...
However, after a short, stadium filling tour of Japan, Ariola herded them back into the studio, the result being the 1979 album Obscure Alternatives. The group had seen Talking Heads while they were away on tour and had been impressed with the intelligence of both the group’s music and ... Read review
Advantages: Still more to come Disadvantages: Not there yet
...result being the 1979 album Obscure Alternatives. The group had seen Talking Heads while they were away on tour and had been impressed with the intelligence of both the group’s music and their audience. It was an example they wanted to follow, and at the same time Japan were becoming attracted to traditional Eastern music.
Obscure Alternatives exposed those interests for the first time, and to good effect. An air of Germanic austerity ... ...Deviations, provided a further interesting counterpoint.
Although the album was a significant step forward from Adolescent Sex, the group were less than enchanted with their producers and engineers and sought still to sort out their style properly.
There was clearly major potential here, but it was still not yet being realised.
... more
In the first part of their career, Japan had struggled to find a fitting style and sound. Their first album, Adolescent Sex, was a mistake and rushed out by an impatient record company before the band were ready.
However, after a short, stadium filling tour of Japan, Ariola herded them back into the studio, the result being the 1979 album Obscure Alternatives. The group had seen Talking Heads while they were away on tour and had been impressed with the intelligence of both the group’s music and their audience. It was an example they wanted to follow, and at the same time Japan were becoming attracted to traditional Eastern music.
Obscure Alternatives exposed those interests for the first time, and to good effect. An air of Germanic austerity in some of Sylvian’s songs, such as Suburban Berlin and Deviations, provided a further interesting counterpoint.
Although the album was a significant step forward from Adolescent Sex, the group were less than enchanted with their producers and engineers and sought still to sort out their style properly.
There was clearly major potential here, but it was still not yet being realised.
Product Information for "Obscure Alternatives [Remastered] [Digipak] [ECD] - Japan" »
Product details
Title
Obscure Alternatives [Remastered] [Digipak] [ECD]
Performer
Japan
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
New Romantic
Release Date
19/04/2004
Original Release Year
1978
Label / Distributor
Arista / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Mixed
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
828765669429
Catalogue Number
82876566942
Additional notes
Album Notes
Japan: David Sylvian, Rob Dean (vocals, guitar); Richard Barbieri (keyboards, synthesizer); Mick Karn (bass, saxophone, background vocals); Steven Jansen (drums, percussion, background vocals). Additional personnel: Ray Singer, Anna, Claudine (background vocals). Digitally remastered edition from first generation tapes features a bonus enhanced video. The second Japan album followed their debut by a mere six months and, like its predecessor, the cover art suggested glam-rock. In the heady days of punk, it was largely ignored in England, but the band did begin to find acceptance in Japan--surprise, surprise... Mick Karn's elegant, flexible bass playing is more prominent, and David Sylvian's vocals settled on a very Bowie-esque style--circa THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD. With these elements in place, the band was on their way to developing their signature sound. The album contains two classic Japan tracks, "Rhodesia" and "Suburban Berlin." The first of these is welded to a reggae-influenced guitar line and lyrics that make passing references to racism, masturbation, and Nazis, while the second, with its chattering, cricket-like guitars, is another of the band's attempts to described a place as completely, but obliquely, as possible. For the album's closer Sylvian contributes "The Tenant," a piano-based instrumental with mournful guitar accompaniment inspired by his interest in classical composer Erik Satie. All told, OBSCURE ALTERNATIVES is a step forward and an improvement on all fronts--this is a classy, intelligent rock record.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Automatic Gun
2.
Rhodesia
3.
Love Is Infectious
4.
Sometimes I Feel So Low
5.
Obscure Alternatives
6.
Deviation
7.
Suburban Berlin
8.
Tenant
9.
Deviation (live in Tokyo/bonus track)
10.
Obscure Alternatives (live in Tokyo/bonus track)
11.
In Vogue (live in Tokyo/bonus track)
12.
Sometimes I Feel So Low (live in Tokyo/bonus track)
13.
Sometimes I Feel So Low (video/bonus track)
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Listed on Ciao since
09/10/2000
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