Toronto - Fujiya & Miyagi, sounds like something makes my fridge or toaster. Despite my assumptions, they are actually a English band from Brighton. Weird, no? Worse yet, there are no Japanese people in this band, which can be misleading, since I am sure all the Anime fanboys of the world [re: Gary] would gravitate towards a band like this based on the fact that they think it’s all Japanezy. (”I totally want to move to Tokyo…it’s so cool!” they would say)

Enough about the band’s name though, what do they sound like? Well, F&M are a kraftwerk inspired electro band. Basically, a lot of minimalistic beats layered over some chilled out synth melodies. Throw in some breathy whispy vocals from lead singer David Best and you basically have the default recipe for a F&M song. The first two albums that F&M released had much fanfare from the Teen Vogue and Tiger Beat of Indie music - NME and Pitchfork Media. Popularity ensued. Their tunes can also be heard on a bunch of commercials.

September 23, 2008 sees the third release from this band, appropriately called ‘Lightbulbs’. I say appropriate because I am sure I have had light bulbs made by Fujiya and Miyagi before.. How is the album you say? It’s quite stellar. Starting with the robotic delivery of ‘Knickerbocker’, you travel thru the world of Fujiya & Miyagi - which consists of lyrics that make little sense. It’s all about the music anyway and songs like ‘Uh’ and ‘Pussyfooting’ have that familiar 80s dance club vibe that you can half heartedly dance to until the drugs/drink hit you and then you go crazy like a donkey on speed. Despite the fact that David Best half whispers his way thru out the entire album, you never get sick of him either, which is a testament to some solid song making skillz.

3.5/5

 

 Fujiya & Miyagi - Pussyfooting: Play Now