Fishmans (Japan) for Crossover?

I also would consider Psych. Prog Related would work musically, but have not found it ticking many of those boxes.

Formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1987.

Fishmans is a Japanese band formed in Tokyo in 1987 by Shinji Sato, who was the lead vocalist, guitarist and trumpet player,, Kin-Ichi Motegi on drums, additional vocals and sampler, and Kensuke Ojima on guitar. They met as students of Meiji Gakuin University. That year they released a demo which they did not complete and in the following year (1988) bassist Yuzuru Kashiwabara joined the group. They performed live that year at various venues. Kashiwbara left the group and Yuzuru Kashiwabara    Various other musicians worked with the band in later years.

In 1991, Fishmans released its first studio album, "Chappie, Don't Cry", which is a reggae pop/rock album. In 1992, Fishmans released "King Master George", which is a fairly experimental rock and dream pop kind of Neo-Psychedelia, Dub (reggae related), and Shibuya-kei (a kitschy Tokyo scene of music that involves Indie Pop, 1960s Pop and Easy Listening, Jazz, and Electronic styles) album. In 1993, Fishmans released the Neo-Psychedelia, Shibuya-kei, Reggae, "Neo Yankees' Holiday" album. In 1994, Fishmans released "Orange", which is a kind of Neo-Psychedelia, Shibuya-kei and Funk Rock. In 1996, Fishmans released the Neo-Psychedelia and Dream Pop album "Something in the Air". Also in 1996, Fishmans released what is commonly thought to be its greatest work, "Long Season", which is a kind of Neo-Psychedelia, Dream Pop, and Progressive Pop and is significantly experimental. In 1997, Fishmans released "Uchu Nippon Setagaya" which has more of a trip-hop influence. And in February 2025, at the time of this writing, Fishmans is set to release "A History of Fishmans".

Aside from the studio albums, Fishmans has some very lauded live album releases: "Oh! Mountain" in 1995, "8-gatsu no genjō" in 1998, and especially "98.12.28 Otokotachi no wakare" in 1999. The other two hour "Otokotachi no wakare" concert features an over 40 minute version of "Long Season" and some consider this to be the greatest thing Fishmans put out. Sadly, the front-man, lead singer, lead guitarist and main sing-writer/composer died a few months after this concert and before the live album was released at the age of 33. This put an end to the band. Various other live releases were put out subsequently such as the highly regarded "Long Season 96.12.26 Akasaka Blitz", recorded in 1996 but not released until 2016. In 1998, Fishmans performed for Space Shower TV exhibiting a more post-rock sound to their psychedelia.

While Shinji Sato's death in 1999 put the brakes on Fishmans, in 2005 the remaining members of the band played a concert in memory of Shinji Sato and for the fans. they have played various shows subsequently. And in 2004, a tribute album by various artists called "Sweet Dreams for Fishmans". This includes a performance of Fishmans' "Pokka Pokka" by the excellent Japanese avant-prog band OOIOO (found in Prog Archive's RIO/Avant Prog category).

Members:

Shinji Sato (lead vocals, guitar, cornet) (1987-1999)
Kin-Ichi Motegi (drums, vocals) (1987-Present)
Yuzuru Kashiwabara (bass) (1988-Present)
Kensuke Ojima (guitar, vocals) (1987-1994)
Hakase-Sun (keyboard) (1990-1995)
Susumu Hisamatsu (bass) (1987-1988)

Tracks:

Long Season live from 1998 (I adore this).











It is particularly for Long Season that I am suggesting Fishmans. I especially like the 1998 concert version.

Here's another version:



I have read that Fishmans had planned to go in a more expansive Long Season direction going forward with post-rock qualities, so while it may be a questionable addition for PA now. in an alternate time-line Fishmans was included in the post-rock category.

I don't expect Fishmans to be included, but I felt that it was still worth considering for PA. I think Long Season worthy. If it is accepted, then I would like to do the addition. Thanks.

Edited by Logan - January 05 2025 at 17:45

^ thanks. I too think that Fishmans is at least prog related, at least musically-speaking, which doesn't mean it's enough for that category since for that more than just the music is taken into account (personnel relations, influence...). Likely it has influenced Japanese prog musicians, and as said at least one band in PA paid tribute to it with a cover. Crossover and Psych are the Prog categories here it has most in common with, with some post-rock qualities, imo.

