Ghost-themed Japanese-American artpop

Hotel Valentine is an “avant-pop” concept album about love between ghosts who haunt the hallways of a hotel, but if you can get over that it’s also an album full of jazzy, trip-hoppy pop tunes. Cibo Matto’s sound is dominated by high-pitched synths, syncopated drum beats and the duo’s rapping and echoing vocals. Most non-synth sounds that make it in are jazz or rock samples. In the past few years, primary vocalist Miho Hatori has been working on a bossa nova project, and a Latin influence can be easily felt in this album, especially on the title track and Emerald Tuesday. On less danceable tracks, the duo layers high, drone-like vocals over soft jazzy hip-hop beats and the occasional creepy dark synth.

RIYL: Deerhoof, MIA, Tune-Yards
Recommended Tracks: 1, 3, 7