'Indie Stock' works within the indie rock format while nimbly slipping outside of it. Just as you settle into its gentle folk textures, a slacker-ish looseness and subtly skewed sonics creep in to throw you off — a pop album of strange shape. The intimacy of folk and rock mingles loosely with an experimental streak, giving it an ambiguous charm that seems ready to float away yet stays grounded. Humor and unease, an artificial sheen and an oddly visceral touch all intersect on this quietly addictive record. Be sure to also check out the collaborative party between local Kansai acts and South of North happening at Daphnia in May. (Original Japanese text by Adachi)