David Sylvian

Bulldog · 02-15-2010, 04:56 AM

As in a thread on his post-Japan work (all that deserves a thread of its own). Anyway, fess up, who else is a fan? I don't think I've seen this guy mentioned around here by members other than my good self, so it'd be nice to know I'm not totally out on a limb here!

Anyway, this man, the former lead singer of Japan, has his fingers in a lot of stylistic pies so to speak, such to the extent that I couldn't really think where to put this thread at first. The albums of his that I've heard incorporate jazz, new wave, ambient and even the odd dash of folk, but when it comes to sticking labels on the guy's work, avante-garde is the one that comes up most often, so this'll have to do (at least for now).

The discography as a whole (whether or not we're talking about his work with Japan as well) is pretty bloody vast, as not only are there scores of bona fide solo albums to David Sylvian's name, but also a host of collaborations with the likes of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Holger Czukay and Robert Fripp. As far as my collection goes, I can only account for a few of the solo albums myself. In a nutshell, these are my two favourites of his solo albums...

...and that's not accounting for the other little gems in back-catalogue like Dead Bees On a Cake and his latest, very jazzy and avante-garde offering, Manafon (one of my favourites of 2009). Anyway, anyone who's wondering what the hell I'm on about, have some sneakily-hotlinked songs...

When Poets Dreamed Of Angels
Forbidden Colours
Brilliant Trees
Small Metal Gods
The Rabbit Skinner
Darkest Dreaming

As for me, I've gotta get back to work pretty soonish, so I guess I'm finished.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 02-15-2010, 12:35 PM

Only heard Secrets Of The Beehive.
I seem to remember thinking it was ok, don't remember anything standing out though.

Pretty sure I have one of his collaborations too somewhere although I can't remember who with.

Bulldog · 02-15-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Only heard Secrets Of The Beehive.
I seem to remember thinking it was ok, don't remember anything standing out though.

Pretty sure I have one of his collaborations too somewhere although I can't remember who with.

I remember rediscovering that album about a month back and going through this phase of playing it something like 5 times a day. It's the man's voice that sets the whole thing apart for me.

Brilliant Trees is a lot jazzier and well worth a shot too. His reunion album with Japan under the Rain Tree Crow moniker's probably my favourite that I've heard him singing on. As I say, I've still got bucketloads of his albums to get hold of myself though.

Forgot to say in the OP, if anyone's up for links, feel free to drop me a PM and I'll rustle one up...

jackhammer · 02-15-2010, 02:51 PM

I still have yet to hear a Japan album in full

Where to start before I give his solo stuff a listen?

Bulldog · 02-15-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I still have yet to hear a Japan album in full

Where to start before I give his solo stuff a listen?

Gentlemen Take Polaroids and Quiet Life are the Japan albums I've got, and both are pretty fantastic. I've heard good things about Tin Drum before as well, but I'm yet to get that myself so couldn't tell you much about it. Rain Tree Crow is technically a Japan album too, and as I said earlier it's probably my favourite album with Sylvian's name on it, but you might wanna start with the earlier stuff first. I'll see if I can hook you up with a link or two soonish if you like.

right-track · 02-15-2010, 03:14 PM

Tin Drum is a must listen.
Also, a thread about David Sylvian shouldn't exist without a mention of Japan bassist Mick Karn. Equally, if not more talented.

Bulldog · 02-15-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

Tin Drum is a must listen.
Also, a thread about David Sylvian shouldn't exist without a mention of Japan bassist Mick Karn. Equally, if not more talented.

Yeah, LastFM keeps recommending me his solo work. I'll definitely snoop around some blogs for what I can find when I've got a bit more spare time later in the week. No doubt I'll be coming back to this thread and hailing whatever I find as a classic pretty soon after

right-track · 02-15-2010, 03:24 PM

After Japan he did a collaboration album with Peter Murphy of Bauhaus (Dali's Car) along with a load of other stuff including Kate Bush (that's right Lee) of all people.
Karn is considered by many bassists as a genuine and important influence.
It's a pity he hasn't got the same kind of recognition amongst most music fans as he does with musicians.
A bit like the Johnny Marr of bass playing. A bassist's, bassist...so to speak.
Throw in his talent for keyboards and the oboe and you have one brilliant and influential musician.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 02-15-2010, 03:54 PM

Oh yeah Dali's Car

That was the other one.

