release date: Oct. 24, 1980
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: John Punter
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" (4 / 5) - 2. "Swing" - 4. "My New Career" - 5. "Methods of Dance" - 6. "Ain't That Peculiar" - 7. "Nightporter" (live) - 8. "Taking Islands in Africa"
4th studio album by Japan and the last to feature the band's usual guitarist Rob Dean (who would leave in the spring of '81). With this the band continue its art pop and new-found style of new romantic, which would become a mainstream pop style within a year with bands like Depeche Mode, Visage, Spandau Ballet, ABC, and Duran Duran. The glam rock and Bowie-inspiration has been left behind, and the album comes out as highly original. All tracks except from a cover (track #6 by Smokey Robinson, Warren 'Pete' Moore, Marvin Tarplin and Bobby Rogers) are written by David Sylvian - track #8 being co-written by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Gentlemen Take Polaroids was well-received by critics but failed to reach the public attention. In retrospect, however, and alongside its predecessor, it has been hailed as a cornerstone in the whole new romantic era.
[ allmusic.com, Smash Hits 4 / 5 stars ]
