As the first full-length debut of Fujiya & Miyagi (their 2006 release was actually a compilation of songs from previously released EPs), Lightbulbs shows the Brighton Brits attempting to prove themselves as much more than a pseudo-Japanese novelty act. That's not to say that Dave Best and the gang have toned back their deadpan sense of humor. Nonsensical non-sequiturs, scatting onomatopoeias, and tongue twisters still dominate the lyrics, and the wry James Murphy-esque speakeasy delivery is still evident, but now the pep has been downplayed slightly to make for more mellowed grooves. The production has thickened a bit, too, courtesy of a higher concentration of ambient textures. Airy synths and breathy vocals render the songs too dreamy to dance to, and the funky basslines and mechanical beats render them too dancey to dream to. That's the sweet spot of F&M. Call the songs lackadaisical hypno-grooves, if you will, or use the band's label of "whisper-electro" to define the sound, but essentially it's calming, polite, electro-pop that invokes '60s lounge, '70s Krautrock, and '80s synth pop while staying relevant to more modern sounds popularized by Hot Chip, Ladytron, and Air. "Knickerbocker" is an infectious jam with a driving rhythm that pays tribute to Kraftwerk, a hook that subtly rips off the Beach Boys' "Kokomo" ("vanilla, strawberry, knickerbocker glory" mimics "Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take you") and verses that give props to Hans Christian Anderson, Lena Zavaroni, and Dietrich Knickerbocker. If that's not fun, what is?
--- - |- I was thwarted in my initial attempts to listen to Fujiya & Miyagi's (F&M) Lightbulbs. Their previous album, 2006's Transparent Things, was something of a sleeper hit with me and also, initially at least, avoided my cunning aural attempts. That was an album that fused a whole host of influences into something funky and completely out of tune with what else was coming out of their home...
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Tellingly, when Fujiya & Mijagi remixed Mercury Rev, they made the dramatic flourishes less fiery, more leveled. The Brighton boys like to keep it steady. That in mind, "Sore Thumb "'s F&M formula didn't come as a surprise when we first posted it. A couple months later, it's still funky, full of synths, and as Amrit mentioned, vaguely sexy and nonsensical. The video doesn't really help matters ...
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--- - |- I was thwarted in my initial attempts to listen to Fujiya & Miyagi's (F&M) Lightbulbs. Their previous album, 2006's Transparent Things, was something of a sleeper hit with me and also, initially at least, avoided my cunning aural attempts. That was an album that fused a whole host of influences into something funky and completely out of tune with what else was coming out of their home...
More >
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 "Lightbulbs")
