Pop/Rock - It's very tempting to liken Asobi Seksu's sound to their name, a misspelling of the Japanese term for playful sex, but the mere mention of that fact should be evocative enough. We'll spare you any gratuitous similes. Better, by far, to liken their ethereal noise to its most flattering touchstones, namely Kate Bush, M83, Cocteau Twins, and My Bloody Valentine. Indeed, the band's self-titled debut was rarely mentioned without at least a passing reference to MBV, but their 2006 follow-up Citrus established Asobi Seksu as a powerful force in their own right, marrying their dynamic, dreamy textures to equally engaging pop songs. James Hanna employs a range of styles and effects pedals, transforming his guitar from a fluffy cloud to a thunderous squall with the flick of a switch, and Yuki Chikudate's vocals - whether in English or Japanese - float above it all like benevolent starlight. Recommended. Hush drops February 17 on Polyvinyl.

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