artist spotlight: fujiya & miyagi

lest you get the wrong impression, allow me to state once and for all that while i have been recently excited about certain folk and folk-like artists, this is not my preferred genre of music. until recently i was of the camp that if there's no synthesizer involved, the music isn't worth my time. while i have been proven very wrong, i still loves me some synth.

hence today's featured artist, fujiya & miyagi. these guys know their way around a synth, and for that i love them. it's worth noting, too, that the name for this blog comes from their song "photocopier."

f & m formed in Brighton, UK in 2000. drawn together by a mutual love of "early nineties electronica" and wrestling, steve lewis (fujiya) and david best (miyagi) ventured forward into the realm of musical obscurity. it wasn't until 2005, with the addition of matt hainsby (&) that the band really started to take off. with their 2006 release, transparent things, they catapulted themselves into the public eye and into my heart.

transparent things is smooth and enjoyable, with songs that are well-constructed, catchy, and often quite funny. the record opens with "ankle injuries," which is enough to make anyone a fan. the rest of the album doesn't disappoint. even with stand-out tracks, such as "collarbone" and "in one ear and out the other," there is no filler. it's honestly a good, solid album from start to finish.

the video for "ankle injuries" too, is nothing short of cool. it's exciting to see a video that is truly original, while being so distinctively british (it's reminiscent, i think, of the video for "move your feet" by junior senior).



in october, i saw these guys live at (the soon to be torn down) richards on richards. i was concerned that they wouldn't live up to the idea i had of them, as i had seen live videos of them on youtube and was less than impressed. their performance was, however, enchanting and delightful. though the turnout was small, the energy in the croud was palpable, and the energy on stage was contagious. they delivered a brilliant performance, delivered me the set list, and went on their merry way.

there are better bands in the world. there are more talented musicians. still, it is refreshing to see a group who puts such care into the construction of their music, and the effort shows in the end result. i truly look forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.

over and out.

-jocelyn