- Cibo Matto
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Cibo Matto Origin New York City, USA Genres Acid jazz, Shibuya-kei, samba, trip hop, pop, indie rock, ambient Years active 1994–2001, 2011 Labels Warner Bros. Records Associated acts Butter 08
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
GorillazWebsite Official website Members Yuka Honda
Miho Hatori
Sean Lennon
Timo Ellis
Duma LoveCibo Matto (meaning crazy food in Italian, and pronounced [ˈtʃiːbo ˈmatto]) are a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, in 1994.[1] Initially, the lyrics in their songs were primarily concerned with food,[2] before expanding into broader subject matter following the addition of Sean Lennon, Timo Ellis and Duma Love to the band, showcased on their second studio album.[3]
While the two founding members of the group are Japanese expatriates,[1] they are not especially popular in Japan; the group did not gain nearly as large a following in Japan as it did in the United States. According to Billboard, their "minialbum" Viva! La Woman sold only 20,000 copies in Japan but over 74,000 copies in the U.S.[4] Japanese producers did not understand the appeal of the group.[5]
Contents
History
Viva! La Woman: 1994–1996
After working together in the noise rock band Leitoh Lychee,[6] Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda formed Cibo Matto in 1994[1] with Honda as the instrumentalist and Hatori as the vocalist (although occasionally Honda sang and Hatori contributed instrumentally).[2] In 1995, Cibo Matto released a self titled EP on El Diablo Records. The EP caught the attention of Warner Bros. Records who signed Cibo Matto later in the year. Under Warner Bros. the duo released their first major album, Viva! La Woman.[2] Cibo Matto is an Italian phrase that translates to "Crazy Food" and many of the tracks from Viva! La Woman, produced by Mitchell Froom, featured lyrics related to food, including "Know Your Chicken", "Apple", and "Birthday Cake".[2] Their single, "Sugar Water" was a modest college radio and dance hit. The song was accompanied by an innovative split screen music video directed by Michel Gondry, where each side showed the same footage—one side going forward, and one backwards, meeting mid-song. [1] After the music videos for "Know Your Chicken" and "Sugar Water" enjoyed success on MTV, Cibo Matto made appearances on various television shows such as Oddville, Viva Variety and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "Birthday Cake" was heavily featured in the video game Jet Set Radio Future. in 1996, Cibo Matto contributed "Águas De Março (Waters of March)" to the AIDS benefit album Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin produced by the Red Hot Organization.
Stereo ★ Type A: 1997–2001
In 1997 Cibo Matto released a new EP entitled Super Relax,[2] which would complete the line-up by introducing new members Sean Lennon and Timo Ellis with Duma Love joining soon thereafter.[1][2] In 1998 Lennon released his debut solo album Into the Sun, which featured Hatori ("Into the Sun", "Sean's Theme") and Ellis ("Mystery Juice", "Home", "Spaceship"). Into the Sun was produced and inspired by Honda (whom Lennon was dating at the time).[7] In the music video for Lennon's single "Home" Honda, Hatori, Ellis and Love appeared in the closing scene. Cibo Matto went on to release their second (and final) album Stereo ★ Type A in 1999.[1][2] Although it was a departure from the much loved sound of Viva! La Woman, Stereo ★ Type A was well received by fans and the music critics alike.
Disbandment
The group continued to play live and tour until disbanding in 2001.[1] In an interview Honda stated,
“ Cibo Matto broke up, because it was time. We felt the need to move to the next step. It was a healthy decision, though it was sad at the same time. Things just need to grow out of things sometimes. ” All of the members of Cibo Matto have gone on to release solo material[1] and have on occasion collaborated with each other.
Reunion
Cibo Matto announced their reunion on March 18, 2011 to perform as part of a benefit concert for victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The concert, which took place on March 27 at Columbia University in New York City, also included Yoko Ono, John Zorn, Sonic Youth and Mike Patton. Following the success of this show, a second was added, this time featuring the Plastic Ono Band and Patti Smith along with Cibo Matto. [2]
The group appeared at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26 for another benefit, alongside Yellow Magic Orchestra. [3]
On May 16, 2011, Cibo Matto announced their US reunion tour titled "Yeah Basically Cibo Matto" with a tour website [4] and promotional video [5]. During the concerts, the band reportedly spoke about a new studio album being released in 2012.
