Japan: David Sylvian (vocals, guitar), Rob Dean (guitar, vocals), Richard Barbieri (keyboards, vocals), Mick Karn (bass, vocals), Steve Jansen (drums, vocals).
Additional personnel: Ray Singer (background vocals).
Recorded at Audio International Studios, London, England.
Personnel: David Sylvian, Rob Dean (vocals, guitar); Mick Karn (vocals, saxophone); Steve Jansen (vocals, drums, percussion); Richard Barbieri (keyboards, synthesizer); Ray Singer (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Ray Singer; Chris Tsangarides.
Photographer: Fin Costello.
The second Japan album followed their debut by a mere six months and, like its predecessor, the cover art suggested glam-rock. In the heady days of punk, it was largely ignored in England, but the band did begin to find acceptance in Japan--surprise, surprise! Mick Karn's elegant, flexible bass playing is more prominent, and David Sylvian's vocals settled on a very Bowie-esque style--circa THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD. With these elements in place, the band was on their way to developing their signature sound.
The album contains two classic Japan tracks, "Rhodesia" and "Suburban Berlin." The first of these is welded to a reggae-influenced guitar line and lyrics that make passing references to racism, masturbation, and Nazis, while the second, with its chattering, cricket-like guitars, is another of the band's attempts to described a place as completely, but obliquely, as possible. For the album's closer Sylvian contributes "The Tenant," a piano-based instrumental with mournful guitar accompaniment inspired by his interest in classical composer Erik Satie. All told, OBSCURE ALTERNATIVES is a step forward and an improvement on all fronts--this is a classy, intelligent rock record.
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