David Sylvian S/D

He looks like Momus again on the album sleeve.

For anyone who missed it, there's a good interview with Sylvian in the September edition of Mojo. The feature includes a cherishable mid-70s photo of David, Steve and Mick rehearsing in what looks to have been the Batts' living room.
It makes me sad that he now repudiates almost all his work with Japan. I for one still derive great pleasure from Gentlemen Take Polaroids and Tin Drum.

Totally agree.

In other news I listened to the Manafon samples on the website and found them really irritating. Something about it just wasn't working for me. I have a feeling this album is going to divide opinions pretty severely.

Yeah, it seems like all the good parts are in the background... kind of marred by his aleatoric melodic humming.

The vocals on Blemish sounded pretty tuneless to me at first, 'little metal gods' is sounding more and more memorable as I listen again

I admired Blemish a lot, and there are some v good tracks on the 80s albums, but no matter how I try, the only one I really, really connect with is the Rain Tree Crow alb.

The vocals on Blemish sounded pretty tuneless to me at first, 'little metal gods' is sounding more and more memorable as I listen again

Yeah. It seems like he sits down and writes songs like everyone else, but then he subtracts all the musical information and leaves us with this elaborate vocal melody... and we have no idea what it's supposed to refer to. My ear naturally tries to ground the melody somewhere but it can't, and I guess I find that frustrating. It's as if Sylvian likes being the only one who knows what the melody actually refers to, and it sets up kind of an unpleasant power dynamic with his audience, like he's deliberately withholding information.

Yes, of course this is meant to be "difficult" music (and I like difficult music) but sometimes difficult music just doesn't work.

Thanks for the link to the samples. I loved Blemish, and I get the feeling this is going to be at least as good.

can't stream the other tracks because i'm on mac, but Little Metal Gods got me real psyched for this. the vocals seem very upfront in the mix but what else would you expect? also the making of-video of this could be really interesting.

first listen -- vocals are awfully loud
second listen -- really like to hear this without the vocals
third listen -- great record, vocals are fine, not an eai/erstwhile record and you can't listen to it that way, it's its own thing, huge chunks of it are really beautiful

it helps that i like david sylvian's lyrics, singing, and approach quite a bit

anxious to hear what jon abbey thinks

the second half of this, starting with the fifth track, might be the place to start if you're hoping to enjoy this based on prior enjoyment of erstwhile type stuff (keith rowe, polwechsel, etc).

i've been absolutely loving this record.

:-)

"anxious to hear what jon abbey thinks"

well, one thing is that listening via MP3 exaggerates the balance between Sylvian and the musicians, so listening to the CD or a lossless rip is definitely preferable, especially if that balance is bothering you (a complaint I've seen a bunch already). beyond that, I need more listens, but I will comment on this:

"the second half of this, starting with the fifth track, might be the place to start if you're hoping to enjoy this based on prior enjoyment of erstwhile type stuff (keith rowe, polwechsel, etc)."

I'd actually just skip the first two tracks, track 4 is the one with the Tokyo crew, and probably the most interesting musically to me.

small metal gods irritated me and I'm hardly every irritated by sylvian, I'm a huge fan. I fell asleep after that though, so I'll have to give it another listen tonight.

My review for the OC Weekly:

http://www.ocweekly.com/2009-09-17/music/cd-review-david-sylvian/

^^ nice description of how his voice is sounding.

I wanted to like this, but ugh.

While not particularly disrespectful of the musicians involved, it IS a David Sylvian album and it makes me wish David weren't... in it.

His vocals sound uncomfortably tacked on, frequently jarring. It's almost like he's parodying himself singing one of his vibrato-ey big ballads --- only without any real melodic variety to speak of. It may be his attempt to add an ~*improv*~ edge to the music, but imo it fails & the (many) beautiful moments never really get their chance to shine because of this.

I demand an instrumental version. kthxbye

Meantime a couple of folks noted errors with my AMM mentions so that'll hopefully be updated today!

well, while it's not strictly accurate to describe as "the amm saxophonist" (if anyone cld be called that it wld be lou gare) he has played with AMM every now and then, and he was generally thought to be a pretty gd fit w/ the group

...describe evan parker...

