It’s no secret I love unique, odd and intricate music. I find it extremely compelling when a musician balks the AABA, chorus, verse format or goes all Philip Glass on the layers.

Japanese singer-songwriter Shugo Tokumaru’s new release today, Exit (Almost Gold Records), is exactly all this and more. Animal Collective are a big fan of this guy, if that tells you anything.

Shugo Tokumaru : “Parachute” (mp3)

Lighter and airier than AC and more produced than the Australian noise rock you’ll find at Brother Sister Records, Tokumaru compels the listener to pop on a pair of noise-reducing phones, close eyes and give the brain a dose of aural acid.