WEST of JAPAN Ice? in This Day and Age? JAPAN 'I Don't Really Like II"
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24 Record Mirror, Jahuary 5.1980 / JAPAN's David Sylvian: "I don't like dry Ice." WEST OF JAPAN ice? In this day and age? JAPAN 'I don't really like II". Sylvian told me later "I didn't Ryerson Theatre, know we were going to use it again, and we won't from Toronto now on. We had it when we played in Los Angeles and no-one saw us for the !UM three numbers Bul l like the DECEMBER HIFI FOR PLEASURE JAPAN Is not a rock 'n' roll band. You can't dance to smoke, we use it to emphasise the lights " music, sing to their songs. They their you can't along I asked Min it the band weren't making things dif- are not the kind of band you could work up a sweat ficult for themselves by using effects like that - and listening to So how come 1400 people In this the make up which out with the end of glam rock. polytechnic roared, applauded and stamped their feet - "I don't see It at a 1974 image," in appreciation of Japan's performance? answered David "I the tact that they're popular here is in no doubt The don't think we're glare rock. I'd wear make up anyway I'd be if I 11 fact that they're extremely popular in Japan (the coun. compromising didn't wear now. because I m £2,000 I try) Is hardly surprising. Japanese girls love the trail -doing what think I should do have strong principles and I looking bands, the boys who look as II all won't change them for anybody There's no point they spend in their daylight hours under a rock They aren't at all pre- being successful unless you are on your own terms 01 judlced (as we and the Americans are) in their view of "A tol what we do Is tongue In cheek There's a lot wear of men who make up offstage as well as on humour in what I write Sonie things lust aren't worth of Agfa But Canadians, the lumberjacks of the northern meant to be taken seriously " hemisphere. the mounties who always gel their men? I'd thought that their There's nothing appearance-and the name effeminate about them. So it can't be a itsell- was a deliberate marketing exorcise, to reach cultural preference for fey young men It had to be the the vast Japanese audiences. They've music The knew cashed in with audience all the songs and met each some success marketing a number of with recognition and items with their approval and ultimately gave the name on, which tourists to Japan have been buying, band a Standing ovation. While I enjoyed Cassettes some of the under the impression they're taking away a memento songs, the rest of the time I as felt if everyone else was of their holidays. A bit like calling your group Marks hearing something that I Couldn't. and Spencer really This would have remained a mystery to I me if hadn't "It was just the first name we thought of," said bass made a small tour of the earlier In the city day and player Mick Karn "We were going to change it, in discovered that not only was Toronto very much but into the end left it as It was I admit I new wave and probably wouldn't think won! the (oddly termed) Industrial music Com- much of a that to be band called itself ing out of the UK. but they England." saw Japan as being in that I asked them why they thought find out what's new in the category Japan Is a cult band in Canada they hadn't had as Enter our very special Xmas competition, That's pro. much success In the UK as they d had bably why their new album 'Quiet has elsewhere world of cartridges, on test amps from 7 leading manufacturers - Life' been "In Britain, a lot of it Is based on airplay we released there a couple of months and JVC, Mitsubishi, Philips, Pioneer, Sansui, Sony and Trio, a look at before any other haven't had that And then people see us and Country Already it's shifting copies like candles in they're metal tapes is this the shape of things to come? a not sure what to make of us, so they don't bother to - power strike listen," said David. It Could also be the reason that Japan latest hifi of reviews, letters, advice and so much went all the In fact, the Japanese heard the albums-'Adolescent The news, pages way to Canada to play just one gig-their first in six the you deserve from Sex' and 'Obscure Alternatives'-before they saw the more to make sure you get sort of pleasure months. Hall a year off the road has been very band- which up -ends frustrating for my theory somewhat, but once your hilt. the band, but has obviously helped them they did see the group, the result to re -assess their performance and was assured How their music- The Could these avid followers of Western fashion resist It's all in the December issue of HiFi for Pleasure amount of work they've done and the changes they've the willowy Sylvian, who looks as though a small gust been through was apparent to me. having seen them at would knock him over? the London Lyceum a year ago While I couldn't claim In the UK Japan's recordings have been belle( than to understand a lot of their ideas. I did enjoy watching their live work and they admit them this lime they are still trying to work out the best format for their concerts Al the mo- They've added a sax player-Jane Shorter-which ment. Sylvian plays guitar for fills out their structured keyboards several numbers in the based sound and set and to me. it seemed to sit awkwardly with his . sharpens their similarity to Roxy Music They won't svelte image He doesn't like playing rt either but feels N,l,rrf like the comparison, but there you go Singer David it's necessary to the sound and they don't want to add ?r° Sylvian is a definite Bryan David hybrid _ Ferryf Bowie again to their present line up With that going for them, they should be huge The on- Sax player Jane loured only recently ly thing that I can see that'll hold them back is the com- "Jane's just like us," said Mick "We're hard to get plexity of their music; I don't think it has a universal ap- on with-not in an arrogant way, just personalitywise J REVELATION peal We're hard to gel close to. but she's lilted in right from METNxTAtE The one song they do that I think breaks that barrier the start." ITII is the Giorgio Moroder produced 'Life in Tokyo'. The Getting close to Japan Could be quite a problem, as song was announced by Sylvian who said "A lot of Me unapproachability of their ice cool music definitely P people have criticised us for making this" fit was sets up a barrier stage and XMASGirT between audience. released as a single) but I think it's by far one of the However, they have the appeal o, the touch-me-not best songs they do. The criticism must surely have Gary Numan and are decideiy better looking, If that T come from the more esoteric of their fans The other sort ís has of thing important to you And as human outstanding song is Lou Reed's 'All Tomorrows Par- done spectacularly well. there's no reason to suppose ties' Both of these songs make it easy to relate to the that Japan can't do the same band in rock terms, while the others, based around The Ryerson audience loved the complicated, Richard Barbieri's intricate keyboards and syn- sometimes doomy, structure of Japan's music and the J thesisers lilt the music to more temporal levels. concert was a success. I left, keeling that although I'd I'd always imagined the Canadians ,to be a fairly missed Out on the spark that everyone else Caught, if pragmatic bunch, 'but Japan has struck a gurvermg was my problem. I'll know for sure when you're had chord, They sat through the long intro-'Despair'-and the chance to hear their new album and vote with your ON SALE NOW -loved the billowing clouds of smoke and dry ice Dry Xmas record tokens. ROSALIND RUSSELL .