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Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re is as fun to listen to as their name is to say. Their debut album proves that they are one of the most creative bands on the roster of Japanese girl-band label Benten.

The name is a mere collection of syllables that have an old-fashioned sound in Japanese. This is appropriate since songs on Pregnant Fantasy sometimes start with musical phrases that sound like traditional Japanese folk songs, played almost rudimentarily on electric guitar. Next thing you know, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re is slinking a disco bass/postpunk groove through your earholes or smashing your face with Sabbatical riffs. The throughline is the strong vocals--each member of this trio sings and they are capable of everything from close harmonies to echoing each other's anguished wails.

While not as scary intense as Benten's amazing Kokeshi Doll or as mindblowingly innovative as Yoshimi P-we, they do fearlessly move from menacing noise ("Manhole") to chirpy ska ("Tea Time Ska") in a single bound, incorporating disparate elements such as Parliment-esque background vocals ("Kedama Boogie") and spoken word ("Pregnant Fantasy").

They're already toured the US three times and their sophomore release should be out soon. This is a band to watch in 2006.