Cibo Matto was a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Mih… Read Full Bio ↴Cibo Matto was a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda in 1994. Despite being based in the US rather than Japan, they have strong links with the Shibuya-kei scene in their use of sampling and mixture of trip-hop and rock, but stand out amongst other such artist for their particularly strong use of Latin and South American music. Cibo Matto is an Italian phrase that means "crazy food".

After working together in the noise rock band Leitoh Lychee, Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda formed Cibo Matto around 1994. While recording tracks for their first album, Viva! La Woman, they collaborated with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's Russell Simmons and others, on a side project called Butter 08. The album was released in 1996.

They later enlisted band members Sean Lennon, Timo Ellis and Duma Love to help record their Super Relax EP and final full-length album, Stereo Type A. While Viva! La Woman had strong hip-hop and trip-hop elements, Stereo Type A leaned more more towards their rock, pop and Latin side. The group continued to play live concerts until disbanding near the end of 2001. Yuka Honda went on to release solo albums and continued to collaborate with Sean, while Miho Hatori moved onto bossa nova, teaming up with guitarist Smokey Hormel to form Smokey & Miho, then joining Gorillaz for their self-titled first album and eventually releasing her own solo album.

In 1997, the band guest-performed on the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer's second season premiere in the fictional club The Bronze, performing "Spoon" and "Sugar Water".

Since the break-up in 2001, their songs have been played in many different places, including the video game Jet Set Radio Future. "Birthday Cake" was featured in the Kids in the Hall's feature-length film, Brain Candy.

The band announced their reunion on March 18, 2011, to perform as part of a benefit concert for victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The concert, which took place on March 27 at Columbia University in New York City also included Yoko Ono, John Zorn, Sonic Youth, and Mike Patton, among others. Following on the success of this show, a second was added, this time featuring the Plastic Ono Band and Patti Smith along with Cibo Matto. They've since performed at the Hollywood Bowl on June 26 in another benefit with Yellow Magic Orchestra. Cibo Matto then went on their formal US reunion tour titled "Yeah Basically Cibo Matto." The tour's first part was from June 21 to June 26 at the Hollywood Bowl and the second part was July 12 to July 20 with stops in NYC, Chicago, Toronto, Washington, D.C. and Boston.

Cibo Matto released Hotel Valentine, their first album in 15 years, on Valentine's Day 2014 through Chimera Music, a label founded by Sean Lennon. They are touring the United States with Salt Cathedral and their current drummer Yuko Araki, as well as guest musicians on some songs.

Bruxaria
Cibo Matto Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Miho Hatori, Kat Bjelland & Arto Lindsay - Witchblade soundtrack)

I lead you
Through my ruin
You'll find soon
I'm your rune
You'll find soon
I'm your rune

Glint, glint
Slice, slice
Very close to my eye.

Glint, glint
Slice, slice
Very close to my eye.

Canivete peixeria saltitando no ar
Canivete peixeria saltitando no ar

Tua, tua pele cancela e acucar
Tua, tua pele cancela e acucar
Tua, tua pele cancela e acucar
Tua, tua pele cancela e acucar

Skin smooth paraffin.
Sweat sugar cinnamon

Familiar like a kin
All outside of in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Bruxaria by Cibo Matto are quite cryptic, but they seem to be about leading someone through destruction while also being their protective rune. This contradictory scenario sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics, which are a mix of English and Portuguese words. The chorus is made up of the words "glint, glint, slice, slice, very close to my eye," which could be interpreted as someone on the brink of danger or violence. This is followed by the phrase "Canivete peixeria saltitando no ar," which translates to "Fishery knife jumping in the air," adding to the sense of danger.

The second half of the song continues in this visually striking way with the phrase, "Tua, tua pele cancela e acucar," which roughly translates to "Your, your skin, cancel and sugar." The next line repeats this phrase, building a sense of intensity and urgency. The final line "Skin smooth paraffin, sweat sugar cinnamon, familiar like a kin, all outside of in" is a bit more straightforward. It seems to be saying that the person being led through destruction is physically smooth, like paraffin, but also familiar and close like family. However, they are also a bit superficial, like sweat and sugar, and somehow disconnected or outside of certain experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

I lead you
I guide you

Through my ruin
Through the wreckage of my own life

You'll find soon
You will discover

I'm your rune
I represent your fate or destiny

Glint, glint
The reflection of light

Slice, slice
Cutting through

Very close to my eye.
Dangerously near my eye

Canivete peixeria saltitando no ar
A fishmonger's knife jumping in the air

Tua, tua pele cancela e acucar
Your skin is canceled and sugared

Skin smooth paraffin.
My skin is as smooth as paraffin

Sweat sugar cinnamon
My sweat smells like sugar and cinnamon