United Future Organization -- The Planet Plan

Wikimedia Commons
NASA

A few years ago, I posted the first article regarding United Future Organization, a trio starting out in the 1990s with their way-out Daddy-o cool take on jazz. The article was for their 1993 "My Foolish Dream", a collaboration with J-R&B chanteuse Monday Michiru that was so cool that in another universe, listeners needed to be the beautiful people type to go to a very exclusive club hidden away in depths of the city to hear it.

Well, in 1996, United Future Organization released their 3rd album "3rd Perspective" and one of the tracks is "The Planet Plan". And yep, as a number of commenters on the YouTube page have stated, there is a definite similarity between this particular tune and the works of movie/TV composer Michael Giacchino on "The Incredibles" soundtrack. It could have even been included on the soundtrack secretly without anyone being the wiser. As it is, with the inclusion of the vocal excerpts, there is very much of a conspiracy thriller vibe with "The Planet Plan" as a select group of cool and stylish Earthlings attempt to investigate a subtle takeover by aliens. Think "The X-Files" set to 1960s Quincy Jones music. Finally, I have to mention that I've delightfully realized that the repeating riff right by the end at the 4:00 mark is a piece of BGM that had been used on one Japanese variety show's segment.

I also have to mention that one of the three members of United Future Organization, Tadashi Yabe（矢部直）, sadly passed away last July at the age of 59. My belated condolences go to his family, friends and fans.