have loved japan for as long as i can remember. they were not just ahead of their time, they were on another level altogether. this song in particular was the soundtrack to my youth. i love it.
You're not strange. I used to sit in my room in the dark looking out the window listening to this. Nightporters another one I would do it to. I was only 15 but it's still a great song even now. I listen to a lot of rock now, but some bands and songs you never forget.
une photo noire et blanc, une usine délabrée et oubliée dans le temps, un garçon qui pousse un vieux vélo avec son pneu crevé, l'enfant pousse son vélo dans le contre-vent, j'entends la musique avec cette image imaginaire...
This track is the turning point I think, for Japan as a band and all their subsequent individual endeavours. There's more than an echo of Bowies "Low" here but they expand it beyond mere homage - this is the beginning of THAT sound..... "Despair", "Nightporter", "Burning Bridges", "Ghosts".....
@196noah yes. one of the more perceptive comments i've read. but don't you think 'obscure' comes into that category also, insofar as it refuses to adhere to conventional rock arrangements, song structure etc.?
love this song, I used to go jogging at night with this on a mixtape. I would get to this song during a dark, lonely and rural stretch of road, I'd get a shiver down my spine when the bell sounds, then there was Policy of Truth by Depeche Mode for the sort of sprint finish. This music is so evocative of that run, I can almost smell the summer night air from more than 15 years ago
@gavintduffy I´ll be doing it .. i played by ears Nightporter and The other sied of life... i couldn´t find sheets.. but i write all i play. Then, I´ll be sending you soon! :) Best wishes! *Respect to a Japan fan!*
fewer than a thousand people have viewed this! humanity is lost! what a tune there i was ten years old in my room head phones on! sylvian and karn were i think about twenty years old when they recorded this. pretty classy good memories.
I used to listen to my japan albums half cut on cider, in the dark, headphones on. This was always one of my favourites, but the first time I listened to it I nearly wet myself when the bell clanged!! Took me by surprise.
huge headphones.......black room........that was me listening to this all them years ago! loved it then and still has to be one of the best moving/sultry songs around.
what a monster track, how come no-ones commented on this musical delight, oh well its just another gem that slipped through the net..i think japan wouldn't have gotten anywhere without multi-talented mick karn, a bass god!!
@martmako mate if you look back a bit you'll see i remarked on the lack of comments a while back! basically anyone who doesn't love this is a fuckin' moron and a shitcunt!!! XXX
@martmako the world is full of stupid people i'm afraid. nonetheless, this remains a key moment in japan's evolution and in my own musical childhood. sleep well mick X
@martmako the world is full of stupid people i'm afraid. nonetheless, this remains a key moment in japan's evolution and in my own musical childhood. sleep well mick X.
have loved japan for as long as i can remember. they were not just ahead of their time, they were on another level altogether. this song in particular was the soundtrack to my youth. i love it.
hub1971 2 weeks ago
You're not strange. I used to sit in my room in the dark looking out the window listening to this. Nightporters another one I would do it to. I was only 15 but it's still a great song even now. I listen to a lot of rock now, but some bands and songs you never forget.
helenthebanshee 1 month ago
What a great song, I used to listen to this non-stop for HOURS!!!!! Tell me I'm not strange?!?!?!?!
missionpants 2 months ago
missmcmap .... yep done that many many nights, how haunting can a piece of music get, stunning
michaelhcnyl 3 months ago
une photo noire et blanc, une usine délabrée et oubliée dans le temps, un garçon qui pousse un vieux vélo avec son pneu crevé, l'enfant pousse son vélo dans le contre-vent, j'entends la musique avec cette image imaginaire...
Rosenecoco 3 months ago
Great song from a great band
invaderzezix 3 months ago
fantastic , such an under-rated band i hope one day they will get their rewards
winoholic 5 months ago
pure genius
winoholic 1 year ago
I used to listen to this when I was about 12 in the dark .......sad times =(
15Portsmouth 1 year ago
most beatifull
societ39 1 year ago
This track is the turning point I think, for Japan as a band and all their subsequent individual endeavours. There's more than an echo of Bowies "Low" here but they expand it beyond mere homage - this is the beginning of THAT sound..... "Despair", "Nightporter", "Burning Bridges", "Ghosts".....
