mi-gu

The experimental rock project Mi-Gu was founded by Yuko Araki, who performed as a drummer in Cornelius' band and also played with the Yoko Ono Band, If by Yes, and Mike Watt's Brother's Sister's Daughter. Araki released Mi-Gu's self-titled debut album in 2003, delivering playful, fractured pop that recalled the other groups she performed with, but with its own identity. Starting with 2006's From Space, Mi-Gu added guitarist/producer Hirotaka "Shimmy" Shimizu -- who was also a bandmate of Araki's in Cornelius' group and in other projects -- to the fold. The pair returned in 2009 with Pulling from Above, which was released on Ryuichi Sakamoto's label Commons. Three years later, the collection Choose the Light made Mi-Gu's music more available to Western audiences. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi