Iconic Japanese dub/rock band Fishmans is revered for their distinct dreamy psychedelic sound, and understandably, Philadelphia art-rockers Pine Barons are amongst their many fans. With regard to their love for the group, Pine Barons have crafted a brand new Fishmans tribute album, I LOVE FISH (due July 8 via Grind Select), and today Glide is premiering their take on “ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising),” the centerpiece of the group’s 1996 album, 空中キャンプ (Kūchū Camp).
As fans of Fishmans, Pine Barons took great care to replicate and honor the intricate details that went into the original recordings, in addition to adding their own meticulous spin. Their take on the twinkly jangle-pop “Night Cruising” perfectly encapsulates the hypnotic, alluring quality of the original Fishmans cut, propelled forward with crooning vocals and bouncing basslines.
Lead vocalist Keith Abrams says “ナイトクルージング (Night Cruising) was one of the first songs that came together for this record early on in the process, and was one of the easier songs to translate into English. It was a popular song for Fishmans when it first came out, and I wanted to stay true to its dreaminess and to have it build upon itself and crescendo into a blissful end.”
Their new cover also comes alongside an accompanying music video, directed by keyboardist Alex Beebe. “For this video, we tried to embody the brightness and liveliness that was our discovery of Fishmans. Looking back on their music has truly helped us look forward. It sparked a flame and revitalized a forgotten feeling we’ve all had in ourselves – a yearning curiosity and genuine awe,” said Beebe. “It rekindled our love and appreciation for music, creatively and objectively.”
