Japan “Assemblage” 1981. A compilation album of Japan’s early recordings. I picked this up fairly recently; I’ve never really listened to Japan but see them cited frequently as influencers to many bands I’m into. (I also remember seeing a lot of Japan records in the 80′s and liking David Sylvian’s new romantic/new wave hair.) Assemblage is a mix of art rock, post-punk and new wave. “Communist China” has lots of crazy experimental effects and vocal acrobatics. “Rhodesia” has a laid-back reggae flavor, the synth’s organ button turned up high. “Life in Tokyo” and “Quiet Life” are disco-y new wave (and probably my favorite tracks as they remind me of early Duran Duran big time, most especially “Planet Earth” and “Hold Back the Rain”). Two covers also appear on Assemblage:  Velvet Underground’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties” and Smokey Robinson’s “I Second That Emotion.” Both are almost unrecognizable, the former with its upfront beat and saxophone via keyboards, the latter because of the vocal delivery and the way it sounds like it was recorded underwater and through a big squishy pillow.