A guest posting by Mopyfop
A mixtape of sorts just over an hour of music (that has also been turned into an ICA)
mp3: Japan Sylvian, Karn and Sakamoto – A Selection
Starting at the beginning –
Japan – Methods of Dance (from Gentlemen Take Polaroids)
A great Mick Karn bassline, Steve Jansen (David Sylvian‘s brother) drumming like he means it, side 2 track 1. A great opener – David Sylvian (real name David Batt from Lewisham in South London doing his best Bryan Ferry voice).
Japan – The Art of Parties (from Tin Drum)
I like to think of this as Japan‘s difficult 3rd album (it’s their 5th) but it is if you consider Quiet Life as a new beginning. I can recall us dancing around the record shop when this came out as an album track.
Japan – Sons of Pioneers (from Oil On Canvas)
A live album and the last tour’s opener. Mick Karn’s fretless bass in all its glory.
Japan – Cantonese Boy (from Tin Drum)
The album’s closer and with it the distinct break-up of the band. A satisfying coda?
David Sylvian – Before the Bullfight (from Gone to Earth)
When this came out in 1986 I didn’t know what to make of it. Parts of the lyrics keep cropping up in my mind and the whole thing is memorable. I see now shades of prog rock with a stellar set of side men including ¾ of Japan with Steve Jansen on drums and Richard Barbieri on synths + Bill Nelson on electric and acoustic guitars & Kenny Wheeler on fluglehorn. Apparently the composing started with the drums, not a melody.
David Sylvian – Nostalgia (from Brilliant Trees)
The first sense on the debut solo album that things were not going to be like they were before. Something haunting?
David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto – Forbidden Colours (revised version)
A real nice surprise on Secrets of the Beehive, Sylvian’s 4th album was a re-recording of this theme from Goodbye Mr Lawrence – done because he thought something was missing from the album. Sakamoto plays the keyboards, Jansen on drums again.
David Sylvian – The Scent of Magnolia (from Everything and Nothing)
More great side men, this time John Giblin’s distinctive bass, Bill Frissell on guitars, Sakamoto on electronics and his then wife Ingrid Chavez on some vocals.
Japan – Nightporter from (Gentlemen Take Polaroids)
The first time we really heard David Sylvian on his own with a Satie like piano riff.
Japan – Ghosts (from Tin Drum)
It’s about the band breaking up, though they did not know it when recorded. It also seems a suitable place to stop!
The image chosen to illustrate today’s piece is ‘Shipping on the Clyde’ by the great John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836 – 1893). The location is Broomielaw in the Glasgow city centre. It’s rather different looking now…….
Mobyfop
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 