I cannot honestly remember what i felt the first time i heard this song. But i already had a taste for ambient music and soundscapes which this track is full of. I had listened to Japan and their work and was already in love with Sylvian's voice. But one of the main factors of Sylvian's solo work that cannot be overstated is his lyricism. No one writes lyrics like he does. The very last lyric of this song is so powerful. This and Dead Bees On A Cake were the first two LPs i bought.
This is one of my favourites too, I love the soundscape. Sylvian is respected enough to be able to get an array of fantastic musicians who seem to buy into his vision and to enhance it. This is a great way to enjoy Sunday, I'm going off for more.
This is such a wonderful album! So lovely, so elegant, so tasteful. This is my favorite DS album. I think it would be really cool for you to share the music that you personally enjoy from time to time. It's always good to expand our musical worlds.
When this album came out I couldn't believe it: Sylvian and Fripp. It turned out to be a match made in heaven. I've read that they found each other in their admiration for the theories of J. C. Bennett. Bennett can also be heard with one of his statements on Exposure by Fripp: “There's no way to achieve the aim without suffering”. And that is all too true.
Man - when you said you were a Sylvian fan - it made me realise how judgemental I still am - I never figured when I first clicked. I hope I can make up for my awfulness just a little with my subscription - and a promise to keep working on myself. I was 20 when this album came out, and I was lucky enough to have been introduced to Sylvian by my friend Andy when he was still in Japan. We cycle through our genres over time, and in the last few months I have pulled out all my old Sylvian and Japan vinyls. And I am back there again. Its wonderful and awful all at the same time. Secrets is my favourite too. 🙏🏻
Loved this song on first hearing the day it came out in uk (Gone to Earth ) album I’d say this is THE most hauntingly beautiful love song of all time I really would.His astoundingly beautiful reedy voice ontop of this absolutely Epic backing is it as far as I understand I’m a concert level pianist absolutely mad for it music Dave’s my absolute absolutely no.1 Thankyou for bringing his music to the people X
I love David Sylvian, and this is my favorite Sylvian song. It has an all-encompassing feeling. I imagine it as a perfect background track for a fantasy movie that has a tortured love story unfolding in a harsh and beautiful landscape. The hollow percussion creates the feeling of some ancient ritual, as does the flugelhorn. The dense, dissonant guitars sound almost like water and wind flowing and foaming, waves whooshing into each other and crashing, sometimes creating beautiful ripples in an unceasing current. And soaring above everything is Sylvian's voice, a majestic incantation like a divine spirit surveying the glory and the wreckage from above. I don't have a clue what's going on from a technical musical perspective, but that's the general impression I get and why I love this soul-stirring track so much. Thanks for featuring it. You consistently have feature great and oft-lesser known music that I hope many viewers are discovering as a result.
This song develops in a way that keeps setting up the next line and pulls you along, creating “waves” of push-pull, up/down and quenches the thirst created by the verse’s begging with the verse’s end. For me it is a very satisfying pace and pleasurable conclusion in every phase of the song. It is different from many of his pieces in that they tend to be less structured and meander a lot, which I like. Then “Wave” starts playing and I react by saying: “Yes! That song!…I LIKE that song!”. Perhaps you also had that undefinable reaction to it and didn’t know why.
This is also one of my faves. It is structured just right and Fripp’s guitar just works perfectly. Ever since I came across “Weatherbox” that included special jewel box art versions and a great booklet with his first 5 solo LPs, I have been collecting everything Sylvian, including Nine Horses and Rain Tree Crow, collars with Sakamoto, Fripp and others. A unique voice and lyrics, layering of sounds and instrumentation is unmatched. Anyone who has missed his worked over the years and is unfamiliar with it, has been deprived of a magnificent body of musical work like no other.
Steve Jansen's drumming is epic on this track as well. Tasteful..big sound, great sonics..no wonder Gavin Harrison repeatedly mentions him as a major influence.
I like how at times the music feels almost jagged and contradictory to David's singing, but then there's a drop or refrain that let's David's voice complete the sonic pattern or swell in the absence of the soundscape. It reminds me of the recurring pattern in a lot of the work he did in Nine Horses and some of the music he made in the 2000 aughts.
I came to David Sylvian through my love for Mr. Fripp. Everything else is gravy. I sometimes don’t really love David’s voice and find it a bit one dimensional but here I did. It melded well with the music and said, Fripperhinoceros. I am always up to listen to a favorite of yours. It’s only fair. The patience and effort you put into listening and reacting is much appreciated. I heard some guitar hammer-ons and assume that was Bill Nelson. One song that is part of my DNA is Bill’s October Man, I just dig it. Peace and dimensional Music
A fantastic track off a superb double LP. A beautiful melody, and so incredibly atmospheric. Obviously you've DS's mellifluous voice, but also a host of brilliant musicians, Bill Nelson, Fripp, Beckett, to name a few. The guitar(s) work, amazing, likewise the horn passages. And the electronics bringing the whole piece together, giving it a nebulous, almost ethereal feel, it's wonderful. This's my long time favourite Sylvian album(s). A heady mix of brilliant songs, and lovely instrumentals. I've advocated for this album a few times, but didn't expect it knowing JP had heard it numerous times. That said, and now we're here, may I suggest the whole of S1 for a future long song Saturday. Or better still, work through it all. It definitely deserves to be played.
I have had the privilege to have seen David Sylvian live several times, and this track, Waves, always reminds me of seeing him in Edinburgh. The memories come flooding back, as it was such an amazing gig, the music, the atmosphere and the sheer talent of the man.
JP, thank you for this. I had never heard David Sylvian before and just from this one song I bought the 2 cd's of his you mentioned. Thanks for introducing us to this artist. Keep up the great work
Hi from France: Some time after this album, Fripp proposed to Sylvian to participate with him in the refoundation of King Crimson. But Sylvian had other projects. They concluded their work with the album "The first day" and the fabulous tour that followed...
