In 2016, Fujiya & Miyagi released two four-song, limited run 12-inch EPs that found the Brighton, England quartet exploring some of their most inspired and well-conceived songs since their breakthrough sophomore LP, Transparent Things, a decade earlier.
For their new self-titled LP, Fujiya & Miyagi have combined both EPs, along with songs from a third 12-inch that was, puzzlingly, put out the exact same day. But no matter which format you choose to consume these 11 tracks, it's clear that the quartet have crafted a clear and uniform vision for their new(ish) material. Working off of the dance-y Krautrock sound they've been known to favour, Fujiya & Miyagi keep things fresh and resourceful here with tracks like the groove-centric "Serotonin Rushes," the punk-y "Outstripping (The Speed of Light)" and the pulsating, disco-indebted "Impossible Objects of Desire." Yet it's tracks like the spoken word, self-referential/-explanatory "Extended Dance Mix," the motoric instrumental "Synthetic Symphonies" and the heavy guitar snarler "R.S.I." that earn this collection repeat listens.
It's true that Fujiya & Miyagi have a particular formula, and they seem to follow it on their self-titled LP, but they've managed to figure out when to use this formula to satiate listeners and when to tweak it to make listeners salivate.
(Impossible Objects of Desire)For their new self-titled LP, Fujiya & Miyagi have combined both EPs, along with songs from a third 12-inch that was, puzzlingly, put out the exact same day. But no matter which format you choose to consume these 11 tracks, it's clear that the quartet have crafted a clear and uniform vision for their new(ish) material. Working off of the dance-y Krautrock sound they've been known to favour, Fujiya & Miyagi keep things fresh and resourceful here with tracks like the groove-centric "Serotonin Rushes," the punk-y "Outstripping (The Speed of Light)" and the pulsating, disco-indebted "Impossible Objects of Desire." Yet it's tracks like the spoken word, self-referential/-explanatory "Extended Dance Mix," the motoric instrumental "Synthetic Symphonies" and the heavy guitar snarler "R.S.I." that earn this collection repeat listens.
It's true that Fujiya & Miyagi have a particular formula, and they seem to follow it on their self-titled LP, but they've managed to figure out when to use this formula to satiate listeners and when to tweak it to make listeners salivate.
