77. Japan / David Sylvian

 

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Musically & stylistically this group was the missing link between Roxy Music and Duran Duran, fronted by the photogenic David Sylvian.

 

ALL MUSIC GUIDE BIOGRAPHY - Japan

ALL MUSIC GUIDE BIOGRAPHY - David Sylvian

 

Key Studio Album: Tin Drum (1981)

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Key Compiliation: The Very Best Of (2006)

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Career Defining Song:

Ghosts (1982 UK#5)

Some Other Key Songs:

 

Japan - Life In Tokyo (1979 did not chart, 1982 reissue UK#28)

 

Japan - Quiet Life (1981 UK#19)

 

Sylvian & Sakamoto - Forbidden Colours (1983 UK#16)

 

David Sylvian - Red Guitar (1984 UK#17)

 

Were any of you fans of this very talented art rock group, or did you think they were a bit too pretentious for their own good?

they were pretencious, but they could get away with it as (like dexys?) they produced some great music.

 

my fav was 'quiet life'... :)

My other half's favourite band ever. He actually runs the major fan site http://www.nightporter.co.uk and he is having a fan-party in August, with 5 DJs playing classics and rarities from the group, solo members and their related acts... Tickets still available :kink: Personally I like them, they were a little pretentious, but they did basically invent Duran Duran :lol: More interesting is the Japanese acts they worked with though.

I remember in the early 80's sharing a house with some girls in Leeds. This was their favourite band and I was reluctant to listen to them ... but they made me and I'm glad they did. I like this one too ... although Quiet Life is great too.

 

 

What was the cover they did of a Supremes song?

 

Norma

 

Just remembered - it was I Second That Emotion - good cover

Edited June 8, 200916 yr by Norma_Snockers

I liked nearly all their singles, always felt he was a bit of a "David Bowie" impersonator, but still like hearing the songs, especially Ghosts, Quiet Life, Life in Tokyo. Think they resembled Duran Duran too much, and gradually lost out to them in popularity.

 

 

Forbidden Colours from the film Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence is just a superb piece of music.

Myfavourite was the gorgeous 'Nightporter'... what a stunning track that was.

 

I think Japan were many 'artier' types' favourite band of the 80s.... but let's not forget Sylvian's pretty impressive output since.... his 'Brilliant Tress' and 'Blemish' albums are incredible. Also worth checking out is his duet with Mick Karn, 'Buoy', 'Orpeus' from 'Secrets of the Beehive', his stunning duet with Virginia Astley, 'Some Small Hope' and of course Forbidden Colours. My personal favourite solo outing by him is 'Heartbeats' with Ingrid Chavez and Ryuichi Sakamoto - gorgeous...

 

Here's the Astley duet (she reminds me of Aled Jones... but this song is scrumptious - especially Sylvian's contribution)

 

 

Are you on the www.nightporter.co.uk Yahoo group Russ? You really sound like you should be... I've never heard anyone talk about Virginia Astley apart from you and Paul (BF)...

Looks like I need to have a peep there I think, then

 

Wonder whatever happened to Virginia Astley?

Will try and find that out for you :)

 

By the way the group is called japan-pioneers if you can't find it on the site.

Japan/Sylvian was pretty cool.. Yep, pretty pretentious as Rob said, but, I'd say that Sylvian had enough of a talent to warrant a bit of pretentiousness or arrogance....

How beautiful is this man's music.

 

Whether as part of Japan or as a solo artist, he has produced some exquisite material.

 

Fav Japan song has to be Ghosts but Nightporter runs it close. Anyone heard The Art of Swimming, a fantastic instrumental track.

 

The reunion album Rain Tree Crow is pretty special too.

 

The only artist on a par with Kate Bush for me.

Edited June 20, 200916 yr by grebo69