is needed. This is their first album in 11 years and unfortunately not available to stream or preview on their Bandcamp site (so, no link there) but I'm sure you can find it elsewhere. If high-pitched, speedy, chaotic noise-driven rock with pop-sensibility appeals to you, this is a MUST HAVE.