Music / Neuromantic

Neuromantic is the third album by Yukihiro Takahashi, released in 1981 through Alfa Records.

Like its predecessor Murdered by the Music, Takahashi exclusively sings in English. Sound-wise, however, this album marks a new Technopop sound which reflects his work as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra which he was part of during the year of this album's release. Takahashi's next album following this one would push this Technopop sound further on top of embracing more collaborations between the Japanese Singer-Songwriter and Western artists.

Tracklist

1. "Glass" (6:01)
2. "Grand Espoir" (4:38)
3. "Connection" (5:04)
4. "New (Red) Roses" (3:48)
5. "Extra-Ordinary" (4:26)
6. "Drip Dry Eyes" (5:30)
7. "Curtains" (3:41)
8. "Charge" (2:32)
9. "Something in the Air" (4:51)

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This album provides examples of:

• The Cameo: Haruomi Hosono briefly appears on the music video of "Drip Dry Eyes".
• Couldn't Find a Pen: In the music video for "Drip Dry Eyes", Takahashi writes on a mirror with a red lipstick.
• Déjà Vu: On the chorus of "Extra-Ordinary":
  I think I've seen this scene somewhere before
  It's like the echo of a closing door
• Epic Rocking: "Glass" clocks in at just over six minutes.
• Face on the Cover: Takahashi is painted in watercolor (and the colours used are mentionned as well).
• Gratuitous French: "Grand Espoir" translates to "Great Hope" in french.
• Instrumentals: "New (Red) Roses" and "Charge".
• Longest Song Goes First: The opening track, "Glass", is the only one to surpass the six-minute mark.
• Music Video: For "Drip Dry Eyes".
• New Wave Music
• One-Word Title: "Glass", "Connections", "Curtains" and "Charge".
• Portmanteau Title: Neuromantic mixes the prefix "neuro" (refering to neurology) with the term "romantic".
• Pun-Based Title: The album's name refers to the music movement known as "The New Romantics" (compressed into one word called Neuromantic)
• Rearrange the Song: "Drip Dry Eyes" is a re-arrangement of a song written by Takahashi and previously released as a single by Sandii. Sandii's version (produced by Haruomi Hosono) is jagged, synthetic cod-reggae; Takahashi's version, conversely, is smooth, downbeat City Pop.
• Shout-Out: "Extra-Ordinary" has the lyric "BGM on the radio". While the term is an acronym for background music, it could also refer to the album by Yellow Magic Orchestra which came out a few months before Neuromantic.
• Special Guest
  • Coming from a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, some of his bandmates are expected to appear on this album as well.
    • Haruomi Hosono wrote "Grand Espoir" and plays keyboards on the album. He also appears in the video for "Drip Dry Eyes".
    • Ryuichi Sakamoto co-composed "Curtains" and plays keyboards on the album.
    • Hideki Matsutake (known as the technician and "fourth member" of the band) handled the programming.
    • YMO touring guitarist Kenji Omura co-composed "New (Red) Roses" and plays guitars.
    • YMO lyricist Peter Barakan co-wrote the album along with Takahashi.
  • Roxy Music member Andy Mackay plays the saxophone and the oboe. Phil Manzanera, the band's lead guitarist, also plays on the album.
• Synth-Pop
• Wistful Smile: On "Drip Dry Eyes":
  You can cry
  You can smile at the same time

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