Recorded live at Red Cloth, Shinjuku on 29th March 2008.

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First review!

FAST CARS – PLAYED IN JAPAN – DETOUR RECORDS (2025).
So, what exactly do we want from a live album? Certainly not exactly the same as the studio recordings, that would be fake, but the tracks need to be recognisable. And if a band is renowned for having a bit of power, a bit of musical muscle and a generous helping of personality then that needs to be recreated too. Yes, we’re listening in the comfort of our own homes with a beverage of choice, but we want to revel in the sensory joys of attending a gig too. Well, those Fast Cars fellas have nailed it with this exciting new package representing an iconic trip to Japan back in 2008.

From the opening rush of crowd expectation, the arrival of guitars and sparky drum intro of ‘What Can I Do?’ the absolute rush of excitement derived from the best of live experiences is relayed to the listener. Crisp and clear but raw and powerful, this is Fast Cars as was, were and still are. Northern Power pop at its finest. ‘Here We Are Today’ finds vocalist Steve Murray in fine, full-throated fashion, likewise the rest of the band with their chant-along backing vocals. It’s so good to have a record of all of this lovely, infectious (in a good way) and vibrant band’s history combined. Tracks from each of their collections of studio recordings, ‘Coming… Ready Or Not!’ and ‘Well… You Started It!’ entwined cohesively with a receptive Japanese audience lapping it up. And although Steve Murray has always been the main songwriter, it’s also cool to hear the creations of Stuart Murray and Craig Hilton being represented too, especially as the band themselves credit the late, great Craig as being the man who “defined the sound of Fast Cars”. ‘You’re So Funny’ is a particularly rousing favourite with impressive guitar solos from Craig Hilton and an ever reliable, pounding rhythm section with Tony Dyson on drums and Stuart Murray on that solid vibrating spine of booming bass.

It’s a delight to hear Steve thank the audience in their own lingo following ‘Best Friend’ and the crashing of cymbals during that 1978 classic ‘Images of You’ are absolute percussive dynamite! Side one ends with the autobiographical ‘Bombed Our School’ (relax, it was only a prank), showing that the live experience of the band is as powerful throughout any number of tempo changes. The same goes for the touching ‘I Won’t Be Coming home’ when it pops up on the flip-side of the album. Props too, for including that favourite cover ‘This Old Heart of Mine’ which manages to hang together gloriously amidst every single instrument (and voice) doing its damnedest to boss the show. It’s a gloriously manic though melodic cacophony of pure punkish heart and soul. Of course, THE single is given an outing here, and only right as the collectable status of ‘The Kids Just Wanna Dance’ was at its pinnacle in Japan, fetching upwards of £100, and was no doubt instrumental in heralding the return of Fast Cars to the live circuit and the recording studio in the 21st Century! The sound of the rapturous crowd singing along to the chorus of this one is an uplifting joy! Do live albums always work? Hell, no! But are the best ones capable of taking the listener to a time and place and making them feel part of an essential moment? Of course they are, and that’s exactly what ‘Played in Japan’ does. This is an essential piece of vinyl. Buy it and play it till your ears bleed. Then seek medical help, get patched up and listen all over again!

IAN ‘BIG E’ TAYLOR: RADIOM29/MAD NOT MAD ZINE