Fujiya & Miyagi
Ventriloquizzing
Yep Roc Records (2011)
why you'll love it: very unique and cool
why you'll hate it: very repetitive
For the kind of compositions put together by Fugiya & Miyagi, it probably shouldn't take them over two years to make a new album. Ventriloquizzing, like their previous efforts, is a streamlined pop-cocktail of krautrock, R&B, and funk. It's important to emphasize streamlined, not as a synonym for "watered-down". The UK group (now a trio, i believe) emulates these genres with a whole lot of talent and class, but do so in a very simple three minute format. There are no LCD Soundsystem style long winded builds and eventful payoffs. It's a good thing there aren't because David Best's lyrics and vocal delivery are achingly repetitive.
So that's Fugiya & Miyagi in a nutshell. What's the story with this album? On the surface, not so much of a different one; but I found the overall tone and inclusion of more synthesizers to be a subversive change of pace. Most of the songs are still danceable, but just about all of them have a dark oppressive theme. There is a constant motif throughout the album of dominance and submission, and the band is happy to both roles. The mood stays the same, but the perspective frequently shifts. One track they're intimidating, "Sixteen Shades of Black & Blue"; sometimes introspective ("Ventriloquizzing"); or even delusional ("Pills"). They're never straight one-on-one with you, always through funhouse mirror; which is fun. My favorite song of theirs is "Rook To Queen's Pawn Six" off Lightbulbs (2008) which was a fun song about paranoia over a chess competition.
Like their previous releases, there are still some songs that are just too slow or desperately repetitive; but as usual, the cream rises to the top. I know a few clunkers are on there near the end, but all I can remember are all the cool and unique moments of Ventriloquizzing.
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