[ Album Cover ]

Stone to Flesh
by Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri

Released 1995
Label: Medium Productions
Catalogue: mpcd3

[ Reviewed April 2003 ]

In case you don't know, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri were the drummer and keyboardist respectively of the successful 80s band Japan.  It's strange that all of the members of Japan have gone on to do serious intelligent music from beginnings that were interesting if not that inspiring.  One of my favourite artists is now David Sylvian, and the others crop up on various good albums.  The Rain Tree Crow album had them all reunited to produce a laid-back selection of songs and quite brilliant instrumentals.

This album looked promising not only for the two people on it, but for the track lengths of 7 minutes or longer.  It starts with a track that sounds as if it could come from a David Sylvian album, featuring a very slow tune with simple keyboard chords and quietly sung melancholy vocals by Jansen.  Gradually it moves up the gears into a rousing blast of drums, bass and harmonica, finally slowing down to the finish that matches the start.  Good so far.

The rest of the album is mostly slow tempo instrumentals with occasional sections of vocals on a further two tracks.  I'm not too keen on the vocals to be honest as they're a bit weak.  They do work better on Closer Than 'i' which has a more obvious tune with a distinct verse and chorus.  This track has the feeling of Bill Nelson singing on Channel Light Vessel's Automatic album.

The overall sound does have that Japan atmosphere about it with the carefully chosen synth patches and characteristic drumming.  In fact the drumming is very good, having an earthy, almost tribal feel to it at times.  Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree and Bass Communion adds some decent guitar on four of the tracks, sometimes in a Robert Fripp style.  They do throw in plenty of elements to try to maintain the interest such as harmonica previously mentioned, violin and general weird sounds.  In fact the use of innovative synth sounds along with the drumming are the highlights of the album.  There are times when the music does seem to get stuck in a groove a bit with an almost jamming feel but it's nothing too serious.  Overall though it's nicely put together, crafted out of tiny pieces carefully assembled.  It's much like a David Sylvian album in this respect.

To sum up it's a pretty good and a very professional effort.  Having recently listened to some of the Progressive output of the British Cyclops label you can see how good these two are.  They're head and shoulders above; they're proper musicians who aren't just playing around.  The downside is that it's a bit dull and something of a plod at times.  And on occasion it feels like you're listening to a soundtrack album.  It would've been a lot better with the moody fretless bass of the other Japan member Mick Karn, and to be honest I assumed he'd be on it when I bought it.  (See the Polytown review of one of his ace performances.)  I'd probably try another album by these two if the price was right!

Tracks:
1.Mother London8:48
2.Sleepers Awake9:14
3.Ringing The Bell Backwards9:42
4.Swim There8:06
5.Closer Than 'i'7:13
6.Everything Ends In Darkness7:17
total time 50:33

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Copyright Steve Bachini