Audiopile Review: Fishmans seemingly exist outside of time; while they garnered a cult following during their initial run of releases from 1991 until frontman Shinji Sato’s tragic and sudden passing in 1999, it wasn’t until decades later that the band fully began to receive the widespread appreciation they deserved. Thanks to the rise of the internet, streaming, and the resulting critical boom on forums like RateYourMusic, Fishmans found their global audience—an audience that would rank Sato alongside the greatest frontmen in history. Despite the language barrier between Sato and much of their international audience, it’s easy to hear what was so special about this man and his band; everything is tangible, and every bit of their work can be genuinely felt. Starting as a pop-leaning reggae band, Fishmans expanded their sound across seven studio albums, eventually evolving into a fusion of dub and neo-psychedelic dream pop, unlike anything that came before or after them. “Uchu” and its sister compilation “Kuchu” offer an ideal introduction to their discography, showcasing tracks from their hungry beginnings and their later creative peaks. For those familiar with Fishmans, this collection of tracks will likely fill some much-needed holes in your collection, especially considering how hard it is to get your hands on copies of their albums. And for those just taking the plunge, welcome—welcome to a band that exists within its own space. Feel suspended in the air during the opening track “Long Before”, the warmth of the sun in cuts like “Atmosphere” or the more ethereal “Unreliable Angel”, the cool evening breeze of fan-favourite “Nightcruising”, and the relaxed oceanic sprawl of the dub-heavy closing track “New Person”. Let “Uchu’s” 11 selections tell this band’s story better than any of us ever could.

Drummer Kinichi Motegi, currently with the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, curated a selection of tracks for this album based on the concept of “Kuchu (Aerial)” and “Uchu (Universe),” featuring music from two labels in 2005. The album has been highly requested by Fishmans fans for an analog version and is available as a limited edition on Yellow 2LP Vinyl.