Fishmans formed in the late 1980s around Shinji Sato on vocals and guitar, with Yasuaki Sato on bass, Kensuke Kawaguchi on drums, and Hitoshi Watanabe on keyboards. They started with a psychedelic rock sound that gradually opened up into something more atmospheric and experimental.
Their 1996 album 'Long Season' became their breakthrough, anchored by the eight-minute title track. The record found a wider audience for their blend of ambient textures, electronica, and soul, which they continued to explore on songs like 'Baby Blue' and 'Atarashii Hito'.
Their live shows were known for their improvisational feel and emotional weight. The band's run was cut short by Watanabe's death in 1999, which led the remaining members to stop performing together.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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