Miho Hatori – Ecdysis

Hatori’s first proper solo outing (she made two bossa nova EPs with Smokey and Miho) finds her visiting familiar territory: electro-tinged Latin rhythms, sexy grooves and futurism. “Walking City” galumphs along at a sensual pace, but the glossy pop sheen and abrasive ambidextrousness of Cibo Matto are eschewed in favor of a focus on languid melodies on mellow numbers like “The River of 3 Crossings.” Lyrically, Hatori is all about nature, insects, and children. Her unique style and wide-eyed wonder at times make Ecdysis sound like the work of a Japanese-Brazillian Björk. That’s a good thing, mind you.