Hipster duo Cibo Matto to bring global hip-hop to 'sco

Eclectic group cooks up their own style of soul

With their continual extortions to "eat! eat! eat!" the two women of Cibo Matto would make perfect Jewish grandmothers. The spaced-out, freaked-out, food-obsessed Japanese ex-pats bring their delicious exclamations to the `Sco this Wednesday.

Living in NYC's East Village, Miho Hatori, vocalist, and Yuka Honda, sound manipulator, have managed to combine all of the annoying hipster stereotypes of the Village and Tokyo, yet come out fresh and funky. Yes, they wear tiny t-shirts and barrettes and sing about food, evoking memories of the annoyingly perky-happy Shonen Knife, but the duo's soul is closer to that of frequent collaborators Blues Explosion, rather than the jellybean shillsters.

Along with their music transcending the trap of trivial, their preoccupation with food and female images sets them apart. Nine out of 10 songs on Viva! La Woman are named for food, with "Birthday Cake," for example, calling for, "Extra sugar Extra salt Extra oil and MSG." In light of the current societal preoccupation with food and body image, these lyrics, combined with the picture of a warrior princess on the cover, can be slightly disturbing.

Does the warrior princess eat white pepper ice cream? Is it a gimmick or are Hatori and Honda truly obsessed? And can any food obsession today be healthy, or does it always have to stem from previous scars and insecurities? Of course, none of these questions are foremost when actually seeing Cibo Matto live, a truly groovin' experience.

Cibo Matto, Italian for "food madness," are starting their tour today in Boston, after releasing an EP of remixes entitled Super Relax. During the past year the duo have also been touring with their side-project, Butter 08.

Cibo Matto will be at the `Sco this Wednesday at 10 p.m. with the Pulstars. Tickets can be bought in advance at Wilder Desk for $5.

Sitting pretty: Miho Hatori and Yukka Honda of Cibo Matto chill in Manhatten's lower east side. (photo courtesy of Warner Brothers)