24.11.14 / There's a light that enters...

[javier]

Once I had meticulously edited out those sections of recitation during '...with no other house in sight', I'm finding greater appreciation for the focused detail Sylvian had worked in to the piece....

I'm interested - you actually edited out the voice? Did you simply crossfade the music each side of the voice sections? How long is the piece once voice has been removed?

[baht habit]

I'm interested - you actually edited out the voice? Did you simply crossfade the music each side of the voice sections? How long is the piece once voice has been removed?

My desired result was achieved by either splicing together sections or allowing the music to resolve to a logical conclusion. I initially wound up with three distinct sections of continuous music - but I then broke it up into four parts as separate tracks. The first part is 9min 18sec / the second is 8min 40sec / the duration of the third part is much longer at 20min 42sec / the last part serves as a 'coda' which runs only 5min 11sec. So the entire piece lasts around 44 minutes in total.
I would admit that there is actually one edit that occurs around halfway through the second part which comes across as jarring - yet I had no choice but to go with that, as the previous section was blanketed in a great deal of hiss while the subsequent section was relatively quiet in comparison.
I'd be willing to share the 4 mp3s with anyone who would want those e-mailed to them.

[darkerbird]

I really love this piece, and have probably listened to it more than any Sylvian album since Blemish. Wright's battered tones remind me of Iggy pop, who now hosts a rather fine radio show every Sunday on BBC 6Music. The music is exquisite and compliments the nature of the poems perfectly, and the idea that "God is Alone..." is worth the entrance fee all by itself. If this is where David is heading, I'm right there with him.....

[Foales Arishes]

WOW! there is a copy of the deluxe edition going for £92 on Ebay with 18 bids and 8 days to go

I should have ordered two copies

[missouriman]

WOW! there is a copy of the deluxe edition going for £92 on Ebay with 18 bids and 8 days to go

I should have ordered two copies

I received my copy yesterday after an 18 day wait. I love the music, but the package as a whole is underwhelming. Paying 92 pounds is nuts.

[missouriman]

WOW! there is a copy of the deluxe edition going for £92 on Ebay with 18 bids and 8 days to go

I should have ordered two copies

I received my copy yesterday after an 18 day wait. I love the music, but the book is underwhelming. Paying 92 pounds is nuts.

[Foales Arishes]

WOW! there is a copy of the deluxe edition going for £92 on Ebay with 18 bids and 8 days to go

I should have ordered two copies

I received my copy yesterday after an 18 day wait. I love the music, but the book is underwhelming. Paying 92 pounds is nuts.

It is nuts... having said that, I nearly paid £140 for the Manafon LE but then I found a new copy (original release, with signed print) for £70...

I agree about the book being underwhelming, but I'm pleased to own it, and temping though selling it for several times the original cost might be, it will hang on to it. I'm going through a bit of a collecting period, and have just bought Abandon/Hope LE#2 with Playbutton and have a few bids on some Ebay stuff... I'm not going mad on the numbers this time however

Out of interest, where and with whom was your order placed missouriman?... 18days is pretty poor.

[missouriman]

Out of interest, where and with whom was your order placed missouriman?... 18days is pretty poor.[/quote]

It was with Backstreet Merchandising. They did respond to emails when I asked about it. Not sure why it took so long. The package was beaten up pretty badly, but thankfully the book/cd was ok.

[Foales Arishes]

It was with Backstreet Merchandising. They did respond to emails when I asked about it. Not sure why it took so long. The package was beaten up pretty badly, but thankfully the book/cd was ok.

That is unfortunate, but at least it arrived intact in the end... are you outside of the UK?

I think mine arrived three or four days after my order was placed with Backstreet, which was a very pleasant surprise for me.

[Haldeman Gracie]

An incredible piece of work. Well done Sylvian, Wright and friends.

The idea of getting rid of Wright seems absolutely nuts to me - like excising Karn's contribution from a Japan album - but each to their own.

For those who like the 'sound wash' after Seagull, I can recommend Cliff Martinez's score to Solaris (particulary track #3). It's a whole hour of that kinda thing and possibly the best film score of the century so far (the movie certainly didn't deserve it).

[javier]

The idea of getting rid of Wright seems absolutely nuts to me

I love the piece with Wright's voice intact.
But removing it actually focuses attention on the music in a very powerful way. It feels like a very different work as one can be immersed in the mood without being distracted by words.

The trouble with words in one's own language is that they simply can't be ignored, they scream for attention. It's the same in visual media too. When one doesn't read a language, words can be seen as design or decoration. But when one understands the meaning it's impossible for them not to take primary focus.

I didn't realize how strong this distraction is until I moved to Japan. I've been living here many years now, and as I can't understand most kanji characters, advertising still always appears very "quiet". But put a single English word in there and an advertisement screams to me.

Similarly, removing Wright's voice from "There's a light..." allows the music of the piece to truly shine.

[Chad]

Kinda quiet here in camp david. Enthralled to the point of speechless I guess

I still haven't heard this yet and based on the commentary I'm glad I passed. I'm not big on poetry recitals over ambient back drop. I hated salvation/discord and that harold budd attempt was awful. Like someone mentioned earlier, repeated listenings are pointless once you know the punchline.

So is the artwork any good?

Are you guys starting to feel like chumps yet?

<

[Simonp]

Was wondering when you'd make an appearance...go on Chad, get it out your system then get back into your hole.

[missouriman]

Kinda quiet here in camp david. Enthralled to the point of speechless I guess

I still haven't heard this yet and based on the commentary I'm glad I passed. I'm not big on poetry recitals over ambient back drop. I hated salvation/discord and that harold budd attempt was awful. Like someone mentioned earlier, repeated listenings are pointless once you know the punchline.

So is the artwork any good?

Are you guys starting to feel like chumps yet?

<

I would feel like a chump only for not listening to it. It's safe to say it has become one of my favorite works by David. I listen to it most days usually at the end of the day. Still hearing things in the music I love, still feels achingly personal and confessional from Franz Wright and I feel sorry only a little for you Chad. You judge it without hearing it. That's quite wretchedly ignorant.

[ob8]

< [/quote]

I would feel like a chump only for not listening to it. It's safe to say it has become one of my favorite works by David. I listen to it most days usually at the end of the day. Still hearing things in the music I love, still feels achingly personal and confessional from Franz Wright and I feel sorry only a little for you Chad. You judge it without hearing it. That's quite wretchedly ignorant.[/quote]

Well said. I could not have put it better myself