Asobi Seksu is the debut studio album by the American shoegaze/dream pop band Asobi Seksu. It was self-released by the band in 2002, then reissued on May 18, 2004 in the United States by Friendly Fire Recordings and on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom by One Little Indian Records.
Background
The album was recorded at 80-20 Studios in Queens, New York. It was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Will Quinnell. The album's sound is characterized by heavy guitar effects, reverb-drenched vocals, and a blend of shoegaze and dream pop aesthetics, with some lyrics sung in Japanese by vocalist/keyboardist Yuki Chikudate.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Yuki Chikudate, James Hanna, and Keith Hopkin, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'm Happy but You Don't Like Me" | 3:08 |
| 2. | "Sooner" | 3:45 |
| 3. | "Umi de no Jisatsu" | 2:23 |
| 4. | "Walk on the Moon" | 4:33 |
| 5. | "Let Them Wait" | 2:47 |
| 6. | "Taiyo" | 2:01 |
| 7. | "It's Too Late" | 7:17 |
| 8. | "End at the Beginning" | 4:20 |
| 9. | "Asobi Masho" | 1:25 |
| 10. | "Stay" | 5:02 |
| 11. | "Before We Fall" | 2:41 |
| Total length: | 39:22 |
The UK edition included a bonus track, "Nefi + Girly" (live) (4:46), and an enhanced content video for "Walk on the Moon."
Personnel
Asobi Seksu
- Yuki Chikudate – keyboards, vocals
- James Hanna – guitar, vocals
- Keith Hopkin – drums
- Glenn Waldman – bass
Production
- Matt Anuskiewicz – assistance (production)
- Will Quinnell – engineering, mastering, mixing, recording
- Brian Ward – recording (bass tracks)
Design
- Asobi Seksu – cover design and layout (2002 issue)
- Annie Chiu – styling and assistance (2004 issue)
- Jim Donnelly – inside photography (2002 issue)
- Noah Kalina – cover photography (2002 issue)
- Sean McCabe – design and photography (2004 issue)
Release and reception
The album was initially self-released in 2002 before being picked up by Friendly Fire Recordings for a wider 2004 release. A single, "Walk on the Moon," was released on May 14, 2007 to promote the UK edition. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, with Pitchfork and AllMusic among the outlets covering the reissue. The album's style has been described as a blend of shoegaze, dream pop, and noise pop, drawing comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and other influential acts in the genre.
