Quiet Life
BMG, 2021
8/10
If you’ve been around for awhile, the name Japan might be familiar to you. An innovative outfit who were active during the infancy of New Wave, the UK outfit had several hits in their home country, and were just starting to see worldwide fame when they broke up in 1982.
Quiet Life, their 3rd and undisputedly best album, sees the reissue treatment here, as BMG does the classic justice with this remastered version that includes exclusive liner notes. The Deluxe Version even adds 2 additional discs plus an LP of alternative mixes, b-sides, singles, rarities and live material.
The title track starts the listen with the spacey, New Wave feel that we love so much from the ‘80s, as plenty of synth melodies enter the vibrant atmosphere, and “Fall In Love With Me” follows with a busy display of thumping drums, intricate guitars and even some minor post-punk nods.
In the middle, “In-Vogue” gets mysterious with plenty of ambience as expressive baritone singing from David Sylvian guides the calm setting, while “Halloween” recruits warm brass for a rhythmic display of glam-pop that was prevalent in their early years.
Further down the line, Mick Karn’s frisky bass lines on “Alien” help make this one of the more memorable tunes present as the climate shifts to bare, and “The Other Side Of Life” exits the listen with piano balladry from Richard Barbieri that embraces strings and much grace in an emotive finish.
Originally released in 1979, Quiet Life firmly put Japan at the top of the heap in the area of synth-pop, while still retaining the artistic quality they were known for. Had they made it even 2 more years, there’s little doubt they would have been a household name in the global New Wave craze. Since that didn’t happen, at least their catalog is being well preserved for both the casual fans and completists.
Travels well with: Richard Hell And The Voidoids- Destiny Street Complete; The Psychedelic Furs- Made Of Rain