196noah 1 year ago 2
@196noah yes. one of the more perceptive comments i've read. but don't you think 'obscure' comes into that category also, insofar as it refuses to adhere to conventional rock arrangements, song structure etc.?
hub1971 1 year ago
always they put queens bohemian rapsody on nr 1 in all times charts of the best song....sorry that is wrong.....it should be the tenant
pulaat 1 year ago 2
the beginning synths = gameboy music
I like these experimental things....almost a perfection for a diversed album
FrancoDamn 1 year ago
Eyes closed, lights out, relaxed and listen.....just wait for those certain spine chilling moments....................Pure Brilliance
BunnymanUK 1 year ago
The Piano chords sound like Black Sabbaths "Changes"
Mega80schild 1 year ago
Comment removed
Mega80schild 1 year ago
Growing up as a kid I loved this,they were my favourite band,Awesome!
nikbear 1 year ago
One of their best, as it was also shown by Richard and David's future endeavours, with the help of Mick and Steve, both not to be forgotten!
Maxiclaudi 1 year ago
love this song, I used to go jogging at night with this on a mixtape. I would get to this song during a dark, lonely and rural stretch of road, I'd get a shiver down my spine when the bell sounds, then there was Policy of Truth by Depeche Mode for the sort of sprint finish. This music is so evocative of that run, I can almost smell the summer night air from more than 15 years ago
QuayIssues 1 year ago 3
I guess Mick and Dave had been listening to a lot of Eno at the time they recorded this. Could have been lifted straight off Another Green World.
So glad they found a distinctive sound of their own ...and boy will Obscure Alternatives live forever.
dahbones 2 years ago 4
@dahbones
Check out Mick's book, and you will know which is which!
Maxiclaudi 1 year ago
Oh does anyone know the piano chords??
I'd love to play this song at home...
gavintduffy 2 years ago
@gavintduffy I´ll be doing it .. i played by ears Nightporter and The other sied of life... i couldn´t find sheets.. but i write all i play. Then, I´ll be sending you soon! :) Best wishes! *Respect to a Japan fan!*
biladd 1 year ago
I just love it....
gavintduffy 2 years ago 2
One of my favourite instrumental songs of all times (past, present and future). Is it called timeless... or what the hell!?!?!?
Five fire ball stars******. Amazing!!!
davidsanful 2 years ago 2
particularly cool is the way the guitar fades into keyboard @ 3' 25''. how many twenty year old bands have that kind of taste?
hub1971 2 years ago 2
fewer than a thousand people have viewed this! humanity is lost! what a tune there i was ten years old in my room head phones on! sylvian and karn were i think about twenty years old when they recorded this. pretty classy good memories.
hub1971 2 years ago 4
I used to listen to my japan albums half cut on cider, in the dark, headphones on. This was always one of my favourites, but the first time I listened to it I nearly wet myself when the bell clanged!! Took me by surprise.
miknikb 2 years ago 2
often cited as a 'taste of things to come'...
thewysefool 2 years ago 5
huge headphones.......black room........that was me listening to this all them years ago! loved it then and still has to be one of the best moving/sultry songs around.
missmcmap 2 years ago 8
what a monster track, how come no-ones commented on this musical delight, oh well its just another gem that slipped through the net..i think japan wouldn't have gotten anywhere without multi-talented mick karn, a bass god!!
martmako 2 years ago 14
and dont forget Micks sax playing too. I agree, a monster track....never ask me to pick a fav.......I couldnt :)
missmcmap 2 years ago 5
@martmako mate if you look back a bit you'll see i remarked on the lack of comments a while back! basically anyone who doesn't love this is a fuckin' moron and a shitcunt!!! XXX
hub1971 1 year ago
@martmako the world is full of stupid people i'm afraid. nonetheless, this remains a key moment in japan's evolution and in my own musical childhood. sleep well mick X
hub1971 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@martmako the world is full of stupid people i'm afraid. nonetheless, this remains a key moment in japan's evolution and in my own musical childhood. sleep well mick X.
hub1971 1 year ago