Jan Linton Explained

Jan Linton
Alias:Dr. Jan (guru)
Genre:Electronic, ambient, rock, dance
Years Active:1990–present
Label:Burning Shed
King Records, Entropy Records
Associated Acts:Dr.Jan (guru)

Jan Linton is a British singer, musician and producer from Warrington.

Biography

One of the first few western musicians to ever sign directly to a Japanese major label (King Records) [1] Linton helped internationalize the Japanese music industry, and formed a band called Dr.Jan (guru) which played frequently at large venues. Under the band's name, he released three albums over the next few years: starting with Alienshamanism in 2000 [2] However, the live members often changed and rarely appeared on the albums; instead, a number of well-known musicians contributed to the recording sessions, such as Duran Duran's John Taylor. The albums also included reworkings of the unreleased tracks Linton had recorded with Bill Nelson (musician).

Linton made several releases in 2000 in the UK, Japan, and Europe. The singles "Inner Sanctum" ("Can't You Feel") and "Sarajevo" were both number one hits on the MP3 electronic music charts in several countries. Linton also released the first of a series of experimental albums under his own name, on the "Kaerucafe" label, which is noted for experimental and sampling CDs. Inspired by the notoriously difficult to program Yamaha DX7 synthesizer as used by Brian Eno, Music for Aliens was the best selling sampling CD in national stores such as Yamaha. In 2001 a collaborative project with the former Japan and Porcupine Tree synthesist, Richard Barbieri, was again marketed as a sampling CD and titled Cosmic Prophets.[3]

In 2004, King Records signed Linton to make another album as Dr.Jan (guru). Entitled Planet Japan, it was in a rock/cyberpunk style (such as a cover version of the John Foxx-period Ultravox! song "Hiroshima Mon Amour"), and the controversial subject matter — Linton's occasionally bitter experiences in Tokyo — caused a slight stir in the Japanese media.[4]

A UK promotional video (and later, CD/DVD single) of a drum n bass reworking of Bauhaus's "Dark Entries" (from the Communion album) followed, but due to label disputes was never fully released.[5] This marks the last use of the name Dr.Jan (guru) to date.

In early 2011, Entropy Records released Linton's 2009–2010 reworkings of the sounds of FM3's Buddha Machine versions 1 and 2, but following the 9.0 magnitude Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and subsequent releases of radioactive materials in Japan (where Linton had returned in 2007) delayed the release until late March.[6]

In 2012, he released a benefit CD for Sendai earthquake reconstruction with contributions from Matthew Seligman. In 2015–2017, he recorded two separate releases of an album entitled I Actually Come Back, collaborating in part once more with Seligman and Leo Abrahams.[7] In 2020, following Matthew Seligman's death, the Sendai EP was re-released in an expanded form, followed by a second EP of previously recorded material.[8]

Since 2020, he has also become notable for his use of East Asian instrumentation such as the Zhongruan and Taishōgoto synthesiser on other artists' commercial releases [9] [10]

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Collaboration albums

Collaboration singles

Compilation albums

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/archive/2001/01/05/Cheshire+Archive/5289289.Jan_is_big_in_Japan_/. dead.
  2. Web site: Warrington Guardian – Archive. Warringtonguardian.co.uk. 6 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Metropolis -- Weekly Online City Guide -- Free forever!! . archive.metropolis.co.jp . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100708234444/http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/405/city/cd.asp . 8 July 2010 . dead.
  4. Web site: ::Metropolis Tokyo :: CD REVIEWS - . archive.metropolis.co.jp . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100709113338/http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/544/music_cd.asp . 9 July 2010 . dead.
  5. Web site: Dark Entries. https://web.archive.org/web/20160617233538/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYkaTwEIXJI. 17 June 2016. YouTube. 29 May 2006 .
  6. Web site: Entropy Records – Jan Linton | Buddha Machine Music. https://web.archive.org/web/20120312042042/http://www.entropy-records.com/release4007.htm. dead. 12 March 2012. 12 March 2012. 6 July 2020.
  7. Web site: CD/DVD Reviews. Mwe3.com. 6 July 2020.
  8. Web site: CD/DVD Reviews. postpunkmonk.com/. 27 July 2020. 27 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Steven Jones & Logan Sky - 'Lovers & Losers' reviewed » We Are Cult . 4 February 2021 .
  10. Web site: Steven Jones + Logan Sky Drop a New Winter EP Today from the Sky for a Pensive Holiday Season . 19 December 2023 .
  11. Web site: CD/DVD Reviews. postpunkmonk.com. 6 July 2020.
  12. Web site: CD/DVD Reviews. janlinton.bandcamp.com. 2 March 2021.
  13. Web site: CD/DVD.
  14. Web site: CD/DVD.
  15. Web site: CD/DVD.
  16. Web site: ,Melatonin, by Jan Linton .
  17. Web site: CD/DVD Reviews. https://postpunkmonk.com/2023/01/06/jan-linton-blitzes-new-year-with-trio-of-singles/.
  18. Web site: ,Behind the Mask (Vocal Remix), by Jan Linton .
  19. Web site: ,Rosemary (Compressed version), by Jan Linton .
  20. Web site: ,Strange Effect (Goldfish edit), by Jan Linton .
  21. Web site: ,Don't Cry at Christmas (Remastered Vocal), by Jan Linton .
  22. Web site: CD/DVD Reviews. https://postpunkmonk.com/2024/06/03/jan-linton-reconfigures-scott-walkers-30th-century-man-for-the-21st-century//.
  23. Web site: Cosmic Prophets by Richard Barbieri & Jan Linton. Rateyourmusic.com. 6 July 2020.
  24. Web site: Google Translate. Translate.google.com. 6 July 2020.
  25. Web site: CD/DVD Reviews. https://postpunkmonk.com/2024/01/16/jan-linton-logan-splice-new-offshoot-with-typical-london-weather/.
  26. Web site: Stores. Burningshed.com. 6 July 2020.

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