| Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1987 | |||
| Recorded | April–May 1986 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:03 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer |
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| Mick Karn chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters | ||||
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| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters is the second solo studio album by Mick Karn, released in February 1987. It peaked at number 89 on the UK Albums Chart. [3]
After the release of his debut solo album, Titles , Karn wanted to prove that he was a composer and more than just a bass player. Therefore, on Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters, the bass guitar was not largely used. However, he later thought he should have used more on the album and described it as the weakest album he made. [4]
The album features two of his former Japan bandmates, David Sylvian and Steve Jansen. Sylvian co-wrote and provided vocals on "Buoy" and "When Love Walks In", two of three songs that feature vocals on the album, along with "Answer" which features a choir and ensemble. Sylvian also provided additional keyboards on "Land". Jansen co-produced the album with Karn, and also wrote "Land". [5]
"Buoy" was released as a single in January 1987. It featured "Dreams of Reason" as the B-side and "Language of Ritual" as the second 12-inch single B-side. [6] The single peaked at number 63 on the UK Singles Chart. [3]
Reviewing for New Musical Express , Len Brown was "far from satisfied" with the album, describing it as "by and large an instrumental work; a neo-classical affair; a movie soundtrack in need of images or at least explanations", with several songs "really [amounting] to unaffecting, repetitive ramblings, lacking focus or real direction". However, he did describe "Buoy" as "one clear moment of beauty" that "towers above everything else" on the album. [7] Carole Linfield for Music Week wrote that the album "does touch briefly on the esoteric beauty of Karn's former group Japan", but, "though both acceptable and professional, remains firmly planted in the ambient section. Which is no mean feat, but it's failing is really in the fact that the best track by far is the single". [8]
All tracks are written by Mick Karn, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "First Impression" | 5:11 | |
| 2. | "Language of Ritual" | 5:39 | |
| 3. | "Buoy" | Karn, David Sylvian | 4:57 |
| 4. | "Land" | Steve Jansen | 4:25 |
| 5. | "The Three Fates" | 4:14 | |
| 6. | "When Love Walks In" | Karn, Sylvian | 6:18 |
| 7. | "Dreams of Reason" | 3:48 | |
| 8. | "Answer" | 5:29 | |
| Total length: | 40:03 | ||
Musicians
Technical
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC) [3] | 89 |
Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn, joined the following year by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.
David Sylvian is an English musician, singer and songwriter 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.
Andonis Michaelides, better known as Mick Karn, was an English-Cypriot musician and songwriter who rose to fame as the bassist for the art rock/new wave band Japan. His distinctive fretless bass guitar sound and melodic playing style were a trademark of the band's sound.
Steve Jansen is an English musician, composer and record producer.
Tin Drum is the fifth and final studio album by English band Japan, released in November 1981 by Virgin Records. 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.
Obscure Alternatives is the second studio album by English new wave band Japan, released in October 1978 by record label Hansa.
Oil on Canvas is a live album by the English band Japan, released in June 1983 by Virgin Records. It was released six months after the band had broken up, and became their highest charting album in the UK, peaking at number 5. It has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies.
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.
Everything and Nothing is a compilation album by David Sylvian. Released in October 2000, the album contains previously released and unreleased, re-recorded, and alternate versions of tracks from Sylvian's twenty years with Virgin Records. The record peaked at no.57 in the UK albums chart.
Damage is a live recording by David Sylvian and Robert Fripp. It was recorded on the "Road to Graceland" tour at London's Royal Albert Hall, December 1993.
Japan is an album by the British band Japan, released in the United States in March 1982 on the Epic Records label. It was the first US release of the band's material recorded for Virgin Records in the UK, and was a combination of most of Tin Drum with three tracks from Gentlemen Take Polaroids. It was released at a time when the band was beginning to break up. Despite the group's popularity in Europe and Asia, and a cult following in the US, the album did not break into the Billboard 200 chart. However, it did peak at number 204 on the Bubbling Under the Top LPs chart.
"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.
Titles is the debut solo studio album by the English new wave artist Mick Karn, released in 1982. The album peaked at No. 74 on the UK Album Chart.
InGladAloneness is an EP by Dalis Car, a collaboration between Peter Murphy of Bauhaus and Mick Karn of Japan.
"Let the Happiness In" is a song by the English singer-songwriter David Sylvian. It is the first single from his album Secrets of the Beehive.
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 13 November. 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.
"European Son" is a song by the British band Japan.
Died in the Wool – Manafon Variations is a remix album by English singer and musician David Sylvian, released in May 2011 by Sylvian's independent label Samadhi Sound. The album features six songs from Sylvian's 2009 album Manafon, which have been remixed by Dai Fujikura. The new songs are heavily influenced by Fujikura, who conducted, arranged and composed the prevalent strings sections. "I Should Not Dare" and "A Certain Slant of Light" are poems by Emily Dickinson, set to music and sung by Sylvian.
"Canton" is an instrumental song by English new wave band Japan. It was originally released on the album Tin Drum in 1981, and was then released as the only single from the live album Oil on Canvas in May 1983. It peaked at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.
