by The Nightporter on Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:39 pm
I have to admit that at the time I was devastated on learning that Japan would be splitting following the final tour.
Just shy of 19 years old, Japan had provided a backdrop to my life in many ways during those formative years. 'Gentlemen Take Polaroids' still to this day remains among (IMO) one of the finest albums ever released (behind only the immortal 'Joy Division - Closer', and just ahead of 'Suede - Dog Man Star') and is still a piece that I marvel in it's creation.
I know that many will point to the plethora of subsequent post-split releases however, for myself at least Japan were a complete band at that time, and for me their collective work as a band has not been replicated since.
Following the split I eagerly awaited all of the band members solo releases, always hoping for a glint of the chemistry that Sylvian, Karn Barbieri and Jansen created together, and yet with the odd exception ('David Sylvian - Gone To Earth', 'Dali's Car - The Waking Hour' and the collaboration of 'Buoy' & 'When loves Walks In' being the exceptions) the orignal spark never returned....a shame.
So yes, I do wish the split had not happened, regardless of the subsequent releases, and for years hoped that a reform was on the cards (by the time 'Rain Tree Crow' came along the fire had well and truly given up hope and I never warmed to the album) but it was not to be. I still listen to 'Japan', actually a lot more of late (along with 'The Associates') and only this afternoon watched the OGWT performance of 'The Art of Parties'.....those really were great days.