Blues
An unbelievable mix of musical genres which must have been made for each other. I hope the title is not self- depreciating because this music deserves to be taken seriously. I need another copy. I've worn mine out.
By Graham Butler.
**
The Fujii bring the blues to the twenty first century in a way that many critics have acclaimed as being at once, more authentic and more groundbreaking than many other artists who continue to explore this traditional music.
Mike Barnes, biographer of Captain Beefheart, said in the Wire: 'Questions of authenticity are redundant with music this faithful to the Delta blues spirit',
Charlie Gillet said, after the bands performance at the 2002 Thames Festival: 'their first song was a raucous country style blues that inspired me to exclaim that I had not heard such an intense blues performance since seeing Son House at the 100 Club in 1967.'
Andy Kershaw said 'this extraordinary thing....a blues slide player from Japan and a bloke from Kentish Town who blows down a gas main...It's an unlikely combination, but it works...'
Mike Cooper writing in Folk Roots stated 'their music is a true piece of outsider folk art.
Michael prince writes in Blues in Britain 'Fuji is truer to the spirit of Delta blues than a number of self-professed expert exponents of this music. , the resulting music is never less than beautiful and at times quite stunning..'
The band's unique line-up fuses deep traditional blues and extraordinary blues singing [in Japanese] with various Japanese folk and classical musics through the partnership of Fuji and Fumika. Meanwhile Shearsmith's heritage, as an alumni of John Stevens' free music melting pot and member of sonic sculpture outfit Echo City, brings a further avant garde edge to the sound.
**
TheFujii is the collective name for the duo of Koichi Fujishima, aka 'Fuji', and Paul Shearsmith, who met during the Christmas holidays of 1994when Fuji was busking in York. They started playing together at open mike sessions in London picking up various gigs, at places such as the late and sadly missed Bunjie’s, The Klinker Club, The 12 Bar Club and the Virtuallly Acoustic Club. Fuji is a Japanese artist, author, slide guitar player and singer. Paul is an English player of pocket trumpet, tuned gas main, baliphone and hand flute. Fuji is a true folk musician, with his music deeply rooted in that of his heroes, Fred McDowell, Son House and Bukka White, but at the same time, consciously or not, in the folk music of his Japanese background. He sounds perfectly at home singing his Japanese lyrics to these pentatonic blues scales; something like a Japanese Rainer. Paul Shearsmith adds utterly modern pocket trumpet, blown and sucked pieces of metal and plastic tubing, turning this music into post avant-folk.Their music is a true piece of Outsider Folk Art, just like Fuji's glorious paintings and illustrated book on buskers of the world. Both are made for the joy and pleasure of doing it, plain and simple. There first album 'anyway what time did you get up this morning' was released in 2001 to critical acclaim.(Great CD and one of my favourites of the year - Mike Cooper Folk Roots Magazine Jan/Feb 2002. Questions of authenticity are redundant with music this faithful to the Delta blues spirit - Mike Barns The Wire Issue 216 Feb 2002. In 2001 this duo was augmented with the addition of Fumica on violin, successfully taking the roll previuosly held by the harmonica. In 2003 the second album 'we pray the brooze' was released to similar acclaim as the first.
(Fuji is truer to the spirit of Delta blues than a number of self-professed expert exponents of this music.I recommend this album highly to all readers who are of a more adventurous nature than those who want to hear another lacklustre version of "Cross Road Blues".
By Michael Prince. Blues in Britain).
**
Koichi Fujishima (Fuji')- National Steel Guitar and Vocals
Paul Shearsmith- Pocket Trumpet, Tuned Gas Main, Baliphone and Amazonian Hand Flute.
Shimaky Fumica- Violin
**
01. Sun Down (5:02)
02. Tom (0:29)
03. After The Floating (4:20)
04. Como (5:12)
05. Delta (7:41)
06. Innerself (4:39)
07. Aero (1:11)
08. Listen To The Sound Of the Creek (6:35)
09. Under The Dry (8:19)
10. Blacksheep (0:50)
11. Searching (4:53)
12. Tonbo (5:15)
13. Paper Balloon (4:53)
**
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