_Ism [Original recording reissued]

Steve Jansen | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: United States Dist
• ASIN: B0000C3IBI
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,558,560 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Shallow Pool

2. To the Core

3. Sacrifice

4. Cold Light

5. Carry the Ashes

6. Red Track Dance

7. Beast Haunted

8. Alone in His Shoes

9. Found in a Shell of Murmurs

Editorial Reviews

1999 & third project recorded by these three former members of hit '80s new romantic outfit Japan. This release is the first in which they have combined their individual talents as a three piece & fully envelopes their distinctive musical styles. All nine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lasting collaboration, October 6, 2000

By 

C. Newman (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ism (Audio CD)

The word I see most often used in reviews of Japan albums and the subsequent works of its members is "brilliant". Deservedly so: Jansen, Baribieri, and Karn, together with absent ex-Japan member David Sylvian, are four incredibly creative musical talents who collided into musical genius together in the early 1980's. The splintering of the band after "Tin Drum" broke a lot of hearts among fans and has seen the ex-members pursue different directions from that musical pinnacle.

Jansen, Barbieri, and Karn have frequently worked together in various guises over the last two decades (Sylvian, too, for that matter), often obscure and difficult to find, but mostly exceptional work. "Ism" is the reward for the search, seeing the trio continue to explore musical styles and sounds. Some slippery dance grooves, a lot of quiet textured atmosphere. Jansen's smooth voice carries some tracks smoothly along, and others rock out to guest vocalist Zoe Niblett. As would be expected from the group, the music is rich and complex. The wide array of instruments (of JBK along with longtime contributors like David Torn's and Masammi Tsuchiya's unusual guitar treatments) is expertly blended. Check out the swelling intensity of "To the Core" and "Alone in His Shoes" and revel in the skilled songbuilding these folks bring together! A thoughly enjoyable, subtle, and diverse musical experience.

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique., April 12, 2005

By 

Michael Stack (North Chelmsford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ism (Audio CD)

"_ism", the last Jansen/Barbieri/Karn studio album, is a bit of an enigma for me. When it came out, I immediately found it to be a disappointment, particularly given that Jansen/Barbieri's "Stone to Flesh" and Karn's "The Tooth Mother" were both so stunningly good, I had hopes for this to be a marriage of those two. But upon listening, I was confronted by something quite unexpected-- this is not really the sum of previous projects, but something unique to itself. Its really a decent record.

My biggest complaint is probably how far back Karn's bass is mixed-- since he moved into the fretless vein, his bass has always been up front-- think about some of the Japan material on "Tin Drum" or his solo work or even session work he's done, but on this, its buried way in the background in a more conventional mix style. On the other hands, the electronica influenced drum tracks are pushed pretty far up to the front. Admittedly, this is probably because the album is designed to have a swirling texture and doesn't really emphasize anything as a lead voice-- even things like guitar solos barely bubble up over the surface, but this makes it hard to really dig in and appreciate the virtuoso playing on display here.

Nonetheless, there is a lot of virtuoso performance here, and it can be gleaned through careful listening-- I think in many ways though, the star of the album is really the construction, the fact that it is so carefully assembled. The album is very dense, almost claustrophobic in its feel as parts come and go, bubble back and forth. Over time, I've developed an appreciation for its production even moreso than its music. Its also quite amazing how genres, moods, feels can sit side-by-side and flow so well, JBK has really managed to summarize their history on this one, everything from the punky early Japan guitars to the later ambient/world influenced work.

I also note that I enjoy the album a great deal more now than I did when it came out in six years ago. I suspect with time, I'll think even higher of it. So I'd actually quite advise anyone interested in these guys to check this out, its a unique record, and may well be the last we ever hear from them.