TRACKLIST:
Artist : Japan Country : UK Release : Quiet Life Year : 1979 Genre : Hard Rock File Type : mp3 VBR Info:
Japan's evolution from rather humble glam rock beginnings into stylish
synth pop (and beyond) made the British group one of the more
intriguing and successful artists of their era. Formed in London in
1974, Japan began its existence as a quintet comprised of
singer/songwriter David Sylvian, bassist Mick Karn, keyboardist Richard
Barbieri, drummer (and Sylvian's brother) Steve Jansen and guitarist Rob
Dean. In their primary incarnation, the group emulated the sound and
image of glam rockers like David Bowie and the New York Dolls; Sylvian's
over-the-top vocals, much in the vein of Bryan Ferry, also earned Japan
frequent (if derisive) comparisons to Roxy Music.
After winning a
label-sponsored talent contest, they were signed to Germany's
Ariola-Hansa Records in 1977 and debuted a year later with a pair of
LPs, Adolescent Sex and Obscure Alternatives, which received little
notice at home or in the U.S. but did find favor among Japanese
audiences. With 1979's Quiet Life, Japan made a tremendous leap into
more sophisticated stylistic and subtle territory; a subsequent hit
single covering Smokey Robinson's "I Second That Emotion" further
underscored the newfound soulfulness of their music.
TRACKLIST:
Artist : Japan Country : UK Release : Obscure Alternatives Year : 1978 Genre : Hard Rock File Type : mp3 VBR Info:
Their second album to hit the shelves in 1978, Japan's sophomore
effort, Obscure Alternatives, found the band dropping most of their
debut's funk fringe in favor of guitar-oriented fuzz and quirk --
scooping up the glitter left behind by all the scene's other nascent
Siouxies and Adam Ants. Although the set isn't quite up to par with its
predecessor, Obscure Alternatives is still a challenging listen. David
Sylvian is snotty, snotty on "Automatic Gun" -- a spit-shined punk
shocker backed by bright pop guitar -- and ironically playing into all
the guises they eschewed. Both the wonderfully atmospheric and slightly
menacing title track and "Love Is Infectious" put the band completely
into discordant post-punk art house-dom, the latter including a twisted
piano solo in the middle of the guitar crunch. "....Rhodesia," on the
other hand, brought the funk back and infused it with a Caribbean
essence. While there is no doubt that Obscure Alternatives paled in the
shadow of Adolescent Sex, Japan had obviously, in their eyes, broken
through to find their style, their groove. Still eons away musically
from their more commercial Tin Drum heyday, the band were nevertheless
cultivating a breathtaking crop of kernels.
TRACKLIST:
Artist : Japan Country : UK Release : Adolescent Sex Year : 1978 Genre : Hard Rock File Type : mp3 VBR Info:
Although Japan later became one of new romantics' poster children,
their 1978 Adolescent Sex LP predated the movement by two years. A
remarkable debut, the set snarls with leftover punk intent, a few glam
rock riffs, and a wealth of electronics that not only reach back to the
band's youth, but also predate much of what would explode out of the
next wave of the British underground. Sounding absolutely nothing like
MTV's mainstream Japan, the quintet snarls across the opener
"Transmission," all snotty lads and frazzled hair, setting the stage for
what follows. Rather than toeing that line, though, the band pull some
remarkable tricks out of their admittedly tight sleeves. The "wow
factor" of an incredibly funky bass and guitar on "The Unconventional,"
repeated again on "Wish You Were Black," is not only a surprise but
leaves one wondering if the band were closet Chic fans — especially in
light of the seven-minute jam "Suburban Love" that follows a little
later on. Elsewhere, though, the band play closer to their roots while
defining their own style, which includes David Sylvian's wonderfully
sexy, tousled vocals — most notably on the epic, and sexy, post-punker
"Television" and a cover of the vintage showstopper "Don't Rain on My
Parade." A more exciting album than just about anything else they'd ever
record, Japan were young, hungry, and more than a little rough around
the edges. Despite the slick R&B work twined in, it's important to
remember that this band were in the sonic foothold of an early edgy era —
groundbreakers at their own inception. That sound; that look — it fit
them well.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
