Santos Party House was completely packed for Asobi Seksu’s performance on Saturday night, which was the band’s first CMJ gig in about five years. (Who knew they had even been around that long?) Almost a hundred stylish hipsters waited hopefully in line on Lafayette Street as Asobi Seksu took their audience on a dazed trip of intensely fantastical dream pop, while a floating astronaut installation and the House’s signature massive mirror ball complemented the sonic ride impeccably. Lead singer Yuki Chikudate’s petite, waifish figure, clad in a sweet white minidress and suede ankle boots, cut an exquisite silhouette against the flickering gleam of blue and red stage lights as she closed her eyes and leaned forward while singing, as if to soar upwards on her own music. Throughout the performance, Chikudate’s lovely, lilting voice alternated between contrasting and blending with the band’s frenetic synth rock backdrop, and delivered the icy shimmering sheen that has garnered so much critical acclaim and hipster endorsement. This particular set was marked by a decided guitar overload and a much heavier rock vibe than expected, as the guitar, bass and drums seemed hell-bent on firmly verifying their presence – both in volume and frenzied energy. However, this surplus served to further showcase the celestial quality of Chikudate’s vocals. And although all lyrics (Chikudate is known for singing in both Japanese and English) were completely indistinguishable, the music quite literally transcended language. Asobi Seksu’s incredible appeal lies in the fact that their music manages to be both uplifting and pure, while managing to retain the potential for suspense and shadows. Astral to the extreme, Saturday’s performance demonstrated the band’s overwhelming luminosity and electric potential. By: Frances Cha