Set for release on 5th May through Seattle-based label Coitus Interruptus Productions, the Japan tribute album “Still Life in Polaroids” pays homage to the influential band.

Over a period of four years and five albums, David Sylvian (vocals), Steve Jansen (drums), Richard Barbieri (keyboards), Mick Karn (saxophone/bass), and Rob Dean (guitars) explored a diverse range of sounds that went on to shape numerous New Romantic and New Wave bands that followed in their footsteps.

“Still Life in Polaroids” will be available as a Pay-What-You-Want release, featuring an array of bands and tracks.

1. White Rose Transmission – “Transmission”
2. The Essence – “Quiet Life”
3. Dogtablet (feat. Marselle Hodges) – “Despair”
4. C Z A R I N A – “Halloween”
5. Blackcarburning – “The Other Side of Life”
6. G.W. Childs IV – “Gentlemen Take Polaroids”
7. Pedro Code & Herr G – “Methods of Dance”
8. The Blue Hour – “Nightporter”
9. Melodywhore – “Ghosts”
10. CODENAME:LOLA – “Canton”
11. Tom Berger (Johnny Tupolev) – “Visions of China”
12. Tenderlash – “Life In Tokyo”
13. Krate – “Oil on Canvas”
14. Ashes of Youth – “His Box”
15. Pieter Nooten & Marselle Hodges – “Let The Happiness In”
16. Pete Burns (Kill Shelter) – “Waterfront”
17. Vaselyne – “Riverman”
18. AttasalinA – “Blackwater”
19. Tearing The Blackbox (feat. Yvette Winkler) – “Back In The Beginning”
20. Stefano Panunzi & Nicola Lori (feat. Yvette Winkler) – “Damage”
21. Michael Alan Giller – “Closer Than ‘I’
22. David Scott Keller – “God Man”
23. Unwoman – “Darkest Dreaming”
24. Dreamscape Invocation – “World Citizen (I won’t be disappointed)”

Japan were an English new wave band formed in 1974 in Catford, South London by David Sylvian (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn (bass guitar), joined by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and Rob Dean (lead guitar) the following year. Initially a glam rock-inspired band, Japan developed their sound and androgynous look to incorporate electronic music and foreign influences.

The band split in December 1982 having released 5 albums and just as they were beginning to experience commercial success in the UK and abroad. Its members went on to pursue other musical projects, though they reformed briefly in the early 1990s under the name Rain Tree Crow, releasing an album in 1991.

About Japan

Japan formed in Catford, South London, in 1974, founded by David Sylvian (vocals, guitar, keyboards), his brother Steve Jansen (drums) and Mick Karn (bass), joined the following year by Rob Dean (guitar) and Richard Barbieri (keyboards). Signed to Ariola-Hansa, the band released “Adolescent Sex” and “Obscure Alternatives” (both 1978) in a glam and funk-influenced style before shifting toward art rock on “Quiet Life” (1979) and moving to Virgin Records.

Rob Dean left in 1981, and the band continued as a four-piece for its final and most successful album, “Tin Drum” (1981), which produced the UK top-five hit “Ghosts.” Japan disbanded in December 1982 at the peak of its UK chart success. The four members briefly reunited between 1989 and 1991 as Rain Tree Crow, releasing one self-titled album in 1991. Mick Karn died of cancer on 4 January 2011, at age 52. A full tracklist and credits for the tribute album “Still Life In Polaroids,” issued via Coitus Interruptus Productions, have not been independently verified beyond the release announcement.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: Ethereal, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: American formation The Blue Hour signed to Dark vinyl to unleash their newest opus “Lore”. The band set up in the late 90s and driven by Brian Hodges and singer Marselle Hodges invited an impressive number of guest musicians. Among those artists I’ll mention Pieter Nooten (Clan Of Xymox) and John Fryer.

Content: The Ethereal voice of Marselle Hodges supports the composition with grace and mysticism. The addition of acoustic instruments is fully complementary with her singing while the drums create an interesting duality for the bombastic production. “Lore” leads the listener into an imaginary world of reverie. The last song features both protagonists singing. 

+ + + : The Blue Hour has achieved a work filled with reverie, but still revealing a subtle songwriting. Marselle’s vocals rapidly appear to be the main strength of the work, alternating fragility and elevation. The contrast with the heavier, bombastic drum sections sounds surprising although it has something symbiotic. This is a delicate production, filled with emotions and accentuated by neo-classic inspired sound treatments.

– – – : The album is maybe missing an ultimate point so I’m sure there’s even more potential hiding in The Blue Hour.

Conclusion: “Lore” takes the listener away to visit a prosper, dreamy sound universe supported with graceful singing.

Best songs: “Moving Forward”, “Lockdown”, “Embrace Not The Hand”, “These Four Walls”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/bluehoursongs

Label: www.darkvinyl.de / www.facebook.com/darkvinylrecords

About The Blue Hour

The Blue Hour is the American project of Brian Hodges, started in the summer of 1993 under the name The Dawn. Hodges handles voice, classical and acoustic guitars, flutes, tapes, programming, keyboards, mandolin and percussion, and has worked with Christoph Gladis, Zaac Aubrey and Tom Moller.

The first release was the 7” “Balaëna / The Price Of Time” in 1994, followed by “Evensong” in 2001 and “The Windless Path” in 2003. After a long gap the project returned with “Moonsong” in 2016, “Always” in 2017 and “In Every Breath” in 2019, alongside singles including “Moving Forward” in 2018, a John Fryer remix of “Embrace Not The Hand” and a Pieter Nooten remix of “One More Mystery”, both in 2019.

Marselle Hodges also sang on Black Needle Noise’s “I Am God” in 2019. “Lore” was issued by Dark Vinyl on CD in 2021.

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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(Photo’s by Brian Hodges) “I Am God” is the title of the newest Black Needle Noise (project by John Fryer) video which features Marselle Hodges on vocals. The track breathes Black Needle Noise during every second: a nice pumping rhythm, cutting guitars, and vocals that – as usually is the case with this fine project – remind of the best 4AD era bands.

Here is the video (directed by Marselle Hodges) and below we asked a both Marselle Hodges and John Fryer how the track came to life.

Marselle Hodges: ““I am God” is inspired by one of the craziest years I’ve experienced, full of high highs and the lowest of lows. I felt as if I was God’s plaything. The lyric, “I can make things different or blow it all away,” pretty much describes the tumult I was feeling in response to these seemingly capricious events. But then I tried to put myself in God’s place—wanting to be worshipped and believed in despite it all, Or perhaps because of it all. Isn’t that what we ALL WANT? Just a bit?”

John Fryer: “Brain, Marselle’s husband had just done a remix for me and I went to check out his band The Blue Hour and I really liked Marselle’s voice, so I asked her if she would be interested in singing a song for me and I’m so happy she said yes as I think the song turned out beautifully noisy and pop.”

Recommended for everyone into dark pop!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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