Kūchū Camp
{{More citations needed|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Kūchū Camp
| type = studio
| artist = Fishmans
| cover = Kūchū Camp Cover.jpeg
| released = February 1, 1996
| recorded = July – November 1995
| genre = Dream pop, dub, neo-psychedelia
| producer = Fishmans
| length = {{Duration|m=45|s=42}}
| label = Polydor Records
| prev_title = Oh! Mountain
| prev_year = 1995
| next_title = Long Season
| next_year = 1996
}}
Kūchū Camp (Japanese: 空中キャンプ, {{literal translation}} Aerial Camp) alternatively titled Something in the Air, is the fifth studio album by Japanese band Fishmans, released on February 1, 1996 on Polydor Records. The album was the bands most notable change in style, leading into a more psychedelic and dream pop sound while still retaining their earlier dub roots.
Kūchū Camp was the first studio album to introduce their new supporting multi-instrumentalist member Honzi, who would go on playing with the band until her passing in 2007. In September 2007, Rolling Stone Japan ranked Kuchu Camp No.8 on its list of the "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time".{{cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Cam |title=Finally! "The 100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums of All Time" Listed |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/finally_100_greatest_japanese_rock_albums_of_all_time |work=Exclaim! |date=2007-11-14 |access-date=2020-08-30 |archive-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526030909/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/finally_100_greatest_japanese_rock_albums_of_all_time |url-status=live }}
Background
In 1995, Fishmans signed a contract with Polydor Records. Following this, producer ZAK approached the band's new director, Toshiya Sano, with a request to create albums at their own pace, which would require their own studio. They asked for an advance on their production budget to cover studio equipment and rent. At the time, the music industry was still benefiting from the tail end of a financial bubble, and although the band boom had declined and live houses were struggling, CD sales were still strong. This allowed the band’s request to be approved. Fishmans secured their own studio on the condition that they would produce three albums within two years. The rise of DAW software like Pro Tools, which allowed for professional-quality digital recording in personal studios, contributed to the feasibility of this arrangement.
By July 1995, Fishmans began rehearsals for their new album, Kūchū Camp. However by September 19, Hakase left the band{{Cite web |title=Fishmans official website ｜ フィッシュマンズ公式サイト |url=https://www.fishmans.jp/biography/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Fishmans official website ｜ フィッシュマンズ公式サイト |language=ja}} citing a desire to focus on his own music. Since many of the songs had been written with him in mind, his departure required significant adjustments to the album's creative direction. With Kensuke Ojima also having left a year prior, Hakase’s exit reduced the band from five members to three. Despite these changes, the band continued their work with a renewed focus, bringing in supporting musicians such as Honzi (violin, keyboard), and Shinya Kogure (guitar) from Hicksville to fill the role left by Hakase.{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=Natasha |title=佐藤伸治（フィッシュマンズ）（後編） {{!}} 音楽偉人伝 第15回 |url=https://natalie.mu/music/column/353926 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=音楽ナタリー |language=ja}}
Track Listing
{{Track listing
| total_length = 45:42
| title1 = ずっと前
| length1 = 4:58
| title2 = Baby Blue
| length2 = 6:07
| title3 = Slow Days
| length3 = 4:40
| title4 = Sunny Blue
| length4 = 5:53
| title5 = ナイトクルージング
| length5 = 6:00
| title6 = 幸せ者
| length6 = 4:36
| title7 = すばらしくてNice Choice
| length7 = 6:45
| title8 = 新しい人
| length8 = 6:43
}}
Personnel
- Shinji Sato – Voice, Guitar, Composition
- Yuzuru Kashiwabara – Bass, Chorus
- Kinichi Motegi – Drums, Chorus
Guest musicians
- Honzi – Keyboard, Violin, Chorus
- Shinya Kogure – Guitar, Chorus
- Sugar Yoshinaga – Guitar on "Slow Days"
- Tadashi Ueda – Piano on "Subarashikute Nice Choice"
Mixing and others
- ZAK – Producer, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer, Programming
- Tak – Recording Engineer
- Phonic – Design, Art Direction
- Mariko Yamamoto – Design, Art Direction
- Moog Yamamoto – Design, Art Direction, Photography
- Tohru Kotetsu – Cutting Engineer
- Tsutomo Okada – Assistant Engineer
- Kazuo Saimoto – assistant Engineer
- Yuka Koizumi – mastering Engineer
- Toshiya Sano – A&R
- Masaki Morimoto – A&R
- Naoko Nozawa – Artist Promotion
- Shuji Kudoh – Artist Promotion
- Ichiro Asatsuma – Executive Producer
- Yoshiyuki Okuda – Executive Producer
- Tadataka Watanabe – Executive Producer
- Kokoro Moriguchi – Management Staff
- Akiko Ueta – Management Staff
- Mitsuteru Takasugi – Equipment
- Takeshi Umezawa – Equipment
- Pardon Kimura – Interior Coordination of Hawaii Studio (Wakiki Beach)
- Ayako Mogi – Photography
- Keiji Ito – Graffiti
- Friends – Photography
Charts
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Chart Position |
| Japanese Album (Oricon)
|46 |