Having 2 of the absolutely finest guitarists certainly helps laying down the dream textures. This kind of music (as with former bandmates Karn or Barbieri) does not impress 'just hearing it" , one needs to LISTEN to it and pick up all the atmospheric subtleties . Seeing DS live really proves the point, upon leaving the concert in the 80s , I felt wrapped up in a hazy cotton cocoon, mesmerized and hypnotized by the event. This is not superficial music that gives immediate gratification.
I know this song inside and out, having listened to this record since it came out. I was terribly in love at the time... The solo at the end is stunning. The whole album is grand.
The esence of this song is a jangled cacophony of angular, clashing sounds that is somehow melded together and softened by DS voice (Also the soaring horn solo) into a thing of absolute beauty. Bought this album in '86 at a time I was starting to date my future wife (She hated and still hates the album!). One of my all time top 5 albums.
Excellent idea, doing reviews of your favourites. This would be the best music you could show us (often I stop by here to hear something new). It's "best" because you know exactly what it is that makes it lovely.
As far as my own immediate reaction to the song? I like it. It reminds me of some of the Brian Eno music (and the Fripp and Eno Album) that I've heard. I don't know if I could completely drop everything else and just listen to it, but I think I could. I definitely like the dissonances. (They've got their own tunings, maybe?). There's also quite a lot of "80's" in it. (You have to sound like your times to sell music in your times, I think? so it feels like a less creative aspect of it all. His singing reminds me of Spandau Ballet for some reason. Not just the style, but where it's placed in the mix? It's in "that 80's place".) I like his singing well enough, but it doesn't stand out to me, is what I'm trying to say, I suppose? Now I've got to try to get a bit more of definite idea about "that 80's place" - the apparent position of the singer in relation to the band, I suppose. I think he sounds like he's right in the middle of an oval, rather than in front (just) of a line. Part of that is that sounds bleed across or something. There's some kind of merging I perceive. Don't know why that would be "80's" though. Might need to rethink this until I disagree with myself, then. One thing that this music would be fantastic for, would be e.g. to "math" to it. A lot of music is too intrusive to permit you to concentrate on something that demands focus, and yet at the same time, still to be "tuned in" to the music - to be a bit more subliminally carried along by it (maybe just as a way of saying how that might feel). I like that. It's one of the things I love about Brian Eno's Music for Airports - the fact that it's deliberately designed to be easy to put in the background (while also being designed to be good enough to pay attention to, if you feel like just putting out to sea on the music for a while -- let the listener choose.) As far as that goes, what I'm saying is that it's not "background music" (muzak); it's just polite music that only steps forward if summoned. OK enough floundering around in word mud. If I think of something else later, I'll come and clutter this space up with that.
As far as the various obsessions us other obsessives have, out here, you may (it's possible, right?) be pleased to learn that there's a new *Fiery Gun Hand* cover just arrived in this world, now (using midi - so it sounds a bit old-prog at times)th-cam.com/video/2xBGc-enYTU/w-d-xo.html (So when you do your song review of it one day, you'll know it from many different perspectives. With many songs it's difficult to manage that. Generally people faithfully replicate, or unplug, and that's about it. But maybe I'm just trying to hard to make a case here?)
Well, one of Those Songs [TM] in my life. And you said everything about it that I would, or could. Raising hair and goosebumps guaranteed :) And it's interesting that almost nobody I know knows David Sylvian, so it's extra nice that you really like his music 💜
This was the first album by David Sylvian I bought, a long long time ago. A friend of mine already bought it and I liked it. More albums followed. First: I love his voice. When I hear him singing I can relax completely. Second: the dark but warm, brooding atmosphere/mood of his songs. I’m exited but relaxed. And on this album, Fripp is playing and I already knew him from King Crimson.
I enjoy your reactions to anything with David Sylvian. I can relate to how geeked out you must feel on the inside. 🤩 My David Sylvian is Sting and it has been a great weekend to be a Sting fan. First, the Rick Beato interview, next, the release of his new album, then, Spotify attaching lyrics to all of Sting’s music. The cherry on top would be a JustJP reaction. I haven’t been this euphoric about Sting since the release of …Nothing Like the Sun in 1987 (one year after the release of this album). Like you with David Sylvian, no negative comments about Sting will affect me. I’m entrenched too deeply! ✌️
@@Katehowe3010 To be completely honest, I agree with you. I idolized Sting as an older teenager and even into my early 20’s. As I got older, I started watching and reading interviews with Sting. I found him to be a little pompous and arrogant and that was a big turn off to me. I decided to separate the music from the man and just accept the fact that maybe he wasn’t all that I thought he was.
@@Katehowe3010 Part of the allure to me is that his music was a big part of my life during a time when I was still impressionable. Added to that is the fact that my wife was a fan of Sting. After we married, I stopped following music for many years. However, we both, as fans of Sting, followed up with what he was doing and continued to buy his CD’s. It also helped that I still liked what he was doing and felt like I was growing up as was he.
@@Katehowe3010 Life is too short to get bent out of shape from other people’s honest expressions. I try to respect, learn from, and appreciate the ideas of others. It helps me grow.
I’ve spent countless hours laying in dark rooms letting this album (and Flux & Mutability) wash over me. I was fortunate to see Sylvian and Fripp on the First Day tour in Berkeley and I saw Sylvian one other time in San Francisco. It was astounding to hear that voice live because he really does sound like the recordings. I’m always happy when you do any Sylvian, not that I need to hear it here, but on the off chance you turn someone else on to his amazing works. And yes there are similarities between Sylvian and Hollis.
Sylvian said this regarding the meaning of this track: "For me it was a spiritual romance. I thought, “Maybe this doesn’t really have a home in popular music, how do you deal with this?” But you can talk about it in the same terms as a physical romance- so that’s what I tried to do. I tried to open it up to be interpreted in different ways. Obviously most people saw it as a love song, to someone, and they used it in that capacity in their own lives, and that’s terrific. But the grandiosity of the romance of a piece like “Wave”, existed because it was about a divine love, a universal love."
