| Tin Drum | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 November 1981 | |||
| Recorded | June – September 1981 [1] | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:46 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer |
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| Japan chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Tin Drum | ||||
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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". [9] It has received acclaim as the band's best and most original work.
Tin Drum continued the band's now-established mix of electronic elements with traditional instrumentation, but leans far more towards Far Eastern influences than any of their previous albums. Lead guitarist Rob Dean had departed in May 1981 and vocalist/songwriter/second guitarist David Sylvian had taken on his duties, which had been very greatly reduced by the band's change of musical direction. Brooklyn Rail writer Paul Grimstad described the album's sound as "mannered cubist pop". [6]
Musically, Tin Drum was a meticulously crafted blend of complex rhythms, keyboard textures, and Mick Karn's bass playing. Keyboardist Richard Barbieri recalled that recording the album "was a very laborious process, but creatively satisfying(...) it was the first album where we actually produced something (...) completely original." Also important for the band finding their own unique sound was their work with Steve Nye, who had replaced John Punter as the band's producer. [10] In a 1982 interview, Sylvian commented that by the making of Tin Drum, Karn had become more preoccupied with his own projects and was not involved as much as he was on previous albums, essentially, in Sylvian's view, becoming little more than a "session musician". [11] Others who remember the recording of the album, however do not share this view of Karn's involvement. [1]
Barbieri remembers this album as 'quite an adventure in synth programming'. Synthesizers used included the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, an Oberheim OB-X, and a Roland System 700. [12] [13] In addition to drums, Steve Jansen also contributed keyboards and marimba and was given song writing credits together with Sylvian on two tracks. [1] "Sons of Pioneers" was based on the bassline composed by Mick Karn, the first and only song writing credit Karn got on a Japan song. [1]
Lyrically, the songs include notions of romance, melancholia, travel and escape, and particularly David Sylvian's fascination for Eastern culture, which at times ("Visions of China", "Cantonese Boy") have a satirical undercurrent. "Ghosts" was Sylvian's most personal lyric to date, expressing notions of self-doubt, ambiguity, regret, and hope. [10]
The band began recording the album in June 1981 at The Manor Studio, the first tracks to be completed were "Talking Drum", which was initially intended to be the next single, and "Canton" (intended as the B-side), but this release did not occur. [1] The band later moved to two other studios in London, before the album was completed at AIR Studios. [1]
Tin Drum was released on 13 November 1981 by record label Virgin. [14]
Four of the album's eight songs were released as singles in the UK—"The Art of Parties", "Visions of China", "Ghosts", and "Cantonese Boy"—whilst a live version of "Canton" was issued as a single to promote the Oil on Canvas live album in 1983. "The Art of Parties" was released as a single in May 1981, and along with its B-side "Life Without Buildings", had been recorded at Basing Street Studios. However, it was re-recorded for the album. Of all the singles, the most commercially successful was "Ghosts", a minimalist, drum-free song which reached No. 5 in the UK, surprisingly becoming Japan's biggest hit. [9] "Visions of China" reached No. 32 and "Cantonese Boy" reached No. 24. [9] The album itself peaked at No. 12 in the UK, [9] and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry in 1982. [15]
In 2000 Sylvian re-recorded "Ghosts", using the original Japan backing track, and this version was included on his compilation albums Everything and Nothing (2000) and A Victim of Stars 1982–2012 (2012).
