Metro
26 June 2007

Named after a record player and a karate teacher, these boys only play at being Japanese. Actually from Brighton, that doesn’t stop them having a go at singing in French and layering it over rolling, streamlined rhythms of the Krautrock variety.

Their career has been a bit of a slowburner so far. Until last year’s album, Transparent Things, the trio of Steve Lewis (Fujiya), David Best (Miyagi) and Matt Hainsby (the ampersand) had flown under the radar, putting out slick and witty vinyl singles, but not being recognised as the electro-pop geniuses they clearly are. Things are taking a sharp upwards turn now and a recent US tour, supporting Peter, Bjorn And John, turned lots more fans on to their mix of sexed-up disco basslines and deadpan lyrics.

Like fellow Brit electronica kids Hot Chip, Fujiya & Miyagi enjoy playing around with words, wrapping breathy vocals around stories of jazz mags, photocopiers and horoscopes. As the beats stomp through dance, disco and funk soundscapes, with Moog synthesisers, keyboards and bass guitars, they manage to sound retro and futuristic at the same time.

Fans who wore out the last album’s 36 minutes of danceable magic will be pleased to hear that a successor is in the pipeline. In the meantime, F&M are teasing us with their first UK headline tour this month, followed by next single Uh, out on Monday.

Thu, Thekla Social, East Mud Dock, The Grove, Bristol, 7.30pm, £6 adv. Tel: 0870 444 4400.
www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk