This is no novelty act. Stereo Type A brings the noise, drops the word science and then some. Vocalist Miho Hatori has made a studious effort at her English pronunciation and the payoff is a double bonus. She's a more confident M.C., especially in the sly hip-hop of "Sci-Fi Wasabi" (yes, there are still some food items in the shopping cart) and perhaps an emerging diva on songs like "Speechless" and "Flowers."

The production moves out of Yuka Honda's basement and away from the low-fi elements of Viva la Woman! While her partner worked on her r's and l's, Honda was working on her musical education. Stereo Type A veers to various points on the musical compass, including dipping a toe in Brazilian arrangements and, seemingly, some time listening to recent Saint Etienne. Honda has also successfully incorporated new band members Sean Lennon and Timo Ellis, who are joined by some previous collaborators from the NY scene like Marc Ribot and Josh Roseman, for a full, enriching soundtrack.

My only quibbles are with the inclusion of two or three lesser tracks that could have been left off for a more powerful punch and I wish heard more of Sean Lennon's bass playing in the final mix. But any record that dares to rhyme aioli, Moby and Obi-Wan Kenobi deserves to be played loudly and often.