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Rating: I have a fondness for this LP. It was the first record I ever purchased by mail order from a well-known (once upon a time) store in Bologna.
I heard the title track Adolescent Sex for the first time one evening at a disco in the summer of '79 or '80, if I recall correctly. Incredibly enough, it's quite a dance song; I went to the DJ to make the famous "request" to hear it again and, even though I was still very young, I "stayed up late" to listen to it again. At 13/14 years old, I didn’t understand the rhythms of Japan; I later dusted off the record and greatly re-evaluated it.
One of the peculiarities of this album is undoubtedly the shrill voice of David Sylvian, which reaches its peak in the magnificent closing track Television; the vocals merge with the keyboards of Richard Barbieri and the riffs of Rob Dean and Sylvian himself, the undisputed leader of the band and a great exponent of the new wave movement.
A curious and, all in all, not unpleasant imperfection I found is in the melodies that are a bit too similar in the majority of the songs. In short, even after years, I find it difficult, despite repeated listens, to recognize the titles of beautiful tracks like Performance, Transmission, The Unconventional, and Suburban Love.
Returning to the song Adolescent Sex, I find it really fun and never predictable, with a great use of "dreamy" keyboards that have set a trend in the years to come, and really overwhelming "raspy" vocals.
The Japan represent a "mythical" band that deserved more success and a longer career, even though Sylvian as a solo artist created great works; the late bassist Mick Karn became a session musician and also released a solo album that was not very successful (I think I'm one of the few to have that vinyl); Jensen (Sylvian's brother) and Barbieri with the Dolphin Brothers released an amazing album... but that is another story.
An excellent debut album, no doubt about it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 The Unconventional (03:00)
Take Position and love will take a stand
That is the way it goes
No inquisition no cynical demands
No-one should ever know
Because I'm dancing
Dancing to your heart
Dancing to your heart now baby
Oh what a way to start
Well I'm trying to find
All the love we discovered
That is the way it goes
No perversion
In this unconventional love
Nothing I'd rather see
No diversion
In this unintentional love
No way I'd rather be
08 Adolescent Sex (03:44)
The sidewalk's trading love
As subway lights grow brighter
We're just another hype
But the pressure's getting harder
Get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
A lovers' etiquette
Make love on first impression
And adolescent sex with juvenile intentions
Get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Well, the lady buys a thrill
Excitement in succession
But a heartache won't partake
In articulate obsession
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Oh yeah!
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Oh, well, pretty things at rest
No courtesy surprising
For love is heaven blessed
All catastrophies denying
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Aw, when we were out on the streets
With lovers infections
Count impossibilities by illumination
And your body's still damp
From your one-room apartment
And your heartache remains, then
Love's not the anecdote
You'll submerge again
Emerge again
Just get ?? Astray!
(Can you hear me?)
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Just keep on dancing
Whatever gets you through the night
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
Get on up, get on up, get on up
Take it much higher
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