Bulldog · 02-15-2010, 05:05 PM

Oh yeah, I remember Dali's Car. I think my brother was telling me about them only the other day. This Mick Karn sounds like quite a bloke. I had Secrets Of the Beehive for quite a while beforehand, but properly getting into the work Sylvian (and/or Karn) has been involved with is a fairly recent thing for me. It's weird, because I think it was Life In Tokyo I saw on the Old Grey Whistle Test DVD, and an old friend of mine sent me a Sylvian solo track many years ago, and I hated them both with a passion. Goes to show how some of them are well worth a second chance.

02-15-2010, 04:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	David Sylvian As in a thread on his post-Japan work (all that deserves a thread of its own). Anyway, fess up, who else is a fan? I don't think I've seen this guy mentioned around here by members other than my good self, so it'd be nice to know I'm not totally out on a limb here! Anyway, this man, the former lead singer of Japan, has his fingers in a lot of stylistic pies so to speak, such to the extent that I couldn't really think where to put this thread at first. The albums of his that I've heard incorporate jazz, new wave, ambient and even the odd dash of folk, but when it comes to sticking labels on the guy's work, avante-garde is the one that comes up most often, so this'll have to do (at least for now). The discography as a whole (whether or not we're talking about his work with Japan as well) is pretty bloody vast, as not only are there scores of bona fide solo albums to David Sylvian's name, but also a host of collaborations with the likes of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Holger Czukay and Robert Fripp. As far as my collection goes, I can only account for a few of the solo albums myself. In a nutshell, these are my two favourites of his solo albums... ...and that's not accounting for the other little gems in back-catalogue like Dead Bees On a Cake and his latest, very jazzy and avante-garde offering, Manafon (one of my favourites of 2009). Anyway, anyone who's wondering what the hell I'm on about, have some sneakily-hotlinked songs... When Poets Dreamed Of Angels Forbidden Colours Brilliant Trees Small Metal Gods The Rabbit Skinner Darkest Dreaming As for me, I've gotta get back to work pretty soonish, so I guess I'm finished.

02-15-2010, 12:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Only heard Secrets Of The Beehive. I seem to remember thinking it was ok, don't remember anything standing out though. Pretty sure I have one of his collaborations too somewhere although I can't remember who with. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

02-15-2010, 02:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I still have yet to hear a Japan album in full Where to start before I give his solo stuff a listen? __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

02-15-2010, 03:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Oh yeah Dali's Car That was the other one. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

02-15-2010, 03:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,723	Tin Drum is a must listen. Also, a thread about David Sylvian shouldn't exist without a mention of Japan bassist Mick Karn. Equally, if not more talented.

02-15-2010, 03:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
right-track Atchin' Akai Join Date: May 2005 Location: Unamerica Posts: 8,723	After Japan he did a collaboration album with Peter Murphy of Bauhaus (Dali's Car) along with a load of other stuff including Kate Bush (that's right Lee) of all people. Karn is considered by many bassists as a genuine and important influence. It's a pity he hasn't got the same kind of recognition amongst most music fans as he does with musicians. A bit like the Johnny Marr of bass playing. A bassist's, bassist...so to speak. Throw in his talent for keyboards and the oboe and you have one brilliant and influential musician.

02-15-2010, 05:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Oh yeah, I remember Dali's Car. I think my brother was telling me about them only the other day. This Mick Karn sounds like quite a bloke. I had Secrets Of the Beehive for quite a while beforehand, but properly getting into the work Sylvian (and/or Karn) has been involved with is a fairly recent thing for me. It's weird, because I think it was Life In Tokyo I saw on the Old Grey Whistle Test DVD, and an old friend of mine sent me a Sylvian solo track many years ago, and I hated them both with a passion. Goes to show how some of them are well worth a second chance.