David Sylvian - Manafon

[Adrian]

Also, Penman accuses Sylvian of over labouring on Manafon, and then he says it feels unfinished? Make up your mind guy. I think we'll need a lot more time than three weeks to give a fair judgement on this, admittedly highly anticipated release. Maybe that was the problem to begin with. It's taken a year since we first heard about it, where Blemish was announced and immediately available for pre-order as I seem to recall...

[baht habit]

While Manafon features some of The Wire's favourite musicicans, they are barely audible on Manafon.

The EAI artists are virtually redundant on the release. It kind of makes you wonder why he bothered working with them if his intention was to use them as distant background noise for his guitar and voice. Surely he could've made similar noises with his laptop?

I am somewhat surprised by this appraisal of the contributions from these musicians. Granted, Sylvian sought out a situation where their performances would be viable enough to provide as much space as possible for his vocal, but I would hardly consider their contributions to be inaudible or redundant (perhaps you even are suggesting them to be irrelevant?). For example, one can clearly hear the numerous passages where John Tilbury's piano is at the forefront. Also, Evan Parker's saxophone is given the spotlight on a few occasions. Those are the easiest examples to focus on - two instruments that would be clearly defined in any context since they are played rather conventionally. Tilbury also utilizes the interior strings on the piano and uses the sounds produced in a percussive manner, so one should listen for that as well. The acoustic guitar parts provided by Burkhard Stangl, Otomo Yoshihide and Tetuzi Akiyama are easily heard on their respective tracks...By the way, Sylvian only added acoustic guitar on merely two out of the nine songs on the release - so we may conclude that his intention was actually not to use these musicians as "distant background noise for his guitar and voice". Cellist Marcio Mattos bows his instrument in the usual manner and there should be no reason not to pick out his contributions, for he is fairly prominent in the mix during the two songs he appears on. In digging deeper, one should be able to hear the contributions from bassist Werner Dafeldecker and cellist Michael Moser...both musicians opt to pluck, scrape and strike their instruments, sometimes hitting wood rather than touching strings. On a few tracks, Trumpeter Franz Hautzinger is heard blowing through his trumpet yet, in specific instances, he decided not to produce a tone - something he is surely capable of achieving, yet refrained from doing so for this particular recording session.
It may take some more time in order to decipher the electronic aspects of the recording but they are indeed audible throughout. It helps to be able to block out Sylvian's voice when attempting to do this (I call it using the inner ear ). For example, the counterpoint melody line by Fennesz that plays against Sylvian's vocal part on Snow White In Appalachia is actually essential to a certain sense of forward movement which is inherent to the piece - and this electronic contribution can be even easily heard during the trailer for Amplified Gesture (where Sylvian's vocal part is excised).
Anyway, I apologize for yet another lengthy post. I just thought it was significant to pointing out what could be considered guidelines for distinguishing the musical contributions to Manafon. In my opinion, they surely are deserving of more respect than what Simonp seems willing to give to them. Their contributions formed the entire foundation for this intriguing release.

[Simonp]

In my opinion, they surely are deserving of more respect than what Simonp seems willing to give to them. Their contributions formed the entire foundation for this intriguing release.

I'm certainly not being disrespectful to the musicians efforts, Baht. I just perhaps would like to have heard them a little louder in the performance. As you rightly point out and i couldnt agree more with you. John Tilbury's contributions are just beautiful. I'm just surprised that Sylvian has chosen not to allow more of these musicians' performances to shine through. The Evan Parker solo almost takes you by surprise in Emily Dickinson. it's so unexpected. And its moments like that, that make Manafon so special.

[afternoonfix]

well , my ltd edition & t-shirt have been shipped--which is nice.

Samadhisound

Order Number: 73

Date Ordered: Friday, August 14, 2009 08:15:47 AM

Your order has been updated to the following status:

New status: Shipped

[qdes]

well , my ltd edition & t-shirt have been shipped--which is nice.

Samadhisound

Order Number: 73

Date Ordered: Friday, August 14, 2009 08:15:47 AM

Your order has been updated to the following status:

New status: Shipped

Where did you find that information? I can't find it

[afternoonfix]

got an email from sylvians site

[digimarsh]

Even though the review is not that flattering, its not dampened my excitment.I think once we have 'absorbed' the
material we will see it as a classic release.What i have heard so far i find promising.

[Simonp]

review in the guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/se ... fon-review

[tulipmania]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125261140109600511.html

in todays Wall street journal.

[inkinthewell]

Thank you Simon and Tulip.
I enjoyed reading both reviews. I had the feeling that the reviewers had picked up the cd with a sort of "OMG! why did it have to be me to review this" state of mind, but that they found themselves opening up to it, appreciating it, as they listened.

I wonder what piece David is speaking about, in the WSJ interview, when he says: "Recently, I wrote a piece for another project and I had to recast it in the third person as it became too much." Can it be 'Jacqueline'? Or what else?

[digimarsh]

yea, thanks for the reviews,
I listened to the track 'manafon' in full last night for the 1st time, i found it amazing.
I could have heard more but don't want to spoil it, i will wait now for my cd.

[qdes]

Has anyone else received email from Samadhi? Still no word about my order

[inkinthewell]

Has anyone else received email from Samadhi? Still no word about my order

Yes, on the same day as Afternoonfix, with the same message.
Anyway, you can see what your order status is by logging-in in the SamadhiSound shop and checking your account history.

[Drake]

Sorry for being such a bore...

but will Manafon be available as download from Samadhi? *grabbing my coat*

Donät own a cd-player anymore...

[Chet]

and i want the vinyl