Following PPU, here's 〈SMILING C〉, another US label to watch. After their Moroccan electro release, they turn the spotlight on maniacal Washington, DC local producer MBA MBULU and his own imprint 〈ASET〉, compiling rare material. The A-side collects four picks from the 1986 album by LATONYA, a girl in her early teens produced by MBA MBULU. The impossibly cute, endearingly rough vocals are matched by backing tracks so fervent they border on avant-garde, holding a razor-thin balance — absolutely killer. The B-side kicks off with "Can I Take You Home?" from 1988, released under the project name Whax by a high-school boy. DISCOGS only lists the 7-inch of this popular track, so this is likely a previously unreleased "Long Version." THEO were a trio of high-school girls, and their three tracks pair out-of-key instability with superb backing. Incredible material here. SMILING C, with distribution help from SEAN CENTRE and RUSHHOUR. (Original Japanese text by Saito)