Sleepwalkers

[ScottR]

I Don't mean to sound disparaging, I like it!!I love Manafon, but have we reached the bottom of the barrel?

Oh no darkerbird, we get to endure manafon the instrumental next. If we scrape the bottom really hard we will fall right through. I am hoping dS's recent sessions with Fennesz see the light of day soon... its time to steer this boat elsewhere.

[baht habit]

I am hoping dS's recent sessions with Fennesz see the light of day soon... its time to steer this boat elsewhere.

Which sessions are these that you have learned about, Scott? I'd appreciate learning a bit more detail on that, since it seems that all of the flow of information that I am receiving only points to future collaborations with Fujikura and the International Contemporary Ensemble.

And regarding the Sylvian / Fennesz connection, I am sort of surprised that you in particular would welcome more collaborations between the two, since you are vehemently negative towards their work on Manafon. Are you not aware that Fennesz was a major contributor to Manafon? Actually, if you look at the logistics behind Manafon, one would naturally conclude that Fennesz was the driving catalyst which lead to the project. He introduced Sylvian to every single one of the musicians involved in the improvisations, he was basically in charge of coordinating those sessions in Vienna and London, and contributed to all but one of the nine tracks which were included on the final product. The two pieces which bore his imprint most obviously are Snow White In Appalachia and Emily Dickinson, but other tracks on Manafon are highly reminiscent of Fennesz' project with Polwechsel on Erstwhile titled Wrapped Islands.
So I must admit that I would expect you to be the very last person on this forum wishing for or encouraging any further collaborations between these artists.

[ScottR]

Sorry I know Fennesz is there but his influence is barely noticed. I'm thinking more along the lines of Fire in the Forest... not Snow White and Emily Dirge. They just finished two weeks of sessions ... maybe it is for "manafon... the instrumental" but for the love of god I hope not. It seems like the manafon stuff is finished and finally put to bed, but you never know. I mean whats next, manafon the musical?

[Simonp]

I think the Fujikura sessions do indeed include reworkings of some of the Manafon material as well as some new stuff. Im excited about it. Love Five Lines and love Manafon.

[mejekel]

Manafon just isn't that interesting IMHO, and much like Blemish it lacks musicality. The big down-side is that where Blemish was quite honest and open Manafon says nothing. The best music works when it resonates with truth (for want of a better word) and Manafon, well if you can tell me what's going on you're a better man/woman than me.

Don't get me started about Sleepwalkers, a compilation with one new track and we're meant to be somehow grateful - "repackaged / resold"!!! So many unreleased tracks and they're not here (wasn't I joe being the obvious one).

I hope he discovers melody again as he's a talented guy but it's been slim pickings of late

[Simonp]

"The best music works when it resonates with truth"

Care to elaborate on this? Not quite sure what you mean by it

[Simonp]

And isnt the point of a compilation to gather previously released material. The inclusion of a new track is just a bonus..if it was a compilation on new material, it would just be a new album?

[baht habit]

Sorry I know Fennesz is there but his influence is barely noticed. I'm thinking more along the lines on Late Night Shopping... not Snow White and Emily Dirge. They just finished two weeks of sessions ...

Fennesz did not participate on Late Night Shopping, though Chris Vrenna did do a remix so maybe that has you confused. So far the released collaborations between Sylvian and Fennesz consist of 2003's A Fire In The Forest from Sylvian's Blemish and 2004's Transit from Fennesz' Venice...as well as When Loud Weather Buffeted Naoshima and the eight tracks which Fennesz took part on Manafon.
And I think it is somewhat debatable that his influence isn't prevalent on Manafon. As I wrote above, the meeting between both basically brought about the proceedings and Fennesz handled the logistics which resulted in Manafon. It is one thing to assume that Fennesz' influence can only be noticed if he contributed with the 'sheets of sound' style he explored on Endless Summer or that everything he does with Sylvian must sound similar in style to Fire In The Forest. When you happen to listen to his collaborative work (most pertinently, his live collaborative work) with players like Keith Rowe, Peter Rheberg, Polwechsel or the trio disc he did with Daffeldecker and Brandlmayr, you can hear the same style, sense of purpose and overall intent that he brought to Manafon---that is to remain respectful and sympathetic to the spirit of other improvisers and not tread on the sound of others while picking his spots...so I happen to notice his influence greatly throughout.
I am quite intrigued to read about two weeks of sessions between the two. Thanks so very much. Where did you happen to learn of this news?

