Montigolia Underground

While deep within Montigola Underground beats the heart of an honest-to-God pop act, Kaito wraps its songs in a blanket of sonic sludge and grime that gives its melodies a bite that’s got more DNA in common with Sonic Youth than Matthew Sweet. Sure, it’s not exactly a new trick, and comparisons to The Jesus and Mary Chain or Pavement are tempting, but Kaito’s more than just another messy pop act. While fans of the Chain and Pavement will surely appreciate Montigola Underground, Kaito scars its pop with more than just lo-fi production techniques or screaming walls of feedback. Whether the band whips out everything from creepy ambient sounds ("Shoot Shoot") to samples from an archaic Speak’n’Spell ("Non Descript") over its blend of ruddy guitars and a rhythm section that always keeps things chugging, Kaito’s adept at finding bits of noise to add to its fury outside its bass/guitar/drums world.- aversion.com