I was reading the review of the New York Times of the new record today, where it makes a big deal about the opening line being something like, "I'm dumping all my childish things" etc etc...I was a huge fan in college of most Sylvian from Japan through Beehive, but I am wondering, what is his beef? doesn't it seem like he has been moping about unburdening himself since the mid-1980s? Did he have some horrible trauma that I missed? Not that he ever seemed to have a sense of humor, but I find his ponderous non-stop "moving on from misery" really oppressive and neverending...anyone know what I mean?

sorry, "in" The New York Times...

...but it's his most endearing quality! It's his shtick and he's good at it.

Seriously, though, I know he went through a bad divorce, and perhaps some other relationship-related trauma over the years.

He did 'Let The Happiness In' though...

don't get me wrong--i still love the older stuff and respect the new stuff but i am more just curious as to what the "ghosts" might be now, i guess the divorce

iago g, have you heard the nine horses album? it's great, and there are plenty of funny lyrical moments, albeit droll and urbane, not lol ha ha hah

I was reading the review of the New York Times of the new record today, where it makes a big deal about the opening line being something like, "I'm dumping all my childish things" etc etc...I was a huge fan in college of most Sylvian from Japan through Beehive, but I am wondering, what is his beef?

I wouldn't interpret any song lyric -- by anyone -- literally.

otm about how the mp3s make his vocals seem unusually loud. I haven't warmed to this at all.

I wouldn't interpret any song lyric -- by anyone -- literally.

― Little starbursts of joy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn)

I know, I know...but you know what i mean about the general vibe. doesn't he refuse to play older songs live now? not that he tours much anyway, but i saw him at town hall in like 1988 or 1989 and it was transplendent

Iago g, have you heard the nine horses album? it's great, and there are plenty of funny lyrical moments, albeit droll and urbane, not lol ha ha hah

― kamerad, S

I haven't actually--I haven't kept up all that much but I will give it a listen, thanks for the tip!

the nine horses album is excellent and anyone who doesn't like any of his later-period work (basically, anything post-beehive) should enjoy it, it's the most akin to Gone to Earth or Beehive, in my mind.

Yeah it would be a disservice to say his recent lyrics have all been downers -- this album is often quite fraught but a number of his one-offs on various other releases (Fennesz, Friedmann, etc.) often take different roads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scBpZvXHP5g

Sylvian and Ingrid Chavez are releasing mini-record they did ages ago officially via Discipline Global Mobile. Buy it while you can.

Little Girls With 99 Lives by Ingrid Chavez

The four songs written and recorded by David Sylvian and Ingrid Chavez in the mid to late 90's, which were previously only available on the B-sides of various singles released by Virgin Records, are collected here for the first time. Available in a new digipak designed by Sylvian and, in keeping with some of the intimate themes addressed in the material, the artwork features images of Ingrid as a young girl. Each copy is signed and numbered by both Sylvian and Chavez and the pressing is strictly limited to 1000. There will be no reprinting of the edition once it has sold out

The edition is released on Ingrid's 10 Windows imprint and is available exclusively from the DGM Store.

note: I've heard these songs and didn't think a whole lot of them, but I bought one anyway.

I still cannot get into Manafon, but Blemish took me forever

manafon is indeed impenetrable to me as well.

But loads of people are way into it, see upthread

Yup.

Like Ned Raggett, for ex

Ned Raggett recorded himself reading pi at least once. What does he know? If only he had done in in a more sonorous baritone over broken atunal glitches. His hair does rival Sylvian's for sure.

And for that kind thought I thank you.

Manafon now good. Some kind of compilation out soon?

Yes, "Sleepwalker" will contain many of his collaborations from the last 10 years, and very good they are. A new track or two and some alternate mixes as well. Out next week.

Somehow I missed news of that compilation! But Jess didn't:

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14812-sleepwalkers/

I am definitely one of those Sylvian fans attracted to THE VOICE and therefore disagree with some of the characterizations of that review. He sounds great in "Money For All" and tstuff like "Ballad Of A Deadman" with Joan Wasser is really compelling!

it's okay; I long for another full-length album like the nine horses record though.

New Interview. Talks about the new compilation, Mick Karn...

David never seemed like a barrel of laughs but, man, is this guy severe nowadays or what?

What the! Yesterday I completely randomly picked that Japan best of DVD (the one with the Oil On Canvas gig) out of my pile because it's been waaaaaaay too long ago I've listened to them and now you revive a thread about Sylvian? Spooky.