Long Season is where it's most at for this band. Both for the live performances and studio album. Much as I like the studio album for Long Season, I like the 1998 live the most. And that live albums is my favourite album by Fishmans, with it's Long Season as the biggest highlight.

I think had Shinji Sato lived, then Fishmans would be more obviously right for PA with kind of experimental post-rock sound.

I have been wondering whether or not to suggest Fishmans for quite a long time. Many of my other favourite acts ended up finding their way into PA without my help. :) Now if only they would get more forum discussion with more people...

I'm a fan of Long Season, good stuff.

Thanks David. I did not know about the sad story when I first heard that live album, which was not that long ago. After I did I could not listen to it for a while (let alone watch the performance). Glad you are a fan, Ian.

Frets N Worries wrote: They're not in here already?

In a sense the closest to Fishmans, it might be said, is a man called Fish (aka the Fishman). ;)

https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=724

Thanks Cristi for your prompt response, and sorry if there was some confusion. I wasn’t convinced between either Crossover or Psych, as I had hoped to indicate in the OP, but if you guys think Psych is clearly better, it matters naught to me where it goes. While Neo-Psych is a significant component, and I would say that it fits Long Season best, I thought there was a significant enough poppy or kind of mainstream component to the discography that it may overall suit Crossover better. Reggae is also significant to the band.

This is my favourite album from the band and to me it could fit either .
I do especially like the Long Season portion of that live album, which I posted in the OP. And I do think that is the most significant "piece" to consider, but it's not all that I personally would consider.

I guess it often depends on how much of the material you are familiar with, how much of the discography you have researched, and think worth considering. Sorry for any possible confusion with how I put together the suggestion. A bit rusty. Different teams works differently and some are more thorough in considering all of the albums (like Ivan before with Symph) and others hone straight in what is thought to be the most relevant releases and material. Psych is the most significant component to me of the most relevant to PA music, but I also think pop is a significant component to the band across albums.

Edited by Logan - Yesterday at 03:46

Logan wrote: Anyway, I hope that makes some sense.    Another confused emoticon would kill me. Wherever it goes, or fails to go, I'm okay.    It's the music itself that matters most to me. And sharing and discussing it with people who also appreciate it.

^ Interesting you should say that. Il y a des jours is a favourite album of mine, and I have especially adored the first track "Introduction végétarienne" While both have similarities, I've never considered comparing these two. I love both, and I very much like the way that the repetition is used. By the way, if you have not heard it, much as I like the studio album version of Long Season, I prefer the Long Season track from the December of 1998 concert album, which makes up for the last 41 or so minutes of the two hour and ten minute concert.

I know there was another track by another band that really reminded me of that Hellebore track, but I can't recall what it was now as I thought of it a long time ago and before I knew Fishmans. By the way, Long Season, especially live, in part reminds me of a favourite album of mine, Boredoms Vision Creation New Sun (Japan, 1999) and I think of some Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

^ I love Air. Said to my wife during the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics that I hoped they would play, and they did! I discovered Air sometime before 2004's Talkie Walkie album was set to came out with "Cherry Blossom Girl". 2001's 10 000 Hz Legend seems a very strangely underrated album to me at RYM. I have heard music from 1998's excellent Moon Safari (I prefer that to the Prog band) playing in cafes more than once here. Lovely to see another fave of mine mentioned. And that's very true about mining French music. As mentioned in the OP, Fishmans played Shibuya-kei, which is a kitschy Tokyo scene of music that involves Indie Pop, 1960s Pop and Easy Listening, Jazz, and Electronic styles. And that's what Air was doing. And they both took inspiration from old French music -- music I love,. I love the French influences in lots of Japanese music, and now wish to go eat at a restaurant which is Japanese-French fusion... Snail sushi, yum, yum. :) Stereolab, now in PA, is another mining those avenues, and like lots of Japanese music like Boredoms and Fishmans, there is a Krautrock/ Kosmische influence. SO you might get the repetitive and motorik qualities of Neu! and an influence of Can. They were taking on some primo sh*t, man, or should that be Fish, man.

Edited by Logan - 17 hours 46 minutes ago at 15:04