CHOCOLATE SYNTHESIZER

Boredoms may well be the most acclaimed band of the Japanese Noise Rock scene. With their past album, Pop Tatari, they left a footprint in the world that can still be seen today. With Chocolate Synthesizers they try and improve on the same successful formula that Pop Tatari had.

And what's the formula you ask? Well its quite simple. Just add a little punk as base and then throw in everything you can see that can make noise or even a sound. Throw in the guitars, drums, bass, vocals, whistles, kitchen sink, farts, turntable, horns, the trash and even some dirt in it too and what you get is the Boredoms. Of course, all of this couldn't be made possible if it wasn't for Yamatsuka Eye and his mentally unstable team behind it.

The "music" on this album is quite simply one of the craziest collage of sounds ever recorded. The insanity of this album can be compared to the brainchilds of Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle and Fantomas. The only difference here is that its even less structured than Disco Volante or even Suspended Animation (if its even humanly possible), but oddly enough it sounds more accessible than the two albums mentioned if you're used to this sort of music. From the start of the overtly-pompous opener "Acid Police" you know what madness you're getting into. It's pretty clear that you'll be head banging through the whole song. Primal screams, quirky raps, pounding drums and sheer cacophony is what makes this album. It's like an party on acid gone wrong and you're in the middle of it. Themes change quickly in the middle of songs like if all of the members had ADD. One can't help but laugh at this weirdness this guys created specially in "Turntable Boredoms". There are also some wonderful rock moments that keep the music balanced and keeps things interesting. Those parts are the ones that keeps your blood pumping. These rock parts are more dominant on this album compared to Pop Tatari and this makes this album more accessible than it. After this album they'll change their musical direction and focus more on the rhythm section and lose the randomness and quirkiness that defined their early years.

In the end this albums will leave you disorientated on the ground with your clothes torn and with your heart beating like a woodpecker breaking the wood of a tree. It's disjointed, there isn't a sense of songwriting, it lacks direction and just plain weird and I like it! Chocolate Synthesizers was my first Boredoms album and it won my heart over. If you're a fan of the crazy avant-prog of Mike Patton then you'll be drooling over this album. I know I did.