Cosmic fun
Veteran electronic band Fujiya & Miyagi are reintroducing their outlandish electro-pop sound to the world with a new EP titled Flashback. The band has been blending krautrock influences with post-punk styles to synthesize a cryptic and tongue in cheek style of pop. They carve out an interesting niche somewhere between bands like Battles and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.
“Flashback” features a psychedelic mix of thick and bouncy bass synths, slapping drum machine grooves and Fujiya & Miyagi’s laidback yet confrontation vocal style. Vocoded background vox and synth squelches add a welcome zest, and the dynamics are turned around in the middle of the track adding a strong sense of structure and polish. “Personal Space” continues the strange and catchy instrumental style, while the vocals are a humorous take of egoist neurotic behavior, proclaiming nonchalantly “if you were an ice cream you would fucking lick yourself.”
“Fear of Missing Out” is an upbeat track with a great layering of electronic guitar, organ synths and wonderfully groovy and colorful percussion. This track is more instrumental focused with cleaner and leaner production. Extremely phased guitars add a thick psychedelic edge to one of the poppier tracks on the EP. “Subliminal” features a house music progressive style, groovy as hell, four on the floor sequenced beats thump under groovy basslines, cool whispered vocals and warbled arpeggiated synthetics. “Gammon” takes a lot of cues from ’70s krautrock, a slow densely layered synths and electric bass build up progresses into a tongue in cheek spoken word odyssey. The track is amazing in its structure, details, groove, and hilarious vocals.
This EP is a cohesive and very pleasing listen from an underrated electronic band. Not many groups can blend such a detailed and diverse set of instruments and sounds into an accessible and entertaining work. There is hardly a boring moment on this fun little cosmic adventure.
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