Beginning To Melt is defiantly experimental in purely musical terms. Fluid, growling bass lines and swelling keyboards spar with Jansen's resonant percussion textures in songs and instrumentals which, however carefully layered on the multitrack, retain an improvisational air and a spontaneous beauty.
Music Technology
Beginning To Melt is the first release for Medium, a label which looks to draw it's roster from artists who live in the hinterlands where experimental rock, ambient and jazz collide. The title track is an 11 minute instrumental, gloriously stretched and spacious in it's architecture.
The Wire
Since Japan broke up all four members have left the pop arena and this latest release continues the trend. The esoteric nature of the music, exploring improvisational techniques and incorporating walls of sound with jazz-style rhythms, is a trait to be found on a lot of the members' previous works. Not always immediately accessible, most of the tracks tend to draw you in slowly, with complex sound layering and hooks that eventually stick and grow in force. Styles change enormously, from meandering, broody pieces to more conventional (dare I say?) pop. At almost 12 minutes in length, the first and title track 'Beginning To Melt' is a perfect example of the former. It builds steadily in rhythm and texture, with interest maintained by occasional analogue-synth lines. 'The Wilderness' and 'Human Age' are the most 'song-like' with vocals provided by guest artists Suzanne Barbieri and Robby Aceto. An impressive line-up on the album is completed by guitarist David Torn who has regularly worked with some of the ex-Japan members. With such a diverse and talented range of musicians, Beginning To Melt is music to be listened to at all levels.
Keyboard Magazine
So, is the ol' magic in evidence? Certainly. Though this is a compilation of sorts, even though the principles are involved in each track to varying degrees. Guitarist and tape loop enthusiast David Torn gets to cut a piece with each 'star'; 'The Orange Asylum' - mesmerising sort of astral travels in the night sky stuff with keyboardist Barbieri; 'March Of The Innocents' - a good vertigo-inducing groove with drummer Jansen (who, as on this track, is more likely to be found with keyboards and computer programming on this album); and the ghostly, atmospheric fog of 'Shipwrecks' - with virtuoso bassist Karn (who dusts off his bass clarinet, saxophone and keyboards for this haunting cut). Elsewhere Jansen helps out the delicately folky Oystercatchers and all pitch in for Robby Aceto (slightly Sylvian-like vocals, guitars) for the Japan-esque 'Human Age'. The best stuff is where the trio get to chill out by themselves; the 11 minute title track is a piece of gently rolling bliss, and for the slightly jazzy, funky 'Ego Dance' they are joined by original Japan guitarist Rob Dean. All in all, a very pleasant, often compelling aural experience.
On The Street, Australia