Maher Shalal Hash Baz - Blous Du Jour (2003)

Maher Shalal Hash Baz is the artistic alter ego of Tori Kudo, a Japanese composer and musician. His musical influences include among others T. Rex and saxophonist Steve Lacy. He and his wife Reiko Kudo joined a band called Worst Noise when they moved to Tokyo; other members dropped out, leaving Tori and Reiko as a duo, known simply as Noise. Finally they met euphonium player Hiroo Nakazaki on a building site and found that they shared an interest in music.

'Blues Du Jour' is the most gorgeous album featuring some of their warmest and most accessible music to date. Tori Kudo's songs and sketches often recall the quirkiness of the Incredible String Band or the English nursery rhyme pastoralism of Syd Barrett. From the avant-pop masterpiece 'Open Field' to the bossa nova of 'Post Office', this is a playful album that bursts with creativity.

Tori Kudo has resisted defining the sound of his band, although in an interview he declared "I am punk." There are also elements of folk, psychedelia and free jazz; the band's tendency to ask members of the audience to join in adds a sense of danger in live performance. Perhaps the best description comes from his own sleevenotes: "Error in performance dominates MSHB which is like our imperfect life."

Get this wonderful album here:
Maher Shalal Hash Baz - Blous Du Jour (256Kbps)

And enjoy !