Boredoms Spinoff OOIOO's 'Gamel' Gets North American Release

BY Alex HudsonPublished May 7, 2014

Yoshimi P-We is known as the drummer of Japanese outfit Boredoms and the titular inspiration of the Flaming Lips' 2002 album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, but she also has a few other claims to fame. Among them is OOIOO, a long-running project with whom she has released a string of albums since the '90s.

The band's latest album is Gamel. It came out in Japan in 2013, and it's now set to get a North American release on July 1 through Thrill Jockey. It will be available on CD and double-LP and can be pre-ordered here.

A press release notes that it's inspired by ancient Japanese gamelan music. While past albums were studio creations, this one is said to take a more live approach. The results are described like this:

Yoshimi leads her minimalistic rhythm ensemble by making quick, impulsive shifts in tone and attack, the group acting as one mind under her expert instruction. While the gamelan elements will be brand new to many listeners, the band offsets the bizarre with familiar, at times even nostalgic and childlike, melodies.

Scroll past the tracklist below to hear the track "Atatawa," which showcases the group's gamelan playing.

Gamel:

1. Don Ah
2. Shizuku Gunung Agung
3. Pebarongan
4. Gamel Ninna Yama
5. Gamel Uma Umo
6. Gamel Kamasu
7. Atatawa
8. Jesse Testa
9. Gamel Udahah
10. Kecupat Aneh
11. Gamel Ulda

Latest Coverage