CORNELIUS

An indie electronica star in the United States and Europe, and a J-pop personality in his native Japan, cut-and-paste musical mastermind Cornelius is one of the pop and rock world's more interesting figures. His sonic collages are built on complex electronic foundations and eclectic samples, but include indelible pop melodies and rock hooks that call to mind a range of artists from the Beach Boys to Pavement to the Chemical Brothers. His music is at once chaotically intellectual and effortlessly pleasant, and is complemented live by a high-concept, almost circus-like stage show. After a long run with the esteemed Matador Records, Cornelius released SENSUOUS in 2007 on the Everloving label.

• rock