Toquiwa - TOQUIWA

The "Japanese girl's rock" threesome Toquiwa, hailing from Shibuya, may seem like a new band as they've only come into being recently. However they've been around since 1998 in various guises: first as MINAMI BAND upon their creation, then Pinky Piglets on their official 2006 debut before their latest turn as Toquiwa in 2012 after becoming self-managed. After seeing the girls in action in Japan, Brit indie band The Wedding Present frontman David Gedge knew that he had to sign them to his record label Scopitones. Toquiwa have the honour of being the first non-Wedding Present associated band to be signed to the label, and they released their self-titled debut album with them on October 22nd.

At 11 tracks and under 40 minutes long, it's a short but punchy album typical to the punk rock genre. It's a collection that's varied enough in nature to keep it interesting from beginning to end, and what a beginning it is - Tokyo Merry-Go Round is a blast from guitarist Mikko's banging riff opener to the loud, abrupt finish. The simple, repetitive chorus is so catchy that most will struggle to be rid of this earworm for a while. It leads nicely into the brief but brilliant Roll The Dice. At just over two minutes long it loves and leaves the listener rather too quickly, but not before branding more sweet three-part harmonies and another addictive chorus into the brain.

Vocalist Asuja has a sweet, youthful voice which lends itself well to wild pop-punk. She still proves capable of dishing out the mean to keep us keen with the likes of "goodbye my bad boy, I say go to hell" in the vitriolic, headbanging tune, To The Right, To The Left. Even so she seems born to perform tunes like their punk hit Give Me A Chocolate!, arguably their catchiest, cutest track. With her happy tones combined with those of Mikko and drummer Seixo, the trio's great chemistry is evident in every beat.

It's not just punk all the way on this album. There's the infectiously rhythmic funk rock of U.S.O. and the tremendously fun Japanese Girl, both of which feature their own brand of rap. There's also lighter synth-infused pop in Listen and heavier pop-rock in the slow-paced The Rain Song and old-school 1999. While they prove accomplished in all of these, it's in the more energetic, upbeat tracks that they excel.

The album is finished off with a nod to the band with whom they share their new record label. Their cover of The Wedding Present's 1989 hit Kennedy is a speedier, punkier version and a nostalgic treat. Asuja's perky, high vocals give it a sugary pop twist in stark contrast to Gedge's snarling delivery in the original, and with their inclusion of the adorable "sayonara, arigatou, apple pie" section and giggly ending, they truly make it their own.

This debut on their new label is fun, fresh and truly addictive. Losing their management and taking charge themselves appears to have been beneficial for them, and working with The Wedding Present has boosted their (already well-established) presence in the West. "Toquiwa" means "evergreen", and judging from their past and present success, their future sure looks set to continue to be that way.