Cibo Matto

"We wanted a title that you have to chew on a little," says Yuka Honda, "not just swallow whole." Stereotypes are something that Yuka and Miho Hatori have encountered ever since Cibo Matto made a splash in the music world with their 1996 debut Viva! La Woman, an album of renegade sampling, off-kilter funk and hardcore. "There are people who think that women can't operate studio equipment," remarks Honda, who produced the new album entirely by herself. "Stereo is also what tells you where you are located. Dolphins can see what is happening with their sense of hearing. In a philosophical way, if you listen, you can also tell where you are, or more importantly, where you're at. We have to learn to listen for ourselves with both our left and right ears, and not just believe everything we're told." "People always expect you to choose sides between digital or analog, old school or new school, even between Chinese or Italian food," jokes Miho. "Well, we eat everything." Cibo Matto's musical cuisine is a blend of many different styles, with elements of jazz, hip-hop and pop intertwined into a sound entirely their own. From the breakbeat onslaught and Farfisa organ stabs that kickstart t... more...