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Lightbulbs shows the same attention to sonic detail as its predecessor, but the four also love words as much as objects.
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F&M have added intriguing textures to the Krautrock of 2006's Transparent Things.
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David Best again sensibly centres his whispered vocals upon texture rather than melody, with lyrics seemingly selected from a pool of pop-culture references by phonetic potential alone.
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UncutTracks like 'Knickerbocker' or 'Pussyfooting' are complemented by David Best's whispering voice intoning gibberish lyrics and rhythmic vocal tics over maddeningly catchy riffs. [Oct 2008, p.90]
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Airy synths and breathy vocals render the songs too dreamy to dance to, and the funky basslines and mechanical beats render them too dancey to dream to. That's the sweet spot of F&M.
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Building on a foundation of shameless proto-gangsta synths and witty but under-enunciated lyrics, Fujiya & Miyagi makes party music that is fresh but not (that) foolish.
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Under The RadarFujiya & Miyagi remain situated somwhere between rock band and electronic dance act, and are perfecting a sound that is uniquely their own, regardless of what influence is visible in their sleeve at any given time. [Fall 2008, p.75]
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Words are used minimally and to great effect.
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But for those who imagine a less self-consciously experimental Blur or Can perhaps jamming it out with Parliament, there's much to enjoy on this classy, cerebral but hugely accessible album.
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It’s about time. Electronica merchants Fujiya & Miyagi, formed in 2000, have finally come up with a winning formula eight years into their career.
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While not guilty of carrying any true bombs, Lightbulbs does reveal how the band's stand-offish approach can serve as both a safety net and an anchor.
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MojoAt their indie-disco feyest they can elicit comparisons with Hot Chip, but Lightbulbs trips the dark fantastic in its own deadpan style. [Sep 2008, p.110]
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Their more subdued follow-up doesn't dirty things up much, but it does give some character to the quartet's airtight groovemaking.
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Despite a few uncomfortable moments, the Brighton trio turn in another solid effort.
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FilterSomewhere in the English to Japanese to...uh, English translation, the wonderful quirkiness inherent in their delivery and meaningless lyrics was misplaced. [Fall 2008, p.105]
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Lightbulbs is an album solely for the initiated, and newcomers to Fujiya & Miyagi would be better served by skipping this watered-down amalgamation and checking out the band's influences instead.
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Q MagazineTheir combination of surreal lyrics and Krautrock now sounds pedestrian. [Oct 2008, p.142]
User score distribution:
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Positive: 6 out of 7
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Mixed: 1 out of 7
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Negative: 0 out of 7
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PaulR.Sep 16, 2008Brilliant.
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PedroMSep 10, 2008One of the best albums of the year so far.