I haven't heard this before. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will listen to it again. I think some of Robert Fripp's best work is in his collaborations and this is no exception. Can I recommend another Fripp collaboration, it's a song by someone who was almost King Crimson's first singer, Judy Dyble (pre Greg Lake). The song is Harpsong, from her 2009 album Talking With Strangers. On the classical reactions, Gustav Holst - The Planets. You've only done Mars so far but Neptune is one of the most atmospheric pieces of music ever written. It's crying out for your reaction.
@@Kotro Someone else who's a fan! We're as rare as hen's teeth. After a 30 year hiatus she came back with two masterpiece albums, Enchanted Garden (2004) and Talking With Strangers (2009). Harpsong is her story.
Took me 10 year's or so, to be able to listen to Gone To Earth, & truly enjoy every track. Steve's Drum's, Mr Fripp's slick lick's, Davids vocal's, Richard's Synth's & key-boards. Secret's Of The Beehive number 1, GTE no.2 then everything else tied 3rd place for me. Well done on your review.
‘and the voices may holler for all their worth, the rabbits have fled their burrows gone to earth.’ one of the most beautiful lines sung by david that portrays destruction then into reincarnation. such a deep record.
Gone to Earth is definitely on my top ten list. The atmospherics that Sylvian and Fripp, etc produce throughout the album are mesmerising. Waves is a perfect example of this. I love your analysis.
You are talking about textures, they remind me of some of Hammill's solo albums from the 80' and 90'. That's what comes to my mind first. I never listened to D Sylvian before coming to this channell, so I discover him through you. Fripp ressembles to John Ellis here…
I remember buying this double album at the time of its release and loving it from the start, finding it much more moving and original than Brilliant Trees, which was already a very good album. I who don't carry the mid-80s in my heart, I can say for sure that Gone to Earth is really one of my favorite albums. From my point of view, it's not just "Wave" that has this unique and unreal atmosphere, but really the whole album (including the second entirely instrumental disc) which is made up of light and shade.
Loved this. I bought the double lps last year but haven’t played them yet. I have The First Day on cd and managed to score an original Damage Inc.Live and that’s amazing.
This was the perfect marriage of bubble gum and Mickey Mouse. Bubble gum, because there is so much to chew on, and Mickey Mouse because it is timeless, eternal, bigger than life. I could have chosen more grown-uppy metaphors, but silliness keeps me youthful. I cannot thank you enough for bringing this new sound to my ears. He was in my peripheral vision, but now I will make it front and center, and enjoy the new worlds to explore. Have a great Sunday...and do share other favorites. Not all need be new. ~MrWondrous
I came into Sylvian from the Sylvian/Fripp project, and went back to find his older work. While I'm more tuned into Fripp than to Sylvian overall, I find their collaborations some of my favorite from either, and in fact some of my favorite albums overall. Which is a long-winded way of saying that this is no less familiar to me than to you, :) and has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Glad you decided to share it with other followers who needed to be introduced to it.
The live version from the Damage album is sublime. The e-drums and percussion are softened, which is the only issue I have with his music around this time.
Justin thank you for sharing one of your favorite artists with us!! Not something I heard before and yet it sounds like I have. Maybe the stylings are familiar? On first listen it’s not something that I would likely return to again but I am open to giving DS another try!!
I have to admit to not knowing very much about David Sylvian's Solo career. I know a lot about his band Japan, but what I know about his solo output, you could probably put on a postage stamp . But the odd few song that I have heard have been little gems. Song's like 'Red Guitar', 'Forbidden Colours' & 'The Ink In The Well' are all I have heard until this tune you just dropped. And I think I am now about ready to take a deep dive into his back catalogue for myself.
When I bought this album in the 80s, I do not know why but I thought this album was just for me. It sounds odd but I thought no one would listen to this. As such it was my personal soundtrack. Now it is really wonderful that I am not alone in enjoying how this music connects. When I listen to this it is like I am in the world but slightly in parallel. I can see the world but I am abstracted from it and I am walking around seeing the landscape, buildings and people but we are not occupying the same time and space.
Love this album soooo much. Wonderful track… You said this one especially gets to you (warm glow etc.) - for some reason the one that does that to me…every time… is “Darkest Dreaming” (end of Dead Bees on a Cake). I’ve no control over it; happens every time. Also “Before the Bullfight”… (siiigh)😍
The first time I heard David Sylvian was on The First Day,an album by Syvian and Fripp from 1993. It was my favorite album from that year. They toured the album in 1994,with Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelatto,and I was fortunate to see them in L.A..They played songs from The First Day,as well as Riverman,Wave,Gone to Earth,and Every Colour You Are. This concert was released as Damage,in 1994.Interested to hear what you think of this bands version s of the Sylvian songs.
Love FrippS sound . Singer sounds 80s . The sound scape is cool . Some times music connects us to times and feelings within it. The music triggers those feelings again and we connect to that time .
When I saw the title "Wave", not being familiar with this artist, I first thought this would be a Jobim cover of his "Wave". It's not, and that's not a bad thing. Thanks for sharing.
Love his voice and looove music with atmosphere like this! Need to listen to more of his solo work as I'm mostly familiar with him on Japan. Since I havent listened to Japan in many years, his voice reminds me so much of Japanese singer Kamijo from Lareine th-cam.com/video/HZkWRMGpfhM/w-d-xo.html. Again, sorry I keep comparing him with what I'm more familiar with...like I can just keep hearing the big influence his music had on Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran th-cam.com/video/h2MV6PPOdEY/w-d-xo.html, who many say even copied Sylvian's early 80s look. Keep sharing more Sylvian with us please.
This is 80's, lots of echo and electronics but it does not sound dated in itself. Perhaps it is because it won't sit in a particular genre only. The term progressive was out of vogue in the 80's but I think that would be the appropriate word for Sylvian's music. Please react to "Blue Of Noon", composed and produced by Sylvian and performed by Ryuchi Sakamoto piano, synth, Wayne Braithwaite bass, Steve Jansen drums.
