The experimental rock project
Mi-Gu was founded by Yuko Araki, who performed as a drummer in
Cornelius' band and also played with the
Yoko Ono Band,
If by Yes, and
Mike Watt's Brother's Sister's Daughter. Araki released
Mi-Gu's self-titled debut album in 2003, delivering playful, fractured pop that recalled the other groups she performed with, but with its own identity. Starting with 2006's From Space,
Mi-Gu added guitarist/producer Hirotaka "Shimmy" Shimizu -- who was also a bandmate of Araki's in
Cornelius' group and in other projects -- to the fold. The pair returned in 2009 with Pulling from Above, which was released on
Ryuichi Sakamoto's label
Commons. Three years later, the collection Choose the Light made
Mi-Gu's music more available to Western audiences. ~ Heather Phares