The SunPaulo are Taiji Sato, leader of the rock band Theatre Brook, and veteran keyboardist and producer Toshiyuki Mori. The Tokyo duo have enthralled lovers of dance and rock alike at nightclub parties and outdoor events such as Asagiri Jam and the Rising Sun Rock Festival in Hokkaido. Known for their outlandish attire, the pair's current costumes resemble a futuristic, acid-induced vision of The Village People that complements their cosmic jams.
Their fourth offering, "People Get Ready," is split between new and unreleased studio recordings and remixes. The album opens with a downtempo reinterpretation of "Little Human" by Warp Records' Jimmy Edgar. The chilled-out electro-soul fades into the blissful, guitar-driven instrumental trance of "Turn On, Tune In," lifted from the U.K. release of their 2007 album, "Electric Wisdom Sound." The title track begins with a bed of experimental postglitch noises that morph into an ambient soundscape as spacey guitar chords and a loop of Sato's vocals are added. The cut blends into its groove-oriented cousin, "Ready to Rock 'N Roll," which sees the band at their best as they mesh their favorite elements of electronica and classic rock.
The rest of the disc is rounded out by remixes, with the most interesting being London producer (and bassist for postpunk act Killing Joke) Youth's awesome steel drum-accented dub take of "People Get Ready." While the lack of more new songs may deter casual listeners, The SunPaulo's free-spirited fan base should find plenty of sonic goodies to enjoy here.