Fujiya
3 stars
Though you wouldn’t know it from their name, Fujiya & Miyagi are a British trio. Fujiya is the name of a record player, and Miyagi comes from the character on The Karate Kid. They thought it looked cool. I didn’t really like the name until I listened to “Ankle Injuries,” the opening track on their latest disc, Transparent Things. In the song, they chant their name to the beat: “Fujiya, Miyagi, Fujiya, Miyagi…” There’s no doubt the words have a catchy ring to them.
In general, Transparent Things is a good “chill” album. It’s a fairly cerebral offering, but I would like to hear a little more depth. There are not enough loops, and the keyboards aren’t utilized as much as they should be. Combine that with the breathy and soft vocals, and you get a sometimes-boring record. Much of it is quite good, though. The first half of the record is far superior to the second half. The record’s highlights (“Ankle Injuries,” “Collarbone,” “Photocopier,” “Conducter 71,” and “Transparent Things) are the first five tracks. “Collarbone” is my favorite song on the record, and I dare you not to bob your head as you listen to it. The band’s sound peaks in “Conducter 71,” a cool instrumental track. If only they could replicate the soundscape in that song on the rest of the record.
In general, Transparent Things is a fun and light record. It’s beat-centric and is a great album to put on while you’re knocking a few back with friends.
Scale:
0. Shoot yourself
1. Poor
2. So-So
3. Good
4. Excellent
5. Instant classic