Three years on from the release of acclaimed long-player 'Lightbulbs', Brighton Electro-rockers FUJIYA & MIYAGI return with a darker, more organic take on their instantly recognisable and distinctive sound.
'Ventriloquizzing', recorded in California round about this time last year and promoted using specially-made ventriloquist dummies of the foursome, is the band's fourth full-length release, but the first created with the help of an 'external' producer in Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers, Vetiver, Lavender Diamond), who was drafted in to co-produce the south coast experimentalists' latest offering.
W&H grabbed a few moments with the lads before the second date of their UK tour at Salford's Islington Mill, where they were keen to expand their thoughts on their latest release:
"It was the end of 2009 that we wrote that" Steve Lewis explains of the latest FUJIYA AND MIYAGI record 'Ventriloquizzing':
"But it was mixed around this time last year...during the summer we've all been involved in doing different projects at home."
"It's much different to Lightbulbs" commented Best of the new record:
"We worked with a producer this time, and I think soundwise, it's quite different - if you know Fujiya and Miyagi, then you kind of think 'Oh, that's Fujiya and Miyagi' in some of the production and, I suppose, my voice, but within that framework, we wanted to make it different - and I think we did that. It sounds a lot moodier".
How was it working with an external producer, and Thom Monahan in particular?
"Yeah, it was completely different" Lewis reflects:
"To be honest, cos it was co-production, we did quite a lot of the work before we went out there, so we were quite well prepared:
"(Monahan) was really focused, really helpful. Recording these drums...I mean, we've always used samples before. He's quite organic, the way he approaches stuff - the source of the sound is really important to him.
"We were in California for a month" continues Best:
"It was three weeks recording and a week mixing" adds Lewis.
And the use of ventriloquist's dummies to promote the new record?
"Mainly" Best considers "I came up with the idea so we didn't have to be in photos"
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"We always felt, I dunno, self-conscious and that, so I thought 'If we had these dummies'...
"They're strong visually...and they do link in to a lot of the songs, obviously the title track, and other bits and pieces...."
"Bands like Devo thought about stuff a bit more, rather than having the band shot against a wall....just trying to be imaginative."
The double support slots saw showcases from much-fancied instrumental prog-rockers PLANK as well as besuited synth combo MIRRORS, who ploughed through a memorable and hugely impressive set at breakneck speed ahead of their forthcoming support slot on the GARY NUMAN tour.
In front of an audience that largely consited of F&M devotees, the main attraction kicked off their set with 'Cat Got Your Tongue', and 'Sixteen Shades Of Black & Blue' , a double-header of strangely arresting standout tracks from the new album, both of which hit the precise spot that fans of the Brighton experimentalists would have recognised immediately.
The spellbound audience welcomed familiar faves such as 'Knickerbocker' and 'Dem Bones' with cheers of recognition, before the lads continued to showcase the new record with fine renditions of the eco-friendly 'Taiwanese Boots' and the controlled yet oddly deranged 'Minestrone.'
The instrumental track from 'Ventriloquizzing' brought matters to a powerful climax, with Best's whispered signature repetition threaded through the all-consuming noise, as if we needed any reminders!
"Fujiya, Miyagi....Fujiya, Miyagi...." breathed Best as the onstage sound hit a strange yet unmistakable fever pitch and the analogue-warped shenanigans posed a serious threat to our sanity, the gig itself ending on a frenzied and powerful peak.
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