Not in fact Japanese, and not in fact even a duo (besides "Fujiya" -- keyboardist and beat-maker Steve Lewis -- and "Miyagi" -- guitarist and vocalist Dave Best -- there's also "&," bassist Matt Hainsby), Fujiya & Miyagi draw from influences like Neu! and Talking Heads to create warm, looping guitar riff-driven organic dance music that fits nicely next to other mid-2000s alternative dance bands like the Teddybears, Hot Chip, and even LCD Soundsystem. Live guitars and keyboards layer over funky basslines and mechanized drums, while Best whisper-sings about, among other things, broken bones, feeling OK, star signs, and "just pretending to be Japanese." Six of the tracks on Transparent Things, their debut full-length, had previously appeared as vinyl 10"s, but here, redone and with the addition of three new songs (and a U.S. bonus cut, "Reeboks in Heaven"), the album gives more listeners the chance to hear what the Brighton, England-based band is capable of. Mostly, this means happily quirky but accessible pieces with plenty of syncopated rhythms, elongated syllables, and trilled Rs, courtesy of Best's cordially sexy voice. The first three tracks, "Ankle Injuries," "Collarbone," and "Photocopier," are all bright and upbeat and thoroughly catchy, and probably the strongest pieces on the album, some in part because Fujiya & Miyagi's aforementioned formula isn't as noticeable then as it is later. Not that Transparent Things is too samey or predictable, because it's not. The group has found something that works and does it well, with consistently enjoyable results, so much so that songs on which they break away from that, the lighter, indie rock-esque "Cylinders," for example, are more distracting than anything else. But when F&M stick to simple dance melodies and wound-up instrumental grooves, they're as good as anyone else out there. [The 2007 Japanese edition included bonus tracks.]
Driving fast.Driving fast through fog.Driving fast through fog with a hangover.A hangover caused by a good night of passion and discovery that leaves you a little giddy and with a smirk for what lies ahead.For some weird reason this scenario sprang into my head from some visceral subconscious place when I first heard Fujiya & Miyagi's tune "Conductor 71." The atmospheric tonality, the ebbing rh...
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I posted this yesterday but the player was down...so here is an encore post:In theory, the idea of chanting your band name at the beginning of a song sounds really, REALLY lame….but in practice, it makes for an infectious groove. So I present to you exhibit A in my case….one positive of MOG being down, i caught up on some ‘zone out’ time with some different records…this was one of my fa
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Forgettable kraut influenced jams. A little too slick and impersonal for me.
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So while in winter hibernation, i've been working on an article about music wine pairings....thought you kids out in Napa or my lovely Queen of hell may have some strong thoughts......So far, I've got the whites down:whites:Chardonnay- clear, crisp, a bit tart, but predictable, and rather common. Actually they are everywhere. My Morning Jacket, Regina Spektor, Band of HorsesRiesling- saccharine...
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Anyone ever hear of these guys? I just stumbled onto them this week. This video for Ankle Injuries is pretty good as well.http://www.myspace.com/fujiyaandmiyagihttp://www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk/mp3.htm
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I posted this yesterday but the player was down...so here is an encore post:In theory, the idea of chanting your band name at the beginning of a song sounds really, REALLY lame….but in practice, it makes for an infectious groove. So I present to you exhibit A in my case….one positive of MOG being down, i caught up on some ‘zone out’ time with some different records…this was one of my fa
More >
I've coined the phrase "COOL POP" (okay, maybe someone else said it first) to define their sound. If they are 1/8 as good as they were in March when I saw them at SXSW I will be satisfied....
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New song by Fujiya & Miyagi, props for the creative use of dice, I like it!
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OK, after being pretty disappointed by my last purchase (the Chemical Brother's We Are the Night - eh), I need to take a leap. As in to something I don't yet own, but have heard some things about. Right now, that means The Editors, Fujiya and Miyagi, and Ratatat. It might also mean Datarock or CSR. Or it might be something you absolutely love and I don't know diddly about. So help me try to dec...
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Driving fast.Driving fast through fog.Driving fast through fog with a hangover.A hangover caused by a good night of passion and discovery that leaves you a little giddy and with a smirk for what lies ahead.For some weird reason this scenario sprang into my head from some visceral subconscious place when I first heard Fujiya & Miyagi's tune "Conductor 71." The atmospheric tonality, the ebbing rh...
More >
Forgettable kraut influenced jams. A little too slick and impersonal for me.
More >
...makes me want to dance! Yay!!!
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Ankle Injuries |
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| 2 Collarbone |
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| 3 Photocopier |
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| 4 Conductor 71 |
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| 5 Transparent Things |
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| 6 Sucker Punch |
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| 7 Cassettesingle |
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| 8 In One Ear & Out the Other |
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| 9 Skinny Little Punk |
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| 10 Electro Karaoke in the Negative Style |
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| 11 Cylinders |
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Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Transparent Things")