So this track is Bill Nelson in full guitar regalia. The sound is reminiscent of his Orchestra Arcana - Iconography album. He's playing the track with something called an e-bow, a device that creates an electronic vibration on the strings. Fripp has used it on occasion, as well as Church guitarist, Peter Koppes. I have a 12" '45rpm single of Taking The Veil with a remix on side B. You should listen to that.
btw! Did you know that Sylvian originally led a New Wave band called JAPAN? Early JAPAN were more PUNK and Sylvian sang in a very loud aggressive screamy scratchy (ex: sex pistol-ish) vocal style. The EXACT polar opposite of his style in later years but afterwards JAPAN style became more refined / NEW WAVE and his voice was less intense and more cool like (ex: Bryan Ferry) before he began singing in this very mellow haunting way. A complete 180% change. I like all of his incarnations Check them out!
This is fair. Just as we get to share songs we love with you, you get to share songs you love with us. Okay this is weird. Last night I dreamt of huge paintings of textured grey water in a rainy port. The canvases were asymmetric with ragged edges and yet the small bright naively painted objects scattered across the painting brought comfort, hope and pleasure. This song is like that painting. I enjoyed it a great deal.
My fave Sylvian album for sure. Silver Moon was a minor commercial success as a single if I recall. But this album is deep and I really enjoy the instrumentals as well.
Well, I don't hate it so I can't serve that purpose because I think it's one of the most organic pieces that seems to change its shape after every listen while remaining true to itself. There are some works if we try to solve too much why it's so moving then we lose it and this is one of those pieces. Yet as soon as it begins I always flashback to driving through upstate New York on the cusp of autumn and the sky was like the epitome of sky blue and the sun indescribably gold and trees just before their leaves start to crisp and turn, and I'm coming down a mountain road and a little town sitting on a wind-shimmered lake comes into view just as I come around a bend while Wave plays. Unforgettable.
Hi Justin I know you have reacted to the music of big big train, I wondered if yo knew that yesterday, the death of lead singer David Longdon was announced
I've loved this album the most ever (apart from Orpheus and nostalgia)...it touches the deeper part of my soul...7 had one of the most emotional days of my life walking around Central Park, wrapped in this...this is not romantic, just real and honest ..bless David's voice on this, the emotional lyrics and of course Mr Fripp
David Sylvian is awesome. His first two albums I played quite often. Mostly the sides 1&2 of this one. (not that much a fan of the rest of the ambient sides, too repetitive for my tastes) But this track's mood is so haunting.
Now then young whippersnapper i had this LP and if it weren’t for those darn kids I woulda got away with it Doh wrong page But i got ridda when the record purge began But now thanks 2u i can hear it Silver Moon was my fave And Nostalgia from BT And although this is playing in competition with a Runnin Tap and a Boiling Kettle I fully understand enthusiasm your love and affection For these sounds As Del Amitri ‘s b sides say so beautifully In the Meantime I’m driving with the brakes on Does the Vibe of this double lp get a trifle one dimensional after a while in the same way the solo piano Paul Buchanan one does? Answer : no it doesn’t but it’s not fir mee naww Not Any More Diolch
As much as David Sylvian has evolved over time, even in this track I still hear occasional nuances that stem right back to 1981s Tin Drum…..maybe its just me.
The version of "Wave" off the 1993 Sylvian/Fripp live album _Damage_ is superior & utterly sublime. The production on _Gone To Earth_ overwhelms the song.
David Sylvian did an amazing collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto, these are two fabulous music poets. "World Citizen" and "Heartbeat" are true masterpieces.
This theme sounds so familiar. Not as if the whole song is an exact copy - but the premise - the idea - the concept seems almost identical - but where do I remember this from? C'mon brain - tell me where did I first hear this Sylvian 'composition?' Oh it's coming to me - yes I'm remembering where most of this song was composed. It was around 1972 I believe. Then - in its' first incarnation - the song was called 'Sea Breezes.' I guess the author of that first rendition sought to make a few changes. He retitled his new version 'Wave' and released it some 14 years later. Same theme but he did change some lyrics but the overall structure is nearly identical. Musically similar with Frippian guitar in both versions and also spacey moody horn sounds. I wonder why the change? Oh wait a minute - the author of that first version is Bryan Ferry! And the author of the sequel is David Sylvian! Wow. I wonder if he was given permission. Sylvian did make some important changes however - he did alter the name of the song from 'Sea Breezes' to 'Wave.' Clever - bet Ferry wouldn't notice that if he did not seek permission. The lyrics also seem to tell the same story. I wonder why Sylvian didn't name 'his' rendition of this song to 'Son of Sea Breezes.' Or 'Sea Breezes pt. 2.' What a fraud. Almost everything I've heard of Sylvian is taken directly from the Roxy/Ferry playbook. I think his later career may have shown some originality but not this - no way. He should have named his band 'Roxy's Music.' He even tries to sing like Ferry. A complete and unoriginal 'talent.' Too bad for all those fans who heard Sylvian before they heard Roxy Music - it's a damn shame. A mockery. Here's the link for 'Wave' - the original version - th-cam.com/video/Nqmf39ZOJRc/w-d-xo.html
Sorry but I find Ferry's quavering, bombastic voice ridiculous, and the instrumentation itself is very stilted and has nothing to do with Sylvian's awesome "Wave". To each his own !
@@a.k.1740 No need to apologize, A. K. - I respect your opinion 100%. I, however can't see how anyone can't notice that Sylvian's vocals are taken directly from Ferry. He sounds - if not the same - like he's trying to.
@@vdggmouse9512 I don't find David Sylvian's voice to be very similar to Ferry's although I recognize his influence on Sylvian (especially for the quavering voice from time to time) and also on Jim Kerr and Iva Davies (Icehouse).
@@JustJP Nothing personal - you know that. I can see/hear/read too much imitation/influence to let it slide. Question JP - which artist works did you come to first - Sylvian or Roxy Music? My guess is if you knew RM first - you'd agree with me.
