Fluid Japan: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence – US – DL [2024]

1. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence 3:43
2. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence [Tokyo Mix] 4:40
3. Come See Me To The Moon 3:17
4. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence [Yukiguni Mix] 3:36
5. An Extra In God’s Great Film 4:35

We are still in catching up mode but this release is worth the effort! It dropped last Thursday and I immediately bought it only to finally hear it today. We’ve not heard any covers yet from the Art Rocking Fluid Japan collective, but there’s a first time for everything. In this case, it was an extended homage to the group’s foundational influence, the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. And they have sought to dig beneath the song’s surface to explore hidden trajectories in this trilogy of versions that forms the backbone of this very pianocentric EP.

When the band first coalesced in Tokyo in the late 90s, the song was a staple of the band’s live sets and first practices. Now that the band is virtual and spread out widely, they have returned to their roots with some widely disparate versions of the iconic song. The EP was primarily down to two members of Fluid Japan flexing their musical muscles this time. Reiko Minimikawa faithfully covered the song on the Kyoto Mix with delicate solo piano with crystalline sustain being the entirety of the performance. The gentle breakdown in the coda being the only real point of departure here.

The band have stated that the Tokyo Mix was an attempt to place the song into a different Sakamoto context; that of the superb “Neo Geo” album. This time the piano was abetted with synthesizers and drum machines. The former courtesy of Minamikawa with Walt Wistrand on synths and drum machine. Delicate synths dispersed throughout the extended intro until the familiar piano theme manifested in the bulk of the song. As accompanied by subtle hi-hat and rim hits. The glassy reverb of the piano notes in the coda were an elegant lead-in for the breakdown in the lower end of the scale this time.

Minamikawa’s solo piano single from 2023, “Come See Me To The Moon,” [which we missed reviewing last year] fits into the conceit and context of this EP marvelously, with its wistful yet sophisticated melody being more than adequate company for the song that changed everything for Sakamoto. Then the Yukigini Mix of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” re-set the context of the song within a framework of only synthesizers and elegant, spectral, choral patches adding an airbrushed sheen not a million miles away from the vibe of a song like “I’m Not In Love.”

Finally, Walt Wistrand added one more track, which struck a Harold Budd/Cocteau Twins vibe while having a title that Bill Nelson should probably be a little jealous of. “An Extra In God’s Great Film” sported a drum track here but it was so subtle that it almost faded out at the song’s midpoint. Making room for more choral patches to swoop into the mix and soon graciously depart. Leaving the climax of the song to the reverberant piano.

Fluid Japan have produced a trilogy of Sakamoto’s most indelible melody that runs a fascinating spectrum along the Sakamoto/Budd axis of sound and to this they’ve added two of their most coherent contributions to result in a keyboard driven EP that made only scant concessions to notions of rhythm while exploring vistas of placid, tranquil beauty. While there’s certainly no harm in leaving the audience wanting more, their success with “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” here suggested that some enterprising musician might one day craft an entire album from the song.

As evidenced here, it’s certainly sturdy enough to hang such a conceit on. But until then, we can revel this fascinating sidestep in Fluid Japan’s journey that paid generous melodic dividends and is recommended to any and all fans of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Harold Budd, and even the ambient side of Bill Nelson as well. Due to the licensing costs, this single will set us back $3.75 but I felt it was worth more, and I know for a fact that the $3.75 doesn’t quite cover the licensing fees so make sure you top off when buying. DJ, hit that button!

-30-