Fishmans
Long Season


4.5
superb

Review

by TheSpaceMan USER (40 Reviews)
November 30th, 2017 | 391 replies


Release Date: 1996 | Tracklist


It's been done before, it's long since been novelty: a full length album containing one song. Yet Long Season doesn't rely on this structure to sell its ambition. It wasn't forced into this shape nor created to fill the mold. Equally organic and integral, the album grew into its size because that is how it adapted naturally. Long Season is ambitious in that sense, as it demands discipline to get through while also being dismissed by those who can't help but view the one-song-album structure as a tired gimmick. But even a single trip through the album should prove otherwise. It manages to remain appreciable and, more importantly, palatable throughout its journey by grounding itself in its dream pop roots. Yet don't let this fool you, as woven throughout the record are not so subtle complexities rarely fruited in this genre. There are long pockets of ambiance, progression in songwriting, and incredible instrumental. It all comes from so many places, from the hypnotic piano sequence and the responding synth and guitar, to the insistent march of the drums and Shinji Sato's magnificent vocals. All tied together with absolute precision.

I attempted to write more precisely about the music itself, multiple times actually – all scrapped. What came out inevitably bordered between summary and personal interpretation, two things that don't make for a good review. Long Season is a very interpretable album anyways, especially in a Western world facing the Japanese language barrier; intuition and connection draped above whatever Sato may actually be saying (although it's evident that he eventually drops language entirely from his vocals). There's the intrinsic and primal percussion throughout, the antagonistic Part 3 crevassing down the middle of the record, the shyness of Part 1 repeated in the triumphant Part 5 as a stellar solution. Its all narrative. After the 30 minute song fades, it leaves a sort of impression that is as hard to identify as it is to ignore. And that's the ultimate beauty of Long Season, and its purpose if it ever needed one.



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user ratings (435)
4.2
excellent
other reviews of this album
SublimeSound (5)
Through colorful soundscapes, patience, and precision Fishmans crafts a masterful work that celebrat...



Comments:Add a Comment 
Jasdevi087
November 30th 2017


8165 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

this album gives me a long season

sixdegrees
November 30th 2017


13127 Comments


noice....thought this had a review already for some reason

TheSpaceMan
November 30th 2017


13614 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

probably because it should have had one

Jasdevi087
November 30th 2017


8165 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

apparently none of them had reviews

sixdegrees
November 30th 2017


13127 Comments


messed up if true

Jasdevi087
November 30th 2017


8165 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

fuck i've had Kuchuu Camp sitting in my watch later for like a year maybe i'll listen to it some time

TheSpaceMan
November 30th 2017


13614 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

yet entirely believable

sixdegrees
November 30th 2017


13127 Comments


yeah kinda like how zero Curve albums have reviews on this site

TheSpaceMan
November 30th 2017


13614 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

will fix that shortly (:

Cygnatti
November 30th 2017


36135 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

spacedude, whoa~ i'm glad u liked this so much. :o

TheSpaceMan
November 30th 2017


13614 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

it makes sense though, sputnik hadnt been ready for a Curve review. but i think the dawn is approaching

TheSpaceMan
November 30th 2017


13614 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

haha yeah shoutout to cyg for the rec!

sixdegrees
November 30th 2017


13127 Comments


they cant handle Toni agreed

Frippertronics
Emeritus
November 30th 2017


19570 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

was too lazy to do this



big ups, space

sixdegrees
November 30th 2017


13127 Comments


hes coming for your contrib spot tbh

Frippertronics
Emeritus
November 30th 2017


19570 Comments

Album Rating: 4.2

please

Cygnatti
November 30th 2017


36135 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

very very 90s album, almost everything i want from that decade can be found on this lol

TheSpaceMan
November 30th 2017


13614 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

yeah true I only notice that when its pointed out to me, I'm a sucka for the 90s. side note, for awhile I thought it was female vocals



"please"



lol sounds like you're sweating! but appreciate the ups

TheCynic
November 30th 2017


120 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This sounds very interesting. Adding this to my check list!

TheSpaceMan
November 30th 2017


13614 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

sweet its somethin something



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