Fishmans - フィッシュマンズ-宇宙-日本-世田谷 (Uchu Nippon Setagaya) (Album Review)

 

Fishmans - 宇宙 日本 世田谷 (Uchu Nippon Setagaya)

(1997)


My copy: 2007 Fishmans Rock Festival box set press by Universal Music and Polydor.


Uchu Nippon Setagaya (translates to Space, Japan, Setagaya) was the final studio release from Japanese psych/dub/pop band Fishmans. On their final album, the Fishmans extend their affinity for dub and reggae outwards into long, winding psychedelic passages. 

“Pokka Pokka” is playful yet bittersweet, with a loving sense of self-awareness that helps amplify the effect of the spacey vocal melodies. Regal violin elevates the layered instrumentals, reinforcing a meditative atmosphere. An ethereal sense sets in on “Weather Report” in which the music becomes even more tender as the late Shinji Sato’s vocals call out from another world. Sato’s vocals are a key draw to most fans of Fishmans: from spoken word to impressive and emotional cries, Sato always sang with a friendly tone in his voice, as if he were extending his kindness to the audience itself. 

Jazz influence washes over the pale synth and sounds effects of “うしろ姿 (Back View)” as Sato vocalizes over the continued jamming with joyous strings. “In The Flight” borrows from the proto trip-hop stylings of Stereolab with electronic beats, bubbly bass and controlled chaos in the form of distortion waves that crash beneath the unphased grooves. “Magic Love” blends elements of funk with goofy mid-tempo reggae; the sound effects are bordering on too much, but the Fishmans carry such a genuine charm (thanks mostly to Sato) that it feels nihilistic to pretend that the song doesn’t plaster a smile on my face. 

A real draw is “バックビートにのっかって (On The Backbeat)” which features a pulsing, trance-inducing guitar that functions as a psychedelic metronome. Reggae rhythms re-emerge but carried alongside a mysterious sounding progression that culminates in the whole song mellowing out near the end. “Walking In The Rhythm” is over 12 minutes of shuffling dub music that is a highlight for featuring the catchiest vocal melodies and choral singing. “Walking In The Rhythm” is on a constant groove that steadies itself for a crazed string solo and hypnotic chanting. 

The closer is “Daydream” which returns to a more somber progression as a backdrop for  Sato’s heavenly vocal climaxes. Twinkling synth and toy piano shimmer before a walking guitar leads the song to its densest moment. “Daydream” begs to continue, but fades out after roughly eight minutes of jamming. 

Uchu Nippon Setagaya is not as encapsulating as discography highlight Long Season, but it does a fantastic job at birthing new colors from a unique blend of psych, dub and prog. The Fishmans are specialists of sorts for their at times bizarre genre combinations: there are times where the call backs to 60s pop are quite transparent and not totally enthralling, but the band ensures that their melodies are always communicating a sense of love. 

My copy comes from the Fishmans Rock Festival, which is extremely rare. Even individually, the latest pressing of this record goes currently for 400 dollars on Discogs. If you covet this record, pray for a repress/reissue or be prepared to shell out.


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