Amidst the sometimes sweeping ambitions of the indie-dance scene, Fujiya & Miyagi seem content sticking with what they do best: creating extremely cool, understated electro-pop unabashedly influenced by a wide range of styles, from the Krautrock of Neu! to the minimalism of Philip Glass. It was this musical IQ that, along with the novelty of frontman David Best's vocals and lyrics, made Fujiya & Miyagi's previous album Transparent Things such a surprisingly enjoyable listen. Now the Brighton outfit is back with another, more subdued batch of songs that, though rather similar to those on its last record, does not quite match it in either intrigue or ambition.
Tellingly, the first thing we hear on Lightbulbs is Best - his delivery still hip and not exactly melodious. Indeed, throughout the record, it's Best's vocal styling that defines each song; he uses his voice to create textures that blend with the restrained hip-hop and electronic beats of his backing band to create a feeling that's all their own. His lyrics are similarly atmospheric; he seems uninterested in content and instead searches for word combinations that reinforce his sound. To be sure, as the album progresses, we hear about "the ghost Nina Zavaroni," our encyclopedias and even how Best "will play chill out compilation instrumentals" when his girlfriend is "pre-menstrual" on "Dishwasher." It's all a bit ridiculous, but, for the most part, it works.
However, it seems that all the bite is gone. The record plods through 11 tracks, and nowhere is there a single climax, rough edge or step away from the formula. While it's understandable that Fujiya & Miyagi naturally make subtle music, there isn't enough innovation here to sustain repeated listens. On this effort, they stick close to their guns and end up sounding like they don't want to wake the neighbors.