Back to visit because I'm in one of those rare "80's moods". Went and listened to some Spandau Ballet, too, but haven't recovered from the overdose of long, long ago. It's nice enough music, but I can't bring myself to post a link. In some aspects they may have tried to copy David Sylvian (but he sounds better to me - maybe just because he was not on the overdose menu). I think it's something to do with the music that was always playing at the time when might-as-well-have-another-drink-then kicked in. You get tired with dancing with yourself, and your mates don't want to come and dance, because they're scared all the girls who have rejected them will think they're gay if they do. Everyone just sitting there. Music going. Boredom. Drink drink drink said Father Jack. Not good for long term connections to that music. (I did have one mate who would always dance. We got blasted, leapt around hazardously, got more blasted. God alone knows what music was playing, then, though.) Hmm ... no ... Spandau Ballet always did those songs where you held her as close as decorum would permit, and secretly dog-snuffled round in her hair until she said thank you (in inverted commas). And that was on the good nights. On the bad nights it was played when the DJ was tired of people leaping around, on the brink of damaging something. So no dancing with even the mates who enjoyed it, then. Spandau Ballet would've mainly been the music where you were also sitting around around the tables not attempting the futility of conversation over all that noise (good thing too, because it was might-as-well-have-another-drink time, so the conversation would've been random anyway). Drunk, pogo-jumped out, and the girl who said yes to the date left an hour ago with someone she likes. (Some of these statements are just fictions based on more boring facts. Others are toned down versions of facts one should not admit to.) It occurred to me this afternoon that most of the news should be prefaced with the warning: Please note, the stories being told here are based on real life events, but are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons is accidental. (I forget the precise wording of those disclaimers.) The "news" grabs our attention with stories. Tales. And then they sell us other stuff, too. It's all entertainment. Don't fall into the trap of "staying properly informed".
I'm around the same age as Sylvian. I stupidly mistook japan as a boy band and though I knew the hits, never followed them or his solo stuff til the late 90s...i was so wrong.. As they say, never judge a book by its cover.
Cool album... My favs are probably Blemish and Dead Bees on a Cake. You should check out Richard Thompson - Mock Tudor album. Try the song Uninhabited Man... You won't regret it
i think the overall sound of the alum is a bit tinny ,the sound lacks depth ,the music is great and how its arranged ,he has a lot of jazz influence coming through ,it should have sounded better ,my favourie album is secrets of the beehive too,do you have any thoughts what EXIT/DELETE is about , i have my thoughts ,i am thinking you know what the song is about ,someone will
Great tune! Also, w/ the unfortunate, untimely death of David Longdon yesterday (Big Big Train), you must do something from them. mho of course....though, tragic it was. A great artist gone too soon.
I prefer the live version to this, it's less wishy-washy and Fripp plays a monster solo towards the end, absolutely stellar. It also features Trey Gunn with a stick part I really miss from this version.
Waves without a sound? One hand claps applause all around. There's music in the silence if you want it to be found. Nice choice but I wont expound, Peace to you and all in your town.
So Im not super familiar with this gent, and I see all the fans have chimed in...so as a new listener, I didnt "hate" it...but it was a bit.....plodding?...the tempo was a bit flat,..and I found myself losing interest early on....melody was ok, but not enthralling,...I am a huge Barbieri fan, from his incredible work with Porcupine Tree....
Sylvian.. Most beautiful voice in solar system.. Esoteric diamond in music sky.. Adore... 1978...2022... Croatia
Love this song/album. Textures and atmosphere like nothing else.
I cannot honestly remember what i felt the first time i heard this song. But i already had a taste for ambient music and soundscapes which this track is full of. I had listened to Japan and their work and was already in love with Sylvian's voice. But one of the main factors of Sylvian's solo work that cannot be overstated is his lyricism. No one writes lyrics like he does. The very last lyric of this song is so powerful. This and Dead Bees On A Cake were the first two LPs i bought.
So so true Don!
You are keeping this music alive!!! WTF. You are amazing!!!
I can't believe a young person loving this music.
This is one of my favourites too, I love the soundscape. Sylvian is respected enough to be able to get an array of fantastic musicians who seem to buy into his vision and to enhance it. This is a great way to enjoy Sunday, I'm going off for more.
This is such a wonderful album! So lovely, so elegant, so tasteful. This is my favorite DS album. I think it would be really cool for you to share the music that you personally enjoy from time to time. It's always good to expand our musical worlds.
i love this album. The song that also grabs my soul is "Before the Bullfight". Saw him in concert in Paris with Ryuichi Sakamoto 1991
Man, thats amazing! :D
When this album came out I couldn't believe it: Sylvian and Fripp. It turned out to be a match made in heaven. I've read that they found each other in their admiration for the theories of J. C. Bennett. Bennett can also be heard with one of his statements on Exposure by Fripp: “There's no way to achieve the aim without suffering”. And that is all too true.
Man - when you said you were a Sylvian fan - it made me realise how judgemental I still am - I never figured when I first clicked. I hope I can make up for my awfulness just a little with my subscription - and a promise to keep working on myself. I was 20 when this album came out, and I was lucky enough to have been introduced to Sylvian by my friend Andy when he was still in Japan. We cycle through our genres over time, and in the last few months I have pulled out all my old Sylvian and Japan vinyls. And I am back there again. Its wonderful and awful all at the same time. Secrets is my favourite too. 🙏🏻
Loved this song on first hearing the day it came out in uk (Gone to Earth ) album I’d say this is THE most hauntingly beautiful love song of all time I really would.His astoundingly beautiful reedy voice ontop of this absolutely Epic backing is it as far as I understand I’m a concert level pianist absolutely mad for it music Dave’s my absolute absolutely no.1 Thankyou for bringing his music to the people X
I love David Sylvian, and this is my favorite Sylvian song. It has an all-encompassing feeling. I imagine it as a perfect background track for a fantasy movie that has a tortured love story unfolding in a harsh and beautiful landscape. The hollow percussion creates the feeling of some ancient ritual, as does the flugelhorn. The dense, dissonant guitars sound almost like water and wind flowing and foaming, waves whooshing into each other and crashing, sometimes creating beautiful ripples in an unceasing current. And soaring above everything is Sylvian's voice, a majestic incantation like a divine spirit surveying the glory and the wreckage from above. I don't have a clue what's going on from a technical musical perspective, but that's the general impression I get and why I love this soul-stirring track so much. Thanks for featuring it. You consistently have feature great and oft-lesser known music that I hope many viewers are discovering as a result.