[ScottR]

see above edit...

Concerning the session work - its deductive reasoning. Fennesz took a 2 week break from his tour while in the northeast. I would say there is a more than a good chance that it was spent at Samadhi.

[baht habit]

see above edit...

Concerning the session work - its deductive reasoning. Be patient baht... you will see.

This is somewhat intriguing. Not only am I a patient person, I also would like to think that I am a reasonable one as well. And my inquiry was made in the hope that we would attain some valid basis in fact which may have led you to make your specific claim that the two musicians were recently working together.
I should point out that I have actually practiced deductive reasoning on this very forum back when I made the claim in 2008 that percussionist Martin Brandlmayr was a participant on Manafon. And though I was eventually proven incorrect, I actually had a few solid facts which led to my mistaken deductive reasoning:

1) I had learned that Sylvian had recorded with the members of Polwechsel.
2) Martin Brandlmayr was a member of Polwechsel and had also collaborated with Sylvian on the track Sleepwalkers.

So deductive reasoning led me to assume that Brandlmayr was involved with Manafon. But that was flat out wrong and I felt a bit irresponsible for making the claim when I was subsequently informed that no percussionists would be involved with Manafon and that facts bore out that the sessions with Polwechsel took place in 2004, a year before Brandlmayr joined them as a member.

And yet even though my attempt at such reasoned deduction failed, I guess that I would expect to have learned some solid basis in fact which would have helped you come to the conclusion you have come to. And that is why I was interested in learning some sense of detail. Not that I am anxious or impatient.

[Simonp]

Emily Dirge. They just finished two weeks of sessions ... maybe it is for "manafon... the instrumental" but for the love of god I hope not. It seems like the manafon stuff is finished and finally put to bed, but you never know. I mean whats next, manafon the musical?

It seems that Manafon won't be going away just yet. Sylvian and Dai Fujikura appear to be working on a "classical" version of the album along with some new pieces which continue the themes started on the original release. I'm very excited by this news after hearing their collaboration Five Lines. I'm intrigued Scott...what is it about Emily Dickinson and the rest of Manafon you find so offensive?

[Adrian]

can someone explain to me how people that don't like Blemish and/or Manafon are pissed off that 'Wasn't I Joe' isn't included on Sleepwalkers? I have a terrible bootleg of it from somewhere and it's hardly a 'Ride' is it?

[Simonp]

Wasn't I Joe is an incredible track. Love it. I have a bootleg of it too and I just love the energy in the live recording. I think if a studio version was made it would lose some of its power in the same way that "Blinding Light of Heaven" did when a studio version was released.

[digimarsh]

Downloaded Sleepwalkers from samadhi monday, (even though i have a sizeable portion of the material already), my early
thoughts on listening to the album in it's entire form ,are quite positive. As a listening experience i feel the album fits together well and has definate flow to it and a destinctive feel, these qualities are not always apparent with compilation albums. Five Lines is interesting and leaves me looking forward to the next episode so to speak.i like the direction David maybe gravitating toward.
I think the album is a fair representation of what David has been doing in the last decade in the sense of the textures and subject matter of the material and maybe people who are not die hard Sylvian fans therefore maybe haven't indulged since Deed Bees, would find this a usefull referance point as to what the man has been doing since then.

I am gonna keep giving the album some serious listening ,then i can hopefully post some more insightfull comments later ,but my early thoughts are favourable.

[Simonp]

Has Sylvian done any interviews to promote the release?