Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn, joined by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean the following year. Initially an alternative glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences, eventually becoming an influence on the UK's early-1980s New Romantic scene, though the band themselves were not a part of it.
David Sylvian is an English singer-songwriter and musician who came to prominence in the late 1970s as frontman and principal songwriter of the band Japan. The band's androgynous look and increasingly electronic sound made them an important influence on the UK's early-1980s New Romantic scene. Following their breakup, Sylvian embarked on a solo career with his debut album Brilliant Trees (1984). His solo work has been described by AllMusic as "far-ranging and esoteric", and has included collaborations with artists such as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Robert Fripp, Holger Czukay, Jon Hassell, Bill Nelson and Fennesz. While his recordings of the 1980s and 1990s were a mixture of pop, jazz fusion, and avant-garde experimentalism mixed with ambient, his more recent compositions have drawn increasingly on musical minimalism and free improvisation.
Secrets of the Beehive is a solo album by British singer-songwriter David Sylvian and was released in 1987. Reportedly written in one sitting over a couple of weeks Secrets was his most intimate to date and used more acoustic instruments than ever before. By many regarded as his finest solo work. Produced by Steve Nye and David Sylvian, the album features Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Torn, Mark Isham and Steve Jansen among others. The album peaked at no.37 in the UK album chart.
Brilliant Trees is the first solo album by the British singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released in 1984. The album peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.
Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album by English band Japan, released in November 1981 by record label Virgin. It peaked at No. 12 on the UK charts, and featured the top 5 single "Ghosts". It has received acclaim as the band's best and most original work.
Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the English band Japan, released in 1980 by Virgin Records.
Rain Tree Crow is the sole album released by English band Rain Tree Crow, a reunion project by the members of the new wave band Japan. Recorded in 1989 and 1990 and released in April 1991, it was the first time that members David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri had collaborated as a four-piece since 1982. The album peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart.
Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities is technically David Sylvian's second solo album, released in 1985 on cassette only, and produced by Sylvian and Nigel Walker. However, David Sylvian’s website davidsylvian.com states that Alchemy is an “intermediary album, made up of ... entirely separate projects,” and also that the next album Gone to Earth is “David Sylvian’s second solo album proper.” The reasons that Alchemy is an intermediary album rather than a solo album proper are (1) it was assimilated from separate projects, and (2) it was originally released on cassette only, in a limited edition. Additionally, subsequent versions released in 1989 and 2003 added tracks from more different projects, thus somewhat adding to the release not being a singular distinct album. It was reissued in its original form on CD in Japan in 1991.
Everything and Nothing is a compilation album by David Sylvian. Released in October 2000, the album contains previously unreleased, re-recorded, and lesser-known tracks from Sylvian's twenty years with Virgin Records. The record peaked at no.57 in the UK albums chart.
Snow Borne Sorrow is an album by Nine Horses, released in October 2005. Nine Horses is a collaboration between David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Burnt Friedman. Other contributors include Norwegian trumpeter and Supersilent member Arve Henriksen, Swedish vocalist Stina Nordenstam, and Ryuichi Sakamoto on piano.
Dead Bees on a Cake is the fifth solo album by David Sylvian, released in March 1999. It was his first solo album since 1987's Secrets of the Beehive. The album peaked at no. 31 in the UK Albums Chart at release and contained his last UK Top 40 single to date in "I Surrender".
The Very Best of Japan is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released worldwide in 2006 by EMI Music.
Japan is an album by the British band Japan, released in the United States in 1982 on the Epic Records label. It was the first U.S. release of the band's material recorded for Virgin Records in the U.K., and was a combination of most of Tin Drum with three tracks from Gentlemen Take Polaroids. Despite the group's popularity in Europe and Asia, and a cult following in the U.S., the album was not a chart success, and was released at a time when the band was beginning to break up.
"Forbidden Colours" is a 1983 song by David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The song is the vocal version of the theme from the Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. It appears on the film's soundtrack album and was released as a single on Virgin Records in 1983.
"Nightporter" is a song by English new wave band Japan. The song originally featured on the band's fourth album Gentlemen Take Polaroids in 1980. However, it was then remixed by Steve Nye and released as a single in November 1982. The single peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart.
World Citizen is an EP by Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian. It was originally released in 2003 in Japan, and was later released under UK label in 2004. The two editions have different track lists and different covers. The EP was created as part of a project called Chain Music instigated by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
"Red Guitar" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Sylvian. Released in May 1984, it was his debut solo single and taken from his first solo album Brilliant Trees. It peaked at no.17 on the UK Singles Chart.
"The Ink in the Well" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Sylvian. It was released in August 1984 as the second single from his debut solo album Brilliant Trees.
Visions of China is a song by English new wave band Japan, released in October 1981 as the second single from their 1981 album Tin Drum, which was released on November 13. The single reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Cantonese Boy" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released in May 1982 as the fourth and final single from their 1981 album Tin Drum. The single peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. The song refers to the enlistment of a Cantonese boy to the Chinese Red Army.
