Who? Their name is Japanese and their influences are German, but Fujiya & Miyagi first met on the soccer fields of Brighton. Comprising singer David Best, synth-player Steve Lewis, and bassist Matt Hainsby, the trio of krautrock enthusiasts derived their name from a company that manufactures record players and Pat Morita’s wise sensei character in The Karate Kid films. The tech-obsessed collective came together in 2000 and quickly sold out of their first three vinyl singles in the U.K. The threesome will be making their North American debut with the upcoming full-length disc Transparent Things (Deaf Dumb & Blind Recordings), which was named after a Vladimir Nabokov novel.
What’s the Deal? Fans of Hot Chip and Air will appreciate Fujiya & Miyagi’s brand of witty and wiry electronica. Best whispers obtuse stream-of-consciousness lyrics about scoring new kicks (“Collarbone”) and getting socked by a girl (“Sucker Punch”) over slinky dance-punk backdrops. “We were just pretending to be Japanese,” the frontman playfully repeats in “Photocopier.” But don’t be fooled — their urban jungle soundtrack is the real deal.
Fun Fact: Besides krautrock, Fujiya & Miyagi also count themselves fans of Serge Gainsbourg, Sly and the Family Stone, Ghostface Killah and Dexy’s Midnight Runners. GINNY YANG
Now Hear This:
Fujiya & Miyagi – “Ankle Injuries” https://www.youtube.com/embed/uzWRYMjmzvE
Talk: What dance moves do you bust out while listening to Fujiya & Miyagi? COMMENT
On SPIN.com:
Get ‘Ankle Injuries’ from Fujiya & Miyagi
On the Web:
fujiya-miyagi.co.uk
