David Sylvian - Manafon

[qdes]

I am not deterred by that short "review". I don't know, I really appreciate Blemish, and Naoshima, for that matter, but they are just not albums I listen to very often. I imagine (and will not be surprised if it becomes so), that Manafon may receive a similar fate in my own listening history. I hope that it is not necessarily the case. I am just always interested in what Sylvian puts out, period.

The title track of Blemish is the very first song I've ever heard from mr Sylvian and was instantly blown away by it. To this day, Blemish is the record I listen the most and that's because it keeps on giving more and more over time. I prefer this direction compared to more traditional singer-songwriter stuff any day.

I'm certain that will be the case with Manafon. if there is substance and beauty hidden...

I will try to find it
Yes, I will try

[Simonp]

one man's meat is another man's tofu, etcetera.

I beg your pardon?

[Phil Lawton]

I beg your pardon?

You 'eard.

[natsume]

The title track of Blemish is the very first song I've ever heard from mr Sylvian and was instantly blown away by it. To this day, Blemish is the record I listen the most and that's because it keeps on giving more and more over time.

I'm not sure if you were, but don't get me wrong. I loved Blemish the first time I heard it. I still remember where I was, sitting in a park at night overlooking the lights of San Francisco. And, interestingly enough, I was in a pretty good head space at that time in my life, having come out of a darker time, and I recognized the album for the work of great catharsis that it is, overwhelmingly dark, but also hopeful. I also remember thinking good, here is something very new from Sylvian.

I also knew that I would probably not listen to it very much - that's just my own taste. Nine Horses is much more my speed, and I hope there is more in that vein to come, but I am still fascinated by any work coming from him.

[fletchertronics]

I am not deterred by that short "review"...

Ditto - I couldn't give a monkeys what anyone else thinks about it It doesn't affect my view one jot. I'll judge it for myself entirely, as always, and will most likely fall in love with it, as is mostly the case for me with Sylvian's work.

You're right. I'll wait until I've heard it myself until I pass judgement. I just hope it doesn't sound like Scott Walker's "The Drift" - horrible depressing album

Each to their own Simon For me The Drift is a triumph. I love most of Scott's work, and whilst this may not be my No.1 choice it's in the Top 5!

I really do find the 'divide' that began with Blemish fascinating. David's work has never been commercial - I think people forget just how different some of the early albums were in the context of 'pop' music of the time. For me the main attraction to his work (going back to Tin Drum) was the fact that every album was unique; He's never kept a formula - even the much revered Secrets Of The Beehive was, for him, very different to anything else in his catalogue.

So for me I await each release with the hope that he will continue to surprise me and charter some new sonic ground. Personally I would rather he veer further into 'challenging' territory than sit back and repeat his past

[Tin Bird]

Boy, "the Blemish divide" is kicking into high gear here again isn't it? From my perspective, I am happy that Sylvian is taking so many chances this late in the day. How many artists after making music for so long could truly be stepping out on to the edge and making really challenging material now? I mean, I love Secrets of the Beehive almost as much as my own children, but he's done that one already...do we really want him to remake Orpheus forever? The man has grown, changed, gained experience and perspective and now has something different that he wants to say...I want to hear it! My fave work of his has always been the more experiemntal stuff anyway: Ghosts, Plight/Premon, Fire in the Forest...etc. Even Tin Drum was considered "weird" at the time. So, please folks, let's give the man a chance...I'm betting that he is going to blow our minds all over again.

[ob8]

Yes i agree whole heartedly, Davids appeal for me has always been his willingness to break new boundaries in his song writing. Whilst not in any way comparing U2 to David, i saw an advert for Blackberry last night with one of U2's new songs and for me it sounded like it could have been any one of a hundred from their last ten years. Its just the same old formula repeated and whilst that does work for many bands, its the diversity and complexity of Davids songs that makes him without equal for me.

[neonico]

i totally agree ob8.

[fletchertronics]

Boy, "the Blemish divide" is kicking into high gear here again isn't it? From my perspective, I am happy that Sylvian is taking so many chances this late in the day. How many artists after making music for so long could truly be stepping out on to the edge and making really challenging material now? I mean, I love Secrets of the Beehive almost as much as my own children, but he's done that one already...do we really want him to remake Orpheus forever? The man has grown, changed, gained experience and perspective and now has something different that he wants to say...I want to hear it! My fave work of his has always been the more experiemntal stuff anyway: Ghosts, Plight/Premon, Fire in the Forest...etc. Even Tin Drum was considered "weird" at the time. So, please folks, let's give the man a chance...I'm betting that he is going to blow our minds all over again.

Yes i agree whole heartedly, Davids appeal for me has always been his willingness to break new boundaries in his song writing. Whilst not in any way comparing U2 to David, i saw an advert for Blackberry last night with one of U2's new songs and for me it sounded like it could have been any one of a hundred from their last ten years. Its just the same old formula repeated and whilst that does work for many bands, its the diversity and complexity of Davids songs that makes him without equal for me.

What they said! Perhaps I'm not in a total minority after all...

[neonico]

fletchertronics everyone as different tastes wether its musik ,men ,women hobbies , films, that makes us interesting.

that makes you interesting. and you have a good taste in musik

and i think i spelt wether wrong....


oh my english

thats why i have more haters as freinds on this forum

i hate the google translater

and i insulted jon abbey 3 times because i cant copy his name properly computers

[baht habit]

Don't fret, Neonico. We are reasonable beings and should all be capable of deciphering a good portion of your words in order to comprehend whatever point you are attempting to get across. So as far as I am concerned, you shouldn't sweat it.

Regarding the remarks of the reviewer from Uncut ...

