CAPSULE

Japanese electronic pop duo capsule formed in 1997 and released its debut album, High Collar Girl, in 2001, which showcased many of the bossa nova, French pop, jazz, and naive electronic pop influences that were defining features of the Shibuya-kei movement, whose most well-known proponents include Cornelius and Pizzicato 5. 2004's S.F. Sound Furniture saw the group's concept expanding with a retro-futurist visual manifesto displayed in the short film/music video "Portable Kuko." Subsequent albums pushed an electro influence more and more to the fore, with Fruits Clipper in 2006 and Sugarless Girl in 2007 merging the group's Shibuya-kei lounge pop with guitars and dance beats. 2008's More! More! More! saw capsule's work diverging noticeably with a much harder electro sound. ~ Ian Martin