[06.02] Japanese trio Buffalo Daughter show with I that they are one of the few groups around able to gracefully genre-hop without sounding self-conscious or forced. The electronic and the rock are combined here in various ways, usually pretty evenly, which is refreshing in an environment where thick lines have been drawn between the currently fashionable hot topics of electro and garage.

If I has one common element: it's lush, layered vocals, which start right away on the opener, "Ivory" (possibly the album's catchiest track). Cascading Lalalas float over Ivory's spare bass line, which shows that BD understand that space is just as important as playing notes. Next comes "I Know," a song made up entirely with the words "I Know" whispered, shouted, and deadpanned over a steadily chanted "I…I…I…I…"

Buffalo Daughter can pull off artiness as well straight rock like "Vlcanic Girl," a track that sounds like what Japanese mainstream pop-rock should sound like, as well as vocodered breakbeat, (Robot Sings (like he was Frank Sinatra…)). Bossa Nova is also represented ("I"), as is a stoned moog waltz (Moog Stone) and quiet strummed classical guitar ("Long Slow Distance"). I is just as fun as it is arty, as evidenced by the organic disco of Discoteque, a house-y song complete with Duran Duran-inspired flanged slap bass interludes. I is sort of like a mix tape of all the things you like, but somehow the consistency belies the eclecticism and you realize it was all done by the same band. —Jonathan