Name: Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Brand: Japan

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

cdvr2180

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Discs

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2006-05-29

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Universal

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Japan

Genre GB

New Wave / Post Punk

Label GB

japan's fourth album is a study in serious mood development, made even more so with the inclusion of the instrumental b-side, 'the experience of swimming'. japan's subtle mixture of spidery guitars, lush saxophones, and elastic bass is fleshed out with david's sylvian's effortless vocals and some truly classy synthesizer work that, somehow, doesn't seem to have dated. mick karn pulls double duty with the sax and bass and, as usual, his work is what grounds the band - for proof, see 'my new career' or 'taking islands in africa'. among the standout tracks, 'burning bridges' borrows more than a few notions from the collaborations between david bowie and brian eno, but nevertheless manages to present a beautiful soundscape that is fresh and dynamic. with a phrase from one song becoming the title of another, sylvian's lyrics are more oblique than usual. these interrelations don't seem to lead anywhere, but that is hardly the point - much of the time, he seems more interested in how the words sound than what they say. the record also includes a wonderfully infectious cover of the marvin gaye classic, 'ain't that peculiar'. this is the modern-rock version of smoky, late-night jazz. this digitally remastered reissue of the astounding 1980 album features 11 tracks including 1 bonus track, 'taking islands in africa' (steve nye remix) (b-side to 'exorcising ghosts').

Gentlemen Take Polaroids

Music GB