Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)

Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)

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The last album with Rob Dean, Gentlemen Take Polaroids was also unquestionably the album in which Japan truly found its own unique voice and aesthetic approach. The glam influences still hung heavy, particularly from Roxy Music, but now the band found itself starting to affect others in turn.



Even the back cover photo says as much -- looking cool in glossy, elegant nightwear, the quintet had a clear impact on Duran Duran, to the point where Nick Rhodes obviously was trying to be Sylvian in appearance.



Musically, meanwhile, the swooning, hyper elegant Euro-disco sheen of Quiet Life was polished to an even finer edge throughout, the title track and the obvious descendant of "Quiet Life" itself, "Methods of Dance," in particular sheer standouts.



Sylvian's sighing, luscious croon is in full effect on both, and the arrangements are astonishing, Karn's fretless purring between Jansen's crisp, inventive, and varied drumming, Barbieri's icy keyboards filling out the corners.



What makes Gentlemen Take Polaroids even more of a success is how the group, having reached such a polished peak, kept driving behind it, transforming their exquisite pop into something even more artistic and unique. "Swing," in particular, is an astounding showcase for the Karn/Jansen team; snaky funk at once dramatic and precisely chilled, brass section blasts adding just enough wry, precise sleaze, Sylvian delivering with focus and intensity while not raising his voice at all. "Nightporter," meanwhile, is a hyper ballad and then some; a slow-paced semi-waltz with Barbieri's piano taking the lead throughout with wonderful results.



Further hints of the future come with the album closing "Taking Islands In Africa," which Sylvian co-wrote with future regular collaborator Ryuchi Sakamato, and which wraps up the whole experience with a gliding, supple grace.





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Tracklist:

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01 - Gentlemen Take Polaroids

02 - Swing

03 - Burning Bridges

04 - My New Career

05 - Methods Of Dance

06 - Ain't That Peculiar

07 - Nightporter

08 - Taking Islands In Africa

09 - The Experience Of Swimming

10 - The Width Of A Room

11 - Taking Islands In Africa (Steve Nye Remix)



*2003, 2006 Virgin Records | 0946 3 63057 2 1 {2006 Virgin Remaster}





Personnel:

David Sylvian – vocals, synthesizers (ARP Omni, Oberheim OB-X, Minimoog, Roland System 700), piano, electric guitar

Mick Karn – fretless bass guitar, oboe, saxophone, recorder

Steve Jansen – drums, synthesizer (Roland System 700, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5), percussion

Richard Barbieri – synthesizers (Roland System 700, Micromoog, Polymoog, Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-X, Roland Jupiter 4), sequencer, piano

Rob Dean – guitar, ebow





Additional personnel:

Ryuichi Sakamoto: synthesizers

Simon House: Violin, "My New Career"

Cyo: Vocals, "Methods of Dance"

Barry Guy: double bass

Andrew Cauthery: oboe