Elekibass
Welcome Wonderful World
Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records

If the Elephant 6 collective decided to open a branch office in Japan, this sextet would be not only be the presidents but they’d also be clients. This disc is a collection of a smattering of tracks from the bands career (mostly available on the Waikiki Records label) including a couple of stripped down sounding live tracks for good measure.

Now, if you don’t know the sound that the Elephant 6 folks are associated with most, let me see if I can explain. Besides an obvious love of the late ’60s work of Brian Wilson, the E6 groups specialized in a kind of folksy psychedelica that was equal parts goofy fun and solid musicianship. They were the types of bands that made you want to start a band of your own because they looked and sounded like a gas to be a part of.

These kids from Japan are no exception. Willing to throw in any instrument (Casio keyboard, clavacas, tubas, etc.) to the mix, this band make up for their curious grasp of the English language (see: “I Don’t Want To Clap My Hands”) with an infectious playfulness that oozes through every song here. The last three songs leave a little to be desired in their skeletal instrumentation (brushed drum, tambourine, acoustic guitar and lots of kazoo) but if I were at that party, I’m sure I would have been dancing like a fool. I have no doubt that you will do the same when you hear this.