Jansen and Barbieri's forth album together is a natural progression from their last joint release, 1991's 'Stories Across Borders'. While that album was perhaps their first to loose the 'made in Japan' label, 'Stone To Flesh' ventures further into new territory. The six tracks, each running longer than seven minutes, are intricately structured and richly textured. Moods change as much within one track - say, 'Ringing The Bell Backwards' - as from song to song. Joyful one minute, elegiac the next.
If it takes longer to get into this album than it took the hooks of 'Quiet Life' and 'Life In Tokyo' to get stuck into you, this will repay more over time. If there's a comparison to be made, it's with Talk Talk: another '80s band who made great albums, stuffed with hit and should-have-been-hit singles, then developed a taste for a much more interesting, more progressive (and, seemingly inevitably, less commercially successful) set of musical ideas and experiments.
The John Carpenter-ish keyboard riff on 'Swim There' raises the possibility that J & B could, with little effort, move into writing movie scores. If they do, they should not allow crass producers or other outside influences to dilute the concentrated vision of their unique partnership.
Time Out - UK
The forth collaboration between former Japan members results in this intense ambient offering of perfectly-layered atmospherics.
Music Week - UK
It seems you can't do a review of a Jansen and Barbieri album without mentioning the word 'Japan'. But you won't get me harping on about how good that band was. Oh no, I'm here to review the present, and let me tell you, it ain't too bad at all. Since the, er, Japan days, Jansen and Barbieri (and Karn and Sylvian for that matter), have surrounded themselves with quality musicians and a somewhat pretentious air. While Stone To Flesh does little to dissipate this image, it occasionally hits the traditional song format. Jansen, always in the shadow of his brother Sylvian in the voice department, does come up with the goods when needed - the entwining atmospheres and melodies here are occasionally breathtaking. It's this combination which works best (but then I always liked their more commercial Dolphin Brother's material).
Future Music - UK
Continuing the ethereal, near-ambient landscapes they first began painting in the '70s with Japan, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri offer atmospheric, dynamic music rich in rhythmic variation. Distinctive touches include the slow-building, tough and bluesy harmonica solo (by Mark Feltham) that frames the quiet introspection of 'Mother London', the rhythmically compelling 'Sleepers Awake', the fluctuating tempti of 'Ringing The Bell Backwards' and the inspired loops (courtesy of David Torn) on 'Swim There'.
Mojo - UK
Theirs is a difficult style to categorise, with the fleeting melodies, diverse range of instrumental sounds and intricate weaving structures - the listening experience can be described as more of a relaxing intellectual pursuit than you'll get from your average non-new age, non ambient modern instrumental. It's not music to get spaced out, practice your yoga or dance around the room naked to; 'Stone To Flesh' is a bit more refined - and I like it that way.
Keyboard Connections - UK
.... Each track tends to build upwards from ambient soundscapes into percussion driven workouts, heavy on the atmospherics and an all-encompassing 'big' sound. This is not to say that 'Stone To Flesh' isn't without it's subtleties.
The Wire - UK
......the album's progressive, layered rhythms and atmospherics will be instantly recognisable to those familiar with the work of Japan / Rain Tree Crow. It is a brilliant and inspired collection of songs.
London Eye - UK
......every song is minutely built-up around a central theme and enriched with subtle percussion hits (almost Jansens' trademark), ambient loops (David Torn on guitar) surprising details and an unexpected climax which regularly sets you on your wrong foot.
Very successful are the three vocal tracks in which Steve Jansen delicately nestles within the brittle musical structures and never draws the attention to himself.
'Stone To Flesh' begs to be discovered and breathes a sensual sensitivity which makes you silent, and listen to the CD in it's entirety.
The duo delivers a strong piece of atmospheric music in which you can look for hidden gems. You'll have to dig, but what you get out of it glitters for a long time.
Stage - BELGIUM
......the accent lies more on the work-out of the fine rhythmical patterns than the effect of the ever so outlandish synthesiser sounds. Striking are the harmonica sounds from Mark Feltham in 'Mother London' and the sweltering guitar of Steve Wilson in 'Sleepers Awake'.
Consequently, 'Stone To Flesh' sounds warmer and more natural than all previous albums, without compromising to the laws of the commercial music market. And that's the way it should be.
OOR - HOLLAND