Tin Drum was reissued on CD in 2003 as a deluxe box set containing a six-panel digipak housing the remastered original CD with original cover art, a gatefold sleeved "The Art of Parties" CD, and a 24-page booklet with pictures of the band. A budget single-CD version was later released.[ citation needed ]
On 24 August 2018, two new half speed-mastered vinyl pressings were released: a single 33 rpm version and a deluxe double 45 rpm version. Both were mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. [16] [17] For the first time, all lyrics were printed inside the gatefold sleeve of the deluxe album.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [18] |
| Blender |  [19] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [20] |
| The Great Rock Discography | 9/10 [21] |
| The Guardian | [22] |
| Record Mirror | [23] |
| Smash Hits | 8/10 [24] |
| Uncut | [25] |
With Tin Drum, Japan received some of the best reviews of their career in the contemporary British music press. NME 's Paul Morley wrote of the album: "Gorgeously erotic, perfectly evanescent. It accepts transitoriness, yet delights in sensation." Morley also praised the album as a "triumph" for David Sylvian in particular, "the sensitive individual, the deep feeling loner, his voice stricken on the tensions between confidence and gloom, whose lyrics are a questing expression of love and loss, doubt and despondency. His old clumsiness at describing his position, at probing his passion has been replaced with a sublime simplicity." [10] In Smash Hits , critic David Bostock proclaimed that "Japan have made their best album yet." [24] Record Mirror writer Suzie said that while she still found Sylvian's vocals "mannered and... far too close to Bryan Ferry for comfort", Tin Drum is "a very accomplished musical exercise." [23]
However, Melody Maker 's Lynne Barber was less impressed: "The music slots together in jigsaw fashion, leaving plenty of space and clean air... but there seems to be little purpose to their constructs, a dearth of aesthetic sensibility. Japan's music is pre-fabricated, built from an architect's well-laid plan, yet not sculpted with an artist's passion or insight." [10]
Joseph Burnett of The Quietus described Tin Drum in 2013 as "unique in pop history, a fearlessly ambitious, unusual and conceptual work of art that defies genre categorisation." [26] In a retrospective review, AllMusic critic Ned Raggett called it Japan's "most unique, challenging, and striking album". [18] Trouser Press wrote that Tin Drum "presents Japan at peak form". [27]
Roland Orzabal of the band Tears for Fears called Tin Drum "an absolute conceptual masterpiece from lyrics to artwork... just everything", and has stated that it was a primary influence on Tears for Fears' first album The Hurting . [10] Based on their admiration for the Japan album, the Cure and XTC hired Steve Nye to produce their 1983 releases "The Walk" and Mummer , respectively. [28] [29] Others who consider the album a favourite include Wild Beasts bassist Tom Fleming, who notes its influence on his band's work, particularly their later, synth-oriented material, [30] and author David Keenan. [31] According to Stephin Merritt, "It features electric guitar sounds previously possible only for Adrian Belew; the bass is so fretless it sounds like a moaning sea mammal, the gorgeous drums are so tonal they could be marimbas, the Prophet 5 synthesizer sits quietly in the mix making squiggly noises; and sometimes a violin plays, in a manner previously heard only in Chinese opera." [32]
All tracks are written by David Sylvian, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Art of Parties" (re-recorded version) | 4:09 | |
| 2. | "Talking Drum" | 3:34 | |
| 3. | "Ghosts" | 4:33 | |
| 4. | "Canton" | Sylvian, Steve Jansen | 5:30 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Still Life in Mobile Homes" | 5:32 | |
| 6. | "Visions of China" | Sylvian, Jansen | 3:37 |
| 7. | "Sons of Pioneers" | Sylvian, Mick Karn | 7:07 |
| 8. | "Cantonese Boy" | 3:44 | |
| Total length: | 37:46 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Art of Parties" (single version) | 6:47 |
| 2. | "Life Without Buildings" ("The Art of Parties" single B-side) | 6:48 |
| 3. | "The Art of Parties" (live) | 5:36 |
| 4. | "Ghosts" (single version) | 4:02 |
Note: The bonus tracks were included only on the limited edition two-disc version of the album. The single-disc version features no bonus tracks.
| Chart (1981–82) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) [33] | 38 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [34] | 16 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [35] | 33 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [36] | 12 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [15] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
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 art rock, electronic music and foreign influences.
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.
Richard Barbieri is an English musician, composer and sound designer. Originally a member of new wave band Japan, more recently he is known as the keyboard player in the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, which he joined in 1993. Aside from the founder Steven Wilson, he is the longest tenured member of Porcupine Tree.
Gentlemen Take Polaroids is the fourth studio album by the English band Japan, released in November 1980 by Virgin Records.
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.
"Ghosts" is a song by English band Japan. It was released in edited form in March 1982 as the third single from their 1981 album Tin Drum.
Assemblage is a compilation album by the British band Japan, released in September 1981 by Hansa Records.
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 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.
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.
The Art of Parties is a song by the British band Japan.
"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.
"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" is a song by English new wave band Japan, released as a single from the album of the same name in October 1980. It was the band's first charting single in the UK, peaking at number 60.
"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.
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