Various Artists

Though the thought of pairing a shoegazey indie pop band with an anything-goes punk group on a split record may seem odd, in the case of this effort from South Korea's Say Sue Me and Japan's Otoboke Beaver, the results are magical. Say Sue Me's contribution is the sunny “Good For Some Reason,” which finds gorgeously hazy vocals soaring over jangly guitars and a driving rhythm. A solo break late in the going really clicks, and the entire track has a warm, optimistic feel. Otoboke Beaver's B-side is much more straight-forward than anything on their Love is Short EP and arguably the most accessible track they've put out stateside. “S'il Vous Plait” is propelled by a crisp, punchy rhythm, working towards a nifty breakdown in which the prominent female vocal is changed up to a more inquisitive one heard over murky, quietly tense bass. Per usual, there's playful banter between the bandmates, and shrill shrieking to cap things off. Regrettably brief at just over five minutes in length, I'd still call this a strong release that nicely showcases the groups involved. 

8.5 / 10 — Andy