and wow I missed that book entirely. looking forward to a softcover. I slept on the Spirit of Talk Talk book too but I see they did reprint that.
― akm, Wednesday, 27 January 2016 22:32 (eight years ago) link
I've always counted Avalon as one of the most important albums of my life -- it sounded / sounds like nothing else. After years of only knowing David Sylvian's work in relation to People I Pay More Attention To (Fripp et al), I finally discovered Japan several years ago and they blew my thirtysomething brain the way Avalon blew my twentysomething brain (and isn't it great that such epiphanies can still occur?). It's probably an obvious and maybe even superficial comparison at this point but the only songs I've heard that approach the sort of flawless, sophisticated New Romanticism of Avalon are things like "Despair," "In Vogue," and "Ghosts." Eager to check out some of the things mentioned upthread (have never heard any post-Talk Talk bands). Also, I've still only heard Tin Drum and Quiet Life (and bits and pieces of GTP). I guess I've always been terrified of spoiling how much I love those two albums by hearing lesser albums (I like a lot of Roxy, but Avalon is the only one I love).
― Jimmywine Dyspeptic, Tuesday, 2 February 2016 15:22 (eight years ago) link
Roxy's 'Same Old Scene' could have fitted snugly on Quiet Life to the point where I wouldn't have batted an eyelid. Just replace Ferry's voice with Sylvian's.
― The Dave Grohl of ILX (Turrican), Tuesday, 2 February 2016 15:33 (eight years ago) link
> they blew my thirtysomething brain
Nice! You're never too old to find something amazing. Your next step should be hearing "Oil On Canvas", the stellar live album. After that it's on to Rain Tree Crow and Sylvian's 80s albums. Then circle back and we'll see what you think, Sylvian went in some interesting directions in the last 20 years.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 2 February 2016 16:50 (eight years ago) link
The last time I listened to Brilliant Trees, I was struck my how well engineered and beautifully recorded it was. Steve Nye worked some absolute magic on that record.
― The Dave Grohl of ILX (Turrican), Tuesday, 2 February 2016 17:31 (eight years ago) link
he's skipped "gentlemen take polaroids' though. jimmywine should check that out.
― akm, Wednesday, 3 February 2016 14:07 (eight years ago) link
the only 'lesser' japan albums are 'adolescent sex' and 'obscure alternatives' and those are only 'lesser' to the extent that they are more influenced by early glam than new romantic.
― akm, Wednesday, 3 February 2016 14:09 (eight years ago) link
Jansen and Barbieri's 'Stories Across Borders', from the same year, is also quite good. Def my fave of the releases they did as a duo.Karn pops up on a couple of tracks, too, so you pretty much have most of yr RTC right there.
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 3 February 2016 21:00 (eight years ago) link
Learning a lot here - thanks!
Context for Jansen and Barbieri? Who are these guys? New name(s) to me.
― Jimmywine Dyspeptic, Wednesday, 3 February 2016 21:08 (eight years ago) link
they are half of Japan!
I wanted to stop by today and mention that Howard Shore's film score to Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars kinda scratches that rain tree crow instros/ECM-y fourth world itch. Fidgety upright bass + tablas + ominous synths.
― scarcity festival (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 3 February 2016 21:18 (eight years ago) link
Learning a lot here - thanks!Context for Jansen and Barbieri? Who are these guys? New name(s) to me.
The drummer and the keyboard player to be precise. Responsible for a lot of the sound on RTC.
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 3 February 2016 21:20 (eight years ago) link
+ steve jansen is also sylvian's brother fyi
― François Pitchforkian (NickB), Wednesday, 3 February 2016 21:21 (eight years ago) link
sorry that fyi was meant w/o snark
― François Pitchforkian (NickB), Wednesday, 3 February 2016 21:22 (eight years ago) link
sometimes stage names really puzzle me. Why change your surname from Batt to Jansen? Sylvian I get.
― scarcity festival (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 3 February 2016 21:36 (eight years ago) link
Listening to GTP and Best of Japan a lot lately. And Yukihiro Takahashi's Neuromantic. Something's going on with my brain for sure.
― my dreams in the hell-pits (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 1 May 2018 11:01 (six years ago) link
Why change your surname from Batt to Jansen?
― startled macropod (MatthewK), Tuesday, 1 May 2018 12:58 (six years ago) link
HUH
― Roberto Spiralli, Tuesday, 1 May 2018 13:13 (six years ago) link
whoa
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Tuesday, 1 May 2018 13:23 (six years ago) link
Yeah who’d a thunk https://e.snmc.io/lk/l/a/8a3eaee17f6fca632639174f46e1cb19/2803623.jpghttps://i.pinimg.com/originals/dd/4e/db/dd4edb60a05602a84733ba32f5962bd7.jpg
― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 1 May 2018 13:35 (six years ago) link
bowie - drive in saturday
Cursing at the Astronette 8Who stands in steel by his cabinetHe's crashing out with SylvianThe Bureau Supply for ageing men
― Kim Kimberly, Tuesday, 1 May 2018 15:04 (six years ago) link
Sylvian (Sylvain) and Jansen (Johansen) were both NY Dolls tributes.
Mick Karn/Arthur Kane too I guess.
Quiet Life getting the deluxe reissue treatment:https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/japan-quiet-life-box-set/
― a degree in bullshit from glasters uni (Matt #2), Thursday, 14 January 2021 21:10 (three years ago) link