Fuyiya And Miyagi - Collarbone

by Jamie Rowland

published: 18 / 11 / 2005

Label: Tirk
Format: CDS

Fun second single from oddly-titled Kraut-rock loving British funksters, Fujiya and Miyagi

Review

Fujiya and Miyagi are not, as one might expect, two Japanese electro-experimentalists, but actually 3 Kraut-rock loving British funksters – David Best (vocals/guitar/moog), Steve Lewis (keyboards/programming) and Matt Hainsby (bass). 'Collarbone/Cassette Single' is their second release on Tirk records, following the very successful 10” single 'Conductor 71/In One Ear and Out the Other'. 'Collarbone' has a funky bass hook and clap-along rhythm which has bears than a passing resemblance to American electro-funk band !!! (even the vocal is pretty similar to !!! vocalist Nic Offer’s half whisper). Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, of course. 'Collarbone' is a good song in its own right, and certainly had me drumming my desk as I listened. Personally though, I think the instrumental 'Cassette Single' is the stronger of the two tracks on this release. It’s here that Fujiya and Miyagi’s Kraut-rock influences really shine through, with Kraftwerk, Can and Neu all recognisable, but mixed up and layered with more contemporary electro acts like Vitalic and Autechre. This a good, fun, funky record, which will almost certainly get you in the mood to get your freak on down on the dance floor. I bet it’s even better live, too.