REMASTER, RE-ISSUE, REPACKAGE
Virgin Records continue to extract maximum dividends from their back
catalogue, as they turn their attentions to remastering early 80s mood merchants Japan
and their enigmatic frontman David Sylvian. 1981's breakthrough Tin Drum,
wherein Sylvian, Jansen, Karn and Barbieri honed their particular brand of artful
pop that drew heavily on ambient, Oriental influences, remains the definitive
Japan release. It gets the full extra disc treatment, but it's sadly the
exception in this batch of overpriced reissues. The live set from 1982, Oil On
Canvas, was their swansong coming just a matter of months prior to Sylvian
embarking on a memorable solo career.
Brilliant Trees (1984), Gone To Earth (1986) and Secrets Of The Beehive
(1987) still represent a stunning triple whammy, these three studio albums
containing some of the most ethereally gorgeous music of the last 20 years. The Ink In
The Well and Top 20 hit Red Guitar are the highlights on Brilliant Trees,
which despite the existence of several non-album recordings from the time now
boasts just one bonus track. The double-set which followed two years later, Gone
To Earth, is finally available in its entirety on CD. Split into vocal and
instrumental halves, the existing single CD version omitted four of the dreamy
soundscapes due to lack of space. Always the most underrated of Sylvian's
albums, the likes of Silver Moon, Wave and the epic Before The Bullfight stand
comparison with the very best of his output.
In-between Brilliant Trees and Gone To Earth came an E.P., Words With The
Shaman, originally only released on 12" and cassette. Its contents were combined
with various B-sides from the era for Alchemy, a compilation now finally given
a release on CD in this country. Secrets Of The Beehive is arguably Sylvian's
most consistent and concise record, 40 minutes of masterful songwriting and
deeply evocative music. Sadly, this new incarnation misses a golden opportunity
to add the available non-album material from 1987 and 1988, and even removes
Forbidden Colours for good measure (apparently due to copyright issues
surrounding the song, which also saw its absence from the Sylvian Best-Of Everything &
Nothing three years ago).
Granted, the remastering jobs all improve the sound quality, but the lack of
supplementary content on the solo Sylvian titles coupled with the high
pricepoints sour what ought to be a celebratory event. Shame.
For more info on each title, click on the following links:
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