Several blocks down from the chocolate disco…
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[6.33]
Thomas Inskeep: This single by all-female Japanese band Silent Siren has a vibe akin to taking Karen O’s disco excursions with Yeah Yeah Yeahs to their logical conclusion. At points, Ainyan’s bass pops disturbingly like Flea’s (back when the Peppers were actually, y’know, good), and while the chorus occasionally threatens to go full-on dance stormer, it never pulls the trigger, which is to its benefit. “Fujiyama Disco” is some crazy downtown new wave-punk-funk that you may not have known you needed. But you do.
[7]
Ryo Miyauchi: While S showcased the group’s chops with irresistible power-pop riffs, “Fujiyama Disco” draws out more of Silent Siren’s not-so-secret weapon: Ainyan and her bass-playing. Her nimble lines on the slap bass sets the speed on high from the jump, and she pushes the others to inspire the needed energy for this fuck-the-haters anthem.
[6]
Alfred Soto: It didn’t need to run past four minutes, and I doubt this stew of video game syncs and slap bass will get anyone hopped up at the disco, but its energy is almost infectious.
[6]
Will Rivitz: When J-pop is firing on all cylinders, it meshes high-octane rock and funk with fist-pumping pop-electronic production. This one moves, whirling around with meteoric force – strip away its obnoxious mid-aughts supersaw blares and unprocess the “FUJIYAMA DISCO” vocal cries a bit and you’ve got a jam to be reckoned with.
[8]
Will Adams: The only times they really take control of the frenzy are the bridge and the rapid-fire “FU-JI-YA-MA DI-SCO” refrain. Otherwise, the slapped bass runs loose, the synth solo grates, and everything is unappealingly claustrophobic.
[5]
Katherine St Asaph: Imagine an amalgam of Fall Out Boy, “Party Rock Anthem,” “Video Killed the Radio Star,” about six girl-rock tracks from the ’90s, and generously drizzled slap bass. Now imagine whatever’s in your mind, except not terrible.
[6]