I've been unexpectedly hooked on Ventriloquizzing, the sublimely unsettling electro-pop record from the U.K.'s Fujiya And Miyagi. It's definitely electronic, but reminds me more of the sleeker, more decadent end of Brit pop, Pulp for instance, and if you have to go to a dance comparison, Death in Vegas is possible. Anyway, it's utterly poised and sophisticated, with just the right amount of menace. "Ecstatic Dancer," which can be had after some hoop-jumping at Yep Roc, is not on the album, but it's the main single and also the video.
No idea what they'd be like live, but you could find out and tell me all about it:
1/21 - Mercury Lounge - NY, NY
1/22 - Great Scott - Allston, MA
1/23 - La Sala Rosa - Montreal, QC
1/24 - Wrong Bar - Toronto, ON
1/25 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
1/26 - Electric Owl - Vancouver, BC
1/27 - Neumos - Seattle, WA
1/28 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, WA
1/30 - The independent - San Francisco, CA
1/31 - Casbah - San Diego, CA
2/1 - Echo - Los Angeles, CA
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13 comments:
I really wanted to see that Wrongbar show, but that would have been my fourth concert in four days (and on a Tuesday, too). I really liked Ventriloquizzing, gave it an 8 at PopMatters, I'll have to track this song down.
Four in a row, wow, my respect. What else did you see?
Three nights of Los Campesinos!, which may or may not be less worthy of respect.
Hmmmmm...that seems excessive somehow, but to each his own. Did you get the Guinness record (for consecutive Los Campesinos shows)?
Not sure about that, but I HAVE seen every Ontario show they've ever done (plus a few in NYC).
They should get you a tambourine or something, let you up on stage...
Fujiya & Miyagi have a track on that New Order comp I was telling you about, BTW. They do "Your Silent Face."
Hey Jen. Fujiya & Miyagi are from my town of Brighton. I have seen them a few times, they're very good. Just like you'd imagine with lots of electronics - the same but pumped up. Funny how a band named after two Japanese people is made of three English guys and sounds so German. whut?
Yes, very post-global...how've you been anyway? I feel like I've been living in a tunnel lately.
I've been in a bit of a tunnel too. I finished my end of year list last week, which took me about three months!
I've been doing lots of running. Been meaning to ask people who run a lot, what is your favourite stuff to run to? Classic running tracks, if you have any.
Oh, awesome, I've been running since I was about 14...it's like the only stable, consistent thing in my life. I coach middle school track in the spring, trying to convince a bunch of 10-13 year olds that running is fun. Every year I get through to maybe 2-3 of them.
I listen to stuff I'm reviewing and things people have sent me that I might review mostly when I run...but i have to say there are occasional, fleeting times when the beat is exactly lined up with how fast I'm running and it's fantastic. The last time I can remember it happening was with Mind Spiders (and only one song) and before that Handsome Furs. Anyway, I like spun-out, psychedelic-drone-y stuff for speedwork, and punk rock for long runs (because it breaks things up into 2 minute chunks mostly), but I'll listen to almost anything. I did speedwork last time to Bollywood Bloodbath, which was kind of bizarre.
Good list by the way. We have lots in common (Psychic Ills, Skull Defekts, Mogwai, among others), and lots of differences...and I've only heard maybe a quarter of your choices. I really want that Total Control, but it's an $18 import.
Convincing 2-3 kids of anything, out of any size group, sounds like an achievement to me.
I've been listening to punkier stuff recently - Tyvek is good to run to but I'm finding that I'm starting to prefer electronics over guitars. Too much distortion seems to give me bad dissonance. I can't run to black metal any more at all, makes me feel sick and burns me out.
I liked your EOY list on Dusted. That Gem Club album is wonderful but didn't make it into mine. UV Race didn't make it to mine either - but then they're in Total Control too, so they snuck in anyway. I'd say that record is worth $18.
Oh, thanks, yeah, I'm sure Total Control is worth $18, but I've got to pay for heating oil and car repairs and all kinds of shit and I'm hardly working at all, so maybe later.
I think that something like Primal Scream's "Shoot Speed/Kill Light" is almost ideal for running, because it's got this very strong, very physical beat, but also kind of a dreamy, in-your-head element, too. which is exactly what running feels like to me, at least when it's going well.
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