This song develops in a way that keeps setting up the next line and pulls you along, creating “waves” of push-pull, up/down and quenches the thirst created by the verse’s begging with the verse’s end. For me it is a very satisfying pace and pleasurable conclusion in every phase of the song. It is different from many of his pieces in that they tend to be less structured and meander a lot, which I like. Then “Wave” starts playing and I react by saying: “Yes! That song!…I LIKE that song!”. Perhaps you also had that undefinable reaction to it and didn’t know why.
I SAW HIM PERFORM THIS SONG LIVE WITH ROBERT FRIPP, TREY GUNN AND MICHAEL BROOKS IN NEW YORK'S "ROAD TO GRACELAND TOUR 94"
This is also one of my faves. It is structured just right and Fripp’s guitar just works perfectly. Ever since I came across “Weatherbox” that included special jewel box art versions and a great booklet with his first 5 solo LPs, I have been collecting everything Sylvian, including Nine Horses and Rain Tree Crow, collars with Sakamoto, Fripp and others. A unique voice and lyrics, layering of sounds and instrumentation is unmatched. Anyone who has missed his worked over the years and is unfamiliar with it, has been deprived of a magnificent body of musical work like no other.
Steve Jansen's drumming is epic on this track as well. Tasteful..big sound, great sonics..no wonder Gavin Harrison repeatedly mentions him as a major influence.
I like how at times the music feels almost jagged and contradictory to David's singing, but then there's a drop or refrain that let's David's voice complete the sonic pattern or swell in the absence of the soundscape. It reminds me of the recurring pattern in a lot of the work he did in Nine Horses and some of the music he made in the 2000 aughts.
I came to David Sylvian through my love for Mr. Fripp. Everything else is gravy. I sometimes don’t really love David’s voice and find it a bit one dimensional but here I did. It melded well with the music and said, Fripperhinoceros.
I am always up to listen to a favorite of yours. It’s only fair. The patience and effort you put into listening and reacting is much appreciated.
I heard some guitar hammer-ons and assume that was Bill Nelson. One song that is part of my DNA is Bill’s October Man, I just dig it.
Peace and dimensional Music
A fantastic track off a superb double LP. A beautiful melody, and so incredibly atmospheric. Obviously you've DS's mellifluous voice, but also a host of brilliant musicians, Bill Nelson, Fripp, Beckett, to name a few. The guitar(s) work, amazing, likewise the horn passages. And the electronics bringing the whole piece together, giving it a nebulous, almost ethereal feel, it's wonderful. This's my long time favourite Sylvian album(s). A heady mix of brilliant songs, and lovely instrumentals. I've advocated for this album a few times, but didn't expect it knowing JP had heard it numerous times. That said, and now we're here, may I suggest the whole of S1 for a future long song Saturday. Or better still, work through it all. It definitely deserves to be played.
Fripp and Bill Nelson on the same album? No words.
I have had the privilege to have seen David Sylvian live several times, and this track, Waves, always reminds me of seeing him in Edinburgh. The memories come flooding back, as it was such an amazing gig, the music, the atmosphere and the sheer talent of the man.
Man, I would love to see him perform
@@JustJP I also saw the live Damage tour, Sylvian and Fripp, that was mindblowingly brilliant, such an emotional experience.
JP, thank you for this. I had never heard David Sylvian before and just from this one song I bought the 2 cd's of his you mentioned. Thanks for introducing us to this artist. Keep up the great work
Thats amazing Ron, I hope you enjoy them!
Hi from France:
Some time after this album, Fripp proposed to Sylvian to participate with him in the refoundation of King Crimson. But Sylvian had other projects.
They concluded their work with the album "The first day" and the fabulous tour that followed...
GONE TO EARTH is THE GOAT. THE Desert island album.
Saw David perform Secrets and this in London. The cleanest sound of any gig ive been to. Like laughing while drowning in honey
Having 2 of the absolutely finest guitarists certainly helps laying down the dream textures. This kind of music (as with former bandmates Karn or Barbieri) does not impress 'just hearing it" , one needs to LISTEN to it and pick up all the atmospheric subtleties . Seeing DS live really proves the point, upon leaving the concert in the 80s , I felt wrapped up in a hazy cotton cocoon, mesmerized and hypnotized by the event. This is not superficial music that gives immediate gratification.
I know this song inside and out, having listened to this record since it came out. I was terribly in love at the time... The solo at the end is stunning. The whole album is grand.
The esence of this song is a jangled cacophony of angular, clashing sounds that is somehow melded together and softened by DS voice (Also the soaring horn solo) into a thing of absolute beauty. Bought this album in '86 at a time I was starting to date my future wife (She hated and still hates the album!). One of my all time top 5 albums.
Excellent idea, doing reviews of your favourites. This would be the best music you could show us (often I stop by here to hear something new). It's "best" because you know exactly what it is that makes it lovely.
As far as my own immediate reaction to the song? I like it. It reminds me of some of the Brian Eno music (and the Fripp and Eno Album) that I've heard. I don't know if I could completely drop everything else and just listen to it, but I think I could. I definitely like the dissonances. (They've got their own tunings, maybe?).
There's also quite a lot of "80's" in it. (You have to sound like your times to sell music in your times, I think? so it feels like a less creative aspect of it all. His singing reminds me of Spandau Ballet for some reason. Not just the style, but where it's placed in the mix? It's in "that 80's place".) I like his singing well enough, but it doesn't stand out to me, is what I'm trying to say, I suppose?
