Soak

Back in that lost decade some recall as the '80s, there was a unique New York art-pop band called Hugo Largo whose outre accomplishments went largely unnoticed, despite two memorable albums. It may be that the world wasn't ready for a band that consisted of two bass guitarists, a violinist and a strange, warbling singer who often sounded like she was speaking in tongues. A decade later, that singer, Mimi Goese, reappears as a solo artist. SOAK, produced by her old Largo bandmate Hahn Rowe, proves that Mimi is still just as much the musical individualist as ever.
Masterminded by David Byrne for his Luaka Bop label, SOAK combines elements of several styles to create an entirely new sound. There are touches of downtown NYC experimentalism, exotic worldbeat nuances and electronica production techniques, all flowing into a seamless sonic tapestry. The common thread, naturally, is Mimi's ethereal, swooping vocal style, which she puts to good use as she relates surreal, almost otherworldly tales that are abstract without ever sounding off-putting.|