U.K. power pop quartet Kaito camouflage their noise with melody, and then cut the melodies to shreds with impeccable noise. Still, you"ll be fooled by their disguise--the sweet "shoop shoops" of guitarist Nikki (with the occasional help of an uncorked chorus) will lull you into a "50s girl-group reverie before you notice all the Stooge-like sprawl and growl going on behind the scenes. Or you may be surprised by the mayhem that surrounds the order: the sounds of an obtuse Le Tigre or a much more rhythmic Shaggs. One thing"s for sure, Kaito are punk in their boundless spirit, but very pop in their execution. They take samples of the sound of things breaking and make you want to dance, and they chant their rants like Brassy"s Muffin Spencer, but with multiple accents and effects for good measure. None of these flourishes are expected, and none are wasted either. You"ve Seen Us... You Must Have Seen Us..., coproduced by the band with Owen Turner (Magoo), is very likely a best of 2001 contender. --Cyndi Elliott