Now I've got to try to get a bit more of definite idea about "that 80's place" - the apparent position of the singer in relation to the band, I suppose. I think he sounds like he's right in the middle of an oval, rather than in front (just) of a line. Part of that is that sounds bleed across or something. There's some kind of merging I perceive. Don't know why that would be "80's" though. Might need to rethink this until I disagree with myself, then.
One thing that this music would be fantastic for, would be e.g. to "math" to it. A lot of music is too intrusive to permit you to concentrate on something that demands focus, and yet at the same time, still to be "tuned in" to the music - to be a bit more subliminally carried along by it (maybe just as a way of saying how that might feel). I like that. It's one of the things I love about Brian Eno's Music for Airports - the fact that it's deliberately designed to be easy to put in the background (while also being designed to be good enough to pay attention to, if you feel like just putting out to sea on the music for a while -- let the listener choose.) As far as that goes, what I'm saying is that it's not "background music" (muzak); it's just polite music that only steps forward if summoned.
OK enough floundering around in word mud. If I think of something else later, I'll come and clutter this space up with that.
As far as the various obsessions us other obsessives have, out here, you may (it's possible, right?) be pleased to learn that there's a new *Fiery Gun Hand* cover just arrived in this world, now (using midi - so it sounds a bit old-prog at times)th-cam.com/video/2xBGc-enYTU/w-d-xo.html
(So when you do your song review of it one day, you'll know it from many different perspectives. With many songs it's difficult to manage that. Generally people faithfully replicate, or unplug, and that's about it. But maybe I'm just trying to hard to make a case here?)
Well, one of Those Songs [TM] in my life. And you said everything about it that I would, or could. Raising hair and goosebumps guaranteed :) And it's interesting that almost nobody I know knows David Sylvian, so it's extra nice that you really like his music 💜
This was the first album by David Sylvian I bought, a long long time ago. A friend of mine already bought it and I liked it. More albums followed.
First: I love his voice. When I hear him singing I can relax completely.
Second: the dark but warm, brooding atmosphere/mood of his songs. I’m exited but relaxed.
And on this album, Fripp is playing and I already knew him from King Crimson.
I have long been a fan of David Sylvian and glad you have been able to share one of your favourites as well. 😎
Velvet voice, as soothing as honey. Achingly haunting once heard you are enslaved. DS, a rare talent, a stand alone
I enjoy your reactions to anything with David Sylvian. I can relate to how geeked out you must feel on the inside. 🤩
My David Sylvian is Sting and it has been a great weekend to be a Sting fan. First, the Rick Beato interview, next, the release of his new album, then, Spotify attaching lyrics to all of Sting’s music. The cherry on top would be a JustJP reaction. I haven’t been this euphoric about Sting since the release of …Nothing Like the Sun in 1987 (one year after the release of this album). Like you with David Sylvian, no negative comments about Sting will affect me. I’m entrenched too deeply! ✌️
@@Katehowe3010 He’s a very talented musician and that’s all I need. The other stuff is fluff.
@@Katehowe3010 To be completely honest, I agree with you. I idolized Sting as an older teenager and even into my early 20’s. As I got older, I started watching and reading interviews with Sting. I found him to be a little pompous and arrogant and that was a big turn off to me. I decided to separate the music from the man and just accept the fact that maybe he wasn’t all that I thought he was.
@@Katehowe3010 Part of the allure to me is that his music was a big part of my life during a time when I was still impressionable. Added to that is the fact that my wife was a fan of Sting. After we married, I stopped following music for many years. However, we both, as fans of Sting, followed up with what he was doing and continued to buy his CD’s. It also helped that I still liked what he was doing and felt like I was growing up as was he.
@@Katehowe3010 Life is too short to get bent out of shape from other people’s honest expressions. I try to respect, learn from, and appreciate the ideas of others. It helps me grow.
@@Katehowe3010 Do the Pet Shop Boys lyrics refer to anybody in particular?
I’ve spent countless hours laying in dark rooms letting this album (and Flux & Mutability) wash over me. I was fortunate to see Sylvian and Fripp on the First Day tour in Berkeley and I saw Sylvian one other time in San Francisco. It was astounding to hear that voice live because he really does sound like the recordings. I’m always happy when you do any Sylvian, not that I need to hear it here, but on the off chance you turn someone else on to his amazing works. And yes there are similarities between Sylvian and Hollis.
This album is a submersive musical experience... Reward is an understatement...
Sylvian said this regarding the meaning of this track: "For me it was a spiritual romance. I thought, “Maybe this doesn’t really have a home in popular music, how do you deal with this?” But you can talk about it in the same terms as a physical romance- so that’s what I tried to do. I tried to open it up to be interpreted in different ways. Obviously most people saw it as a love song, to someone, and they used it in that capacity in their own lives, and that’s terrific. But the grandiosity of the romance of a piece like “Wave”, existed because it was about a divine love, a universal love."
I haven't heard this before. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will listen to it again. I think some of Robert Fripp's best work is in his collaborations and this is no exception. Can I recommend another Fripp collaboration, it's a song by someone who was almost King Crimson's first singer, Judy Dyble (pre Greg Lake). The song is Harpsong, from her 2009 album Talking With Strangers.
On the classical reactions, Gustav Holst - The Planets. You've only done Mars so far but Neptune is one of the most atmospheric pieces of music ever written. It's crying out for your reaction.
Harpsong, yes! The whole album is wonderful.
@@Kotro Someone else who's a fan! We're as rare as hen's teeth. After a 30 year hiatus she came back with two masterpiece albums, Enchanted Garden (2004) and Talking With Strangers (2009). Harpsong is her story.
Took me 10 year's or so, to be able to listen to Gone To Earth, & truly enjoy every track. Steve's Drum's, Mr Fripp's slick lick's, Davids vocal's, Richard's Synth's & key-boards. Secret's Of The Beehive number 1, GTE no.2 then everything else tied 3rd place for me. Well done on your review.
Fan since 78 - nice to hear him being played.
One of his best, I listen to it frequently.
