Originally compiled in 2018 to coincide with Dendö Marionette's first reunion shows, Juvenile Rock circulated initially on a microscopically limited CD-R and then on cassette via Brooklyn's Bitter Lake Recordings. Spittle Made In Japan now gives it the format it has always deserved: a 2LP that lays out, at full extent, a body of unreleased recordings, alternate takes, studio experiments and live captures dating from the early-80s peak of one of Osaka's most singular synth-wave units.
The first half of the set is occupied by demo recordings from 1980 and 1981 that preceded what would become the band's lone 7-inch flexi: alternate versions of classic songs, breathtaking instrumentals, and the kind of studio experiments that open a window onto the band's creative process. The second half rounds out the picture with extended live captures, showing the group at their performing peak, with the icy electronics and jagged guitar interplay translating into something even more visceral on stage.
Together with the self-titled 2LP overview, Juvenile Rock completes a long-overdue picture of a group whose international reputation has, until now, rested almost entirely on a single 7-inch flexi and a handful of compilation appearances. Essential for collectors of early-80s Japanese synth-wave, and a major statement in itself.