David Best of Fujiya & Miyagi recommends… “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” by Gnarls Barkley

“I’ve chosen this song from their LP The Odd Couple because it’s the nearest thing to ’60s soul I’ve heard without it sounding retro or being a pastiche of other songs. The combination of a great song, great vocals and great production is pretty rare but this song manages to achieve that. The whole record is also great, which doesn’t happen very often. I like all of their stuff and I could have easily chosen a handful of others on that record alone, but I think this tune is the one I’ll be listening to until I kick the bucket.”

Fujiya & Miyagi are a Krautrock-obsessed four-piece from Brighton. Their third album, Lightbulbs, is out now on Full Time Hobby.

Fujiya and Miyagi on MySpace

I was thwarted in my initial attempts to listen to Fujiya & Miyagi’s (F&M) Lightbulbs. Their previous album, 2006’s Transparent Things, was something of a sleeper hit with me and also, initially at least, avoided my cunning aural attempts. That was an album that fused a whole host of influences into something funky and completely out of tune with what else was coming out of their home town of Brighton. But anyway, back to Lightbulbs. It seems as though in this age of internet leaks and the like, labels are starting to make it difficult for reviewers to actually LISTEN to the music. Put the promo into your computer to rip it for your mp3 player of choice and it crashes. Nice. Stick it in my car to listen to, the stereo goes a bit funny and tells me I’m listening to a CD-ROM. Double nice. So, finally, I’ve had to set time to listen to it on my stereo at home. And now, after a number of afternoons and evenings with a variety of refreshments, I can write something about it…
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Lykke Li

More names have just been added to Concrete and Glass’ line up. The festival will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of October in venues around the very ‘cool’ and ‘hip’ Shoreditch. Lykke Li and Ox.eagle.lion.man have been added to the Thursday bill, and Friday will see the performance of Fujiya & Miyagi.

Tickets for the festival are available now with an exclusive 20% discount for students.

TLOBF will be there on the Thursday night, most probably holed up at Hoxton Bar & Grill taking in the majesty of Frightened Rabbit. Feel free to buy us drinks and peanuts.

Artists already confirmed are: Continue Reading

Fujiya & Miyagi released their comeback single ‘Knickerbocker’ on 25th August, which was followed by their third album Lightbulbs this very Monday on Full Time Hobby. The band head out on a full UK tour from 18th September.  So, with all this activity, what better time to catch up with the main man David Best to see what they make of our inqusitive 20 Questions…
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