New Syl Fan?

[Fire Rose 45]

Recently I was conducting business over the phone, and the lady I was talking to asked me who my favorite singer is. This is one of the security questions I have with this company to access my account. I replied David Sylvian. She said, "Who? I don't think I've ever heard of him." I replied, "Well, you owe it to yourself to check it out. You might start with YouTube. He has the voice of an angel." She thanked me and said she would look into it.

[Chad]

yeah... so what would you pick out for her to listen to first?

manafon or world citizen?

[Fire Rose 45]

I would want her to hear "Thaltheim", "Waterfront" and "Damage" first. I think they are Sylvian at his best.

[Simonp]

I'd suggest she start with Died In The Wool and work her way back through his catalogue although she should probably not listen to "When We Return..." as her first experience of his instrumental work and start with Steel Cathedrals

[Simonp]

I'd suggest she start with Died In The Wool and work her way back through his catalogue although she should probably not listen to "When We Return..." as her first experience of his instrumental work and start with Steel Cathedrals

[Chad]

waterfront is a great choice. I would add songs like let the happiness in, darkest dreaming and wave. If she were into jazz I would recommend things like before the bullfight, wonderful world or the early Jon Hassell tracks weathered wall/brilliant trees.

I think trying to convince or convert someone using manafon or blemish would have the exact opposite effect. If I were force to pick something from those sets it would be the more focused cuts like certain slant or fire in the forest. Sleepwalkers is a pretty well thought collection.

[Simonp]

waterfront is a great choice. I would add songs like let the happiness in, darkest dreaming and wave. If she were into jazz I would recommend things like before the bullfight, wonderful world or the early Jon Hassell tracks weathered wall/brilliant trees.

I think trying to convince or convert someone using manafon or blemish would have the exact opposite effect. .

So you're saying that a newcomer to Sylvian would not enjoy Manafon or Blemish...isn't this somewhat presumptuous?

[Tin Bird]

If the purpose was to turn a newcomer on to Sylvian, I would choose tracks like: Orpheus, Blackwater, September, Ride, Fire in the Forest, Darkest Dreaming, Wanderlust...etc. The more accessible stuff. Honestly, as much as I love Blemish and much of his instrumental work, Manafon, Died in the Wool...etc are very challenging records for the avg. uninitiated person to tackle. I do not think most folks would fall in love with Sylvian if the first track they heard by him was Small Metal Gods or The Rabbit Skinner.

[inkinthewell]

But if the newcomer to Sylvian's world should happen to love experimental music, maybe it would turn her/him off to listen to the early stuff.

[Tin Bird]

I suppose that is possible. Honestly, I think his songs are so beautiful and perfect, I just can't see how anyone would not fall in love with them though.

[dylan kerr]

i did the same to a new friend in south africa
she now is a fully appreciated Sylvian fan and loves his music
the first song i told her to listen was Blackwater and then pocketful of change finishing with september