Vista blog

[silentwings]

Thanks for the response Quiet Visitor. I was glad to see Coda re-released too.

I have just published the next article on the site, featuring the Sylvian/Fripp track 'Brightness Falls'. The song was derived from a guitar riff within the instrumental 'Protopunk' that was performed with Trey Gunn as part of their trio shows in 1992.

The article looks at how Trey Gunn linked up with Robert Fripp ahead of their work with David Sylvian, and their related activities with the Robert Fripp String Quintet which existed alongside Sylvian/Fripp.

Here's the link: https://sylvianvista.com/2024/10/25/pro ... ess-falls/

[silentwings]

The latest article at Vista is about 'Grains (sweet paulownia wood)', David Sylvian's first released sung performance for nearly a decade.

Recorded early in 2022 it's a 'remodel' of an earlier instrumental track by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto. The vocal line is so beautifully matched with the music it's difficult to believe it was conceived about 15 years after the underlying track. Spellbinding!

Here's the link: https://sylvianvista.com/2024/11/15/gra ... wnia-wood/

[silentwings]

There's a new article published on the Vista site about David Sylvian's sole reading of poetry by Nils Christian Moe-Repstad, 'I Swallowed Earth for This'.

The very last piece on Uncommon Deities, it strikes a very different tone to the preceding readings that are third-party narratives about various minor deities. Spoken in the first person, it displays the elemental imagery that makes Moe-Repstad's work so remarkable and led to him being such an admired talent.

Here's the link: https://sylvianvista.com/2024/12/06/i-s ... -for-this/

[silentwings]

'Silver Moon' is the subject of the latest blog article on Vista.

I've always liked this track, it seems to capture the 'lightness' and 'exuberance' that David Sylvian saw in Gone to Earth.

I'm privileged to include brief contributions from Jennifer Maidman who played bass on the track, Nick Brandt who directed the promo video and Russell Mills who designed the single artwork.

Here's the link: https://sylvianvista.com/2024/12/26/sil ... -steeples/

[silentwings]

A new article has just been published about 'Late Night Shopping', David Sylvian's humorous critique of consumerism.

The song has appeared in various remixed forms, by Chris Vrenna (a version that was subsequently 'tweaked' by Sylvian himself), Burnt Friedman, and Atom™ - the latter an out-take from The Good Son vs The Only Daughter album that has just been made available on bandcamp on a 'name your price' basis (with Sylvian indicating that no payment is necessary).

All details in the article here: https://sylvianvista.com/2025/01/17/lat ... -shopping/

[silentwings]

I just published a new article about Bill Nelson’s contribution to the Gone to Earth album. He and Robert Fripp were selected for their contrasting styles and approaches to the guitar.

Nelson and Sylvian shared important interests which seemed to seep into the music itself. ‘Answered Prayers’ is an absolute gem featuring just the two of them. Perfection!

Here’s the link: https://sylvianvista.com/2025/02/07/answered-prayers/

[silentwings]

The latest article features ‘World Citizen (I Won’t Be Disappointed)’, a unique collaboration between Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sylvian and Ryuichi’s ex-YMO bandmates, Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in their incarnation at the time of Sketch Show.

There are some great remixes of the song, including Sakamoto’s looped piano version on Chasm and Taylor Deupree’s mix which adds a delicious stepped bass part.

Here’s the link: https://sylvianvista.com/2025/02/28/wor ... appointed/

[silentwings]

I’ve just published a new piece about Japan’s ‘Life Without Buildings’.

Recorded as the b-side of the original version of ‘The Art of Parties’, it was the band’s final session with John Punter as producer. Steve Jansen said it represented ‘an exciting shift’ in how they worked in the studio, and Mick Karn later said it was his favourite track that the band recorded.

Here’s the link: https://sylvianvista.com/2025/03/21/lif ... buildings/

[Quiet Visitor]

As always thanks for the great research.

Just one addition: the live-version of Life Without Building by JBK is also available on CD. It was the last track on the Jansen Barbieri Karn Medium Label-sampler: https://www.discogs.com/master/970711-J ... el-Sampler