Band information
- Yuka Honda: sampler and sequencer, keyboard, piano, organ, synth, harpsichord, backing vocals
- Miho Hatori: Lead vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar
- Sean Lennon: Bass guitar, (electric, 12-string and acoustic) guitar, drums, percussion, synth, backing vocals
- Timo Ellis: Drums, percussion, bass guitar, (electric and acoustic) guitar, backing vocals
- Duma Love: Percussion, vocals, turntable, beat box
Grand Royal involvement
Although Cibo Matto was represented by Warner Bros. Records, they were also considered to be a major part of the Grand Royal Records family.
- Under Grand Royal, Honda and Hatori formed side-project band Butter 08 (1996) with Russell Simins, Rick Lee and Mike Mills.
- Hatori collaborated with the Beastie Boys (who founded Grand Royal) on their 1997 album, Hello Nasty.
- Sean Lennon released his debut album, Into the Sun (1998) on Grand Royal (which featured Honda, Hatori and Ellis).
- Yumiko Ohno of Buffalo Daughter (a former Grand Royal band) contributed moog synthesizer and backing vocals to Stereo Type A (1999).
- In 2000, Grand Royal released a compilation album entitled At Home with the Groove Box in which Lennon contributed the song "Winged Elephants" while Honda and Hatori contributed the song "We Love Our Lawyers". The compilation also featured artists such as Beck and Sonic Youth.
Works featuring Cibo Matto music
- (1996) "Birthday Cake" was featured in The Kids in the Hall's feature-length film, Brain Candy. Yoko Ono also released her EP Rising Mixes, featuring a remix of her song "Talking to the Universe" by Cibo Matto.
- (1997) The band guest-performed on the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season premiere in the fictional club "The Bronze", performing "Spoon" and "Sugar Water", the latter being played during the infamous scene in which Buffy Summers teases Xander Harris with her dance.
- (1998) "Who's Got the Light" was featured in Half-Baked.
- (1999) "Sugar Water" appeared in Christopher Doyle's directorial debut, Away with Words.
- (2000) "Moonchild" was featured in the film Down to You.
- (2002) "Birthday Cake" was featured as part of the video game soundtrack for Jet Set Radio Future.
- (2006) Their music was featured in the M. Night Shyamalan film Lady in the Water.
- (2010) "Sugar Water" appeared in the Nip/Tuck finale.
Discography
Albums
- Viva! La Woman (1996)
- Stereo ★ Type A (1999)
EPs
- Cibo Matto (1995)
- Super Relax (1997)
Singles
- "Birthday Cake" 7" (1995)
- "Know Your Chicken" 7" (1996)
- "Working for Vacation" (1999)
- "Moonchild" (1999)
- "Spoon" (1999)
Collections
- Pom Pom: The Essential Cibo Matto (2007)
Music videos
- "Know Your Chicken" directed by Evan Bernard (1996)
- "Sugar Water" directed by Michel Gondry (1996)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g http://www.last.fm/music/Cibo+Matto
- ^ a b c d e f g http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p169814/biography
- ^ "Barnes & Noble - Cibo Matto Interview". Barnes & Noble. http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/interview.asp?CTR=208191. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
- ^ BELL, CARRIE. "Warner Bros. Positions Cibo Matto To Break Its 'Stereotype'." Billboard: 13. 1 May 1999.
- ^ CONSIDINE, J. D. "Band Builds Lyrical Bridge Between Japan and the U.S.: Cibo Matto filters blues, funk, jazz through Asian aesthetic." Los Angeles Times. 11 Aug 1999.
- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2001). All music guide to electronica: the definitive guide to electronic music. Backbeat Books. ISBN 0879306289.
- ^ HILBURN, ROBERT. "Q & A: Sean Lennon; Karma Boy." Los Angeles Times. 18 May 1998.
External links
- Cibo Matto official website
- Sean Ono Lennon.com (Official)
- timo ellis official website
- J-pop.com review
Studio albums EPs Compilations Pom Pom: The Essential Cibo MattoSingles Related articles Discography · Smokey & Miho · Butter 08 · Warner Bros. Records · Into the Sun · Noodle · Jet Set Radio FutureCategories:- Musical groups from New York
- American dance music groups
- Electronic music groups from New York
- American indie rock groups
- Shibuya-kei musicians
- Musical groups established in 1994
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