>>>On one listen I found "Manafon" totally embarrassing<<<
I suppose this is a valid reaction, yet most likely not a reaction from a reviewer who was adequately prepared for the music he was focusing on - a point which I think is better proven from other comments from this gentleman. In my opinion, for any reviewer to pass judgement on one cursory listen could easily come across as rash and somewhat unprofessional.

>>>We put a load of old Japan tunes on after "Manafon", which still sound good<<<
This could be one bit of evidence to prove my point above. Basically, what we have here is a reviewer who, after one listen of an artist's new product from 2009, immediately decides to listen to material from that artist's old band written and recorded decades ago. As far as I am concerned, the entire frame of reference and comparison is way off base.

>>>Suspect there's still something for me in a few Sylvian solo albums but God, after that, I'm really not in the mood to find out. <<<
This seems extremely telling to me. I may be interpreting that above statement incorrectly, but it seems pretty much apparent to me that this reviewer is not familiar with the evolution and scope of Sylvian's solo output. Not that a reviewer has to be aware of every aspect and release of their subject's career - but in this case, a better knowledge of the varying directions that Sylvian prefers to take with his music would have helped prepare the reviewer for the task at hand and could have aided him in making better qualified judgements in regards to what he was hearing.

>>>For all the interesting people on "Manafon", they're working very minimally, and a very long way down the mix behind Sylvian, who just sounds excruciatingly laboured to me.<<<
Unfortunately, the reviewer comes across as rather ignorant of the musical output by these 'interesting people', for they most often work in a minimalistic vein. And if he were accustomed to Sylvian's most recent work, then the fact that the vocals are mixed much more up front would not be an issue.

Could we come to the conclusion that this reviewer was simply not up to the challenge?

[jebe68]

Yes, I agree with all that Baht says above but I should point out in fairness, this wasn't posted as a full review; the blog seems to cover "pre-reviews", I guess. As they get new releases at the "Uncut" office and give them a listen, they'll post quick thoughts on said CD's. Some of them are more lengthy than others but i suppose one would call them "unofficial".

I'm glad to see that so many have been stirred up about this; while I already knew there were a fair number of folks out there who will shy away from Sylvian's more difficult works, it is encouraging that so many are greatly looking forward to "Manafon" and even the steps Sylvian will take beyond that.

Reminds me of a story from a Scott Walker interview that I only vaguely remember: Walker was approached on the tube by someone who had been a fan of his in his pop days. This person told him that he'd gotten "Tilt" and was so angered by it, said he'd never buy any more Scott Walker! I think Scott was amused by all this. I'm sure Sylvian gets the same thing.

Like most of us excited about "Manafon", I scan the internet several times a day, looking for any new tidbits, maybe some song samples, a review, new interview, the opportunity to pre-order it from Samadhi Sound, anything, mostly in vain...with it being just over a month away, surely something new will show up any day now! My wife (who is not really a Sylvian fan, has heard a fair amount of his stuff that I've played when we're in the car or whatever, and likes the occasional song and would likely not be a "Manafon" fan) and I have started to refer to my condition as "Manafonia". Many others' partners may notice signs of this cropping up over the next month or so...

[neonico]

Don't fret, Neonico. We are reasonable beings and should all be capable of deciphering a good portion of your words in order to comprehend whatever point you are attempting to get across. So as far as I am concerned, you shouldn't sweat it.

Regarding the remarks of the reviewer from Uncut ...

>>>On one listen I found "Manafon" totally embarrassing<<<
I suppose this is a valid reaction, yet most likely not a reaction from a reviewer who was adequately prepared for the music he was focusing on - a point which I think is better proven from other comments from this gentleman. In my opinion, for any reviewer to pass judgement on one cursory listen could easily come across as rash and somewhat unprofessional.

>>>We put a load of old Japan tunes on after "Manafon", which still sound good<<<
This could be one bit of evidence to prove my point above. Basically, what we have here is a reviewer who, after one listen of an artist's new product from 2009, immediately decides to listen to material from that artist's old band written and recorded decades ago. As far as I am concerned, the entire frame of reference and comparison is way off base.

>>>Suspect there's still something for me in a few Sylvian solo albums but God, after that, I'm really not in the mood to find out. <<<
This seems extremely telling to me. I may be interpreting that above statement incorrectly, but it seems pretty much apparent to me that this reviewer is not familiar with the evolution and scope of Sylvian's solo output. Not that a reviewer has to be aware of every aspect and release of their subject's career - but in this case, a better knowledge of the varying directions that Sylvian prefers to take with his music would have helped prepare the reviewer for the task at hand and could have aided him in making better qualified judgements in regards to what he was hearing.

>>>For all the interesting people on "Manafon", they're working very minimally, and a very long way down the mix behind Sylvian, who just sounds excruciatingly laboured to me.<<<
Unfortunately, the reviewer comes across as rather ignorant of the musical output by these 'interesting people', for they most often work in a minimalistic vein. And if he were accustomed to Sylvian's most recent work, then the fact that the vocals are mixed much more up front would not be an issue.

Could we come to the conclusion that this reviewer was simply not up to the challenge?

i found the uncut review quiet hard actually what do you thinkl " is this right "

thanks for the kind reply ht habit

[neonico]

thats what i mean it didnt copy your name right baht habit

i copied it 3 rows underneath but it still split your name in 3 sections i give up...


and everyone thinks im stupid with a art degree great this finshed me off

totally embaresing every post

silvermoon hates me as well




i think its better when i dont post anymore

[missouriman]

Neonico is JapanSylvian, as far as I am concerned and you need to be here. Screw anybody who gets their jollies putting you down.