Welcome to 1980. A time of big hair, drugs, strange clothing and makeup so thick, if you slapped someone on the back of the head their face would fall off. It would seem nothings changed..
Anyway.. Japan.. Quiet Life, the 3rd studio album for, as we've discussed on an earlier podcast one of the most well known, unknown bands ever.
Quiet Life was their foray into a more synthy based sound as opposed to the rawness of the previous two albums in an attempt to gain the following that I personally think they more than deserved.
This Album is without a doubt one if my favourite listens for a few reasons, it was of the time of.. Well basically some fuckin great songs.. Musically it was pretty advanced, with the forward thinking Mick Karn on Bass guitar, Saxophone and I think pretty much anything he wanted to play, uninterestingly enough, I had an almost chance meeting with the man himself.. On the bus journeys going into work every morning.. But that's a whole different story.
Joining him on his musical tour de force was frontman David Sylvian, Drummer and Sylvians brother, Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri on keyboards and Rob Dean on lead guitar.
This album was heavily inspired by the style of Roxy Music.. Them smooth fuckers who are also in my top 10 of smooth fuckers. If you have a love of 80's smooth fucker music.. This is gonna be right up your strassa. Smooth fuckers.
This album, when released ran as follows.
1. Quiet Life 2. Fall in Love with Me 3. Despair 4. In Vogue 5.Halloween 6. All Tomorrow's Parties 7.Alien 8.The Other Side of Life.
However..The band originally intended for the track listing to be. 1) All Tomorrow's Parties, 2) Fall in Love with Me, 3) Alien, 4) Quiet Life, 5) The Other Side of Life, 6) Despair, 7) In Vogue, 8) Halloween, 9) A Foreign Place… An obvious attempt at a concept album.. I've tried it and it didn't really play out that way for me. Others might disagree. The more eagle eyed out there will already have noticed the extra track on the suggested track list.. This was on the certain versions of the CD album, but not the vinyl.. I've no clue as to why.
Anyways.. if you know either the band or the album.. You really need to revisit. If you've not heard of them, I urge you to have a go, and let me know how you get on.. Good or bad..
Until next time.. Smooth fuckers
