Anyone here familiar with the late 70's/early 80's British art-pop band Japan? I recently got their 1982 swan song "Tin Drum", and I find it to be quite incredible. It is one of the templates for the New Romantic movement of the 80's. The album is very lush, very quirky and very progressive. David Sylvain's melancholic croon brings to mind that of Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music). There's a lot going on in these complex tunes, including rich keyboard textures by current Porcupine Tree keysman Richard Barbieri and superb fretless bass. This is also a very percussive album. I think it's a brilliant, artsy album that can appeal to the aesthetics of the metal fan.
