​1977 Isoo Fukui & His Friends “Duo” on Tam

This is a lovely little outing that seems mathematically engineered by a tag team of Pythagorus and Descartes to be the EXACT opposite of nearly every single vibe happening in ’77. Not an easy feat in that throes of Kiss and Fleetwood Mac and Crocodile Rock. This record is thoughtful, intellectual, minimalist, somber, joyful, impressionistic, totally without self-consciousness or the intent to impress. Not sure why it’s called “Duo” unless there’s an entendre or metaphor in there, since it’s actually a trio, with Hideo Ichikawa on piano and Masayuki Ise on guitar. Fukui’s bass playing is like the movement of chess pieces, deeply resonant and strategic, but totally without flourish. This is the record that will be playing when, late at night, hunched over your desk with an ashtray full of Lucky No Filters that you finally discover the breakthrough epiphany of how to transform petroleum into fresh, crisp spring water. So, not really a DJ dancehaller, but still bangs in its own way. Oh yea.