After the breakup of the influential punk-pop group
Judy & Mary, charismatic vocalist
Yuki's solo debut is a strange affair. Featuring collaborations with
Carole King,
Yuka Honda from
Cibo Matto,
Russell Simins from the
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion,
Andy Sturmer from
Jellyfish, and
Aiha Higurashi from
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her,
Prismic is an eclectic melting pot of lo-fi pop and rock. While tracks like "Ai ni Ikite" work as traditional J-Pop ballads, the downtempo electronica of "66db," the playful hip-hop of "Rainbow St." and the
Beatles and
Stones references of "Wasurureta Uta" suggest that
Yuki is enjoying the freedom accorded her by her previous group's breakup. There's also a sense that
Prismic is an album of transition with the eclecticism suggesting that
Yuki is casting about for a direction. Despite the inclusion of more of
Yuki's own songs towards the end of the album,
Prismic relies a lot on
Higurashi's songwriting to give the album a sense of direction, with lead single "The End of Shite" and "I U Mee Him" featured as standout tracks along with
King's "Sayonara Dance" and
Sturmer's "Prism." Nevertheless, the quality on display is undeniable and
Yuki's growing maturity as an artist is self-evident. As a first step as a solo artist and as a progression from her previous work,
Prismic is a monumental achievement.