Thanks. This made me play the album for the first time in years. I had forgotten how good it was.
Glad you enjoyed it!
‘and the voices may holler for all their worth, the rabbits have fled their burrows gone to earth.’
one of the most beautiful lines sung by david that portrays destruction then into reincarnation. such a deep record.
Also I absolutely ADORE Wave it was Kaboom from my first listening and every single time I listen to it An absolute masterpiece
Gone to Earth is definitely on my top ten list. The atmospherics that Sylvian and Fripp, etc produce throughout the album are mesmerising. Waves is a perfect example of this.
I love your analysis.
You are talking about textures, they remind me of some of Hammill's solo albums from the 80' and 90'. That's what comes to my mind first. I never listened to D Sylvian before coming to this channell, so I discover him through you. Fripp ressembles to John Ellis here…
I remember buying this double album at the time of its release and loving it from the start, finding it much more moving and original than Brilliant Trees, which was already a very good album.
I who don't carry the mid-80s in my heart, I can say for sure that Gone to Earth is really one of my favorite albums.
From my point of view, it's not just "Wave" that has this unique and unreal atmosphere, but really the whole album (including the second entirely instrumental disc) which is made up of light and shade.
Loved this. I bought the double lps last year but haven’t played them yet. I have The First Day on cd and managed to score an original Damage Inc.Live and that’s amazing.
David Sylvian and Robert Fripp bring out the best in each other…Wave is my favorite Sylvian song. That guitar, that voice, it’s hypnotic.
This was the perfect marriage of bubble gum and Mickey Mouse. Bubble gum, because there is so much to chew on, and Mickey Mouse because it is timeless, eternal, bigger than life. I could have chosen more grown-uppy metaphors, but silliness keeps me youthful.
I cannot thank you enough for bringing this new sound to my ears. He was in my peripheral vision, but now I will make it front and center, and enjoy the new worlds to explore. Have a great Sunday...and do share other favorites. Not all need be new. ~MrWondrous
I like your comparison :D Hope you enjoy more of his music!
I came into Sylvian from the Sylvian/Fripp project, and went back to find his older work. While I'm more tuned into Fripp than to Sylvian overall, I find their collaborations some of my favorite from either, and in fact some of my favorite albums overall.
Which is a long-winded way of saying that this is no less familiar to me than to you, :) and has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Glad you decided to share it with other followers who needed to be introduced to it.
Brilliant Trees, Secrets of the Beahive are masterpieces in their own right. But Gone To Earth is an epic adventure into another world.
The live version from the Damage album is sublime. The e-drums and percussion are softened, which is the only issue I have with his music around this time.
I still have this on vinyl, bought on release day. That's all you need to know.
Justin thank you for sharing one of your favorite artists with us!! Not something I heard before and yet it sounds like I have. Maybe the stylings are familiar? On first listen it’s not something that I would likely return to again but I am open to giving DS another try!!
Thank you for giving it a listen Ron! :)
I have to admit to not knowing very much about David Sylvian's Solo career.
I know a lot about his band Japan, but what I know about his solo output, you could probably put on a postage stamp .
But the odd few song that I have heard have been little gems.
Song's like 'Red Guitar', 'Forbidden Colours' & 'The Ink In The Well' are all I have heard until this tune you just dropped.
And I think I am now about ready to take a deep dive into his back catalogue for myself.
This is my favorite Sylvian solo song. I love Fripps guitar. It's so haunting and beautiful.
When I bought this album in the 80s, I do not know why but I thought this album was just for me. It sounds odd but I thought no one would listen to this. As such it was my personal soundtrack. Now it is really wonderful that I am not alone in enjoying how this music connects. When I listen to this it is like I am in the world but slightly in parallel. I can see the world but I am abstracted from it and I am walking around seeing the landscape, buildings and people but we are not occupying the same time and space.
Love this album soooo much. Wonderful track… You said this one especially gets to you (warm glow etc.) - for some reason the one that does that to me…every time… is “Darkest Dreaming” (end of Dead Bees on a Cake). I’ve no control over it; happens every time. Also “Before the Bullfight”… (siiigh)😍
Sylvian fans get my follow.
Ty Siv :)
I have found all of my life (1981-present) the people who love David Sylvian’s music are beautiful people Just an observation X
Beauty sees beauty :D
@@JustJP ahh that is beautiful awe
The first time I heard David Sylvian was on The First Day,an album by Syvian and Fripp from 1993. It was my favorite album from that year. They toured the album in 1994,with Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelatto,and I was fortunate to see them in L.A..They played songs from The First Day,as well as Riverman,Wave,Gone to Earth,and Every Colour You Are. This concert was released as Damage,in 1994.Interested to hear what you think of this bands version s of the Sylvian songs.
Love FrippS sound . Singer sounds 80s . The sound scape is cool . Some times music connects us to times and feelings within it. The music triggers those feelings again and we connect to that time .
When I saw the title "Wave", not being familiar with this artist, I first thought this would be a Jobim cover of his "Wave". It's not, and that's not a bad thing. Thanks for sharing.
Love his voice and looove music with atmosphere like this! Need to listen to more of his solo work as I'm mostly familiar with him on Japan. Since I havent listened to Japan in many years, his voice reminds me so much of Japanese singer Kamijo from Lareine th-cam.com/video/HZkWRMGpfhM/w-d-xo.html. Again, sorry I keep comparing him with what I'm more familiar with...like I can just keep hearing the big influence his music had on Nick Rhodes from Duran Duran th-cam.com/video/h2MV6PPOdEY/w-d-xo.html, who many say even copied Sylvian's early 80s look.
Keep sharing more Sylvian with us please.
This is 80's, lots of echo and electronics but it does not sound dated in itself. Perhaps it is because it won't sit in a particular genre only. The term progressive was out of vogue in the 80's but I think that would be the appropriate word for Sylvian's music. Please react to "Blue Of Noon", composed and produced by Sylvian and performed by Ryuchi Sakamoto piano, synth, Wayne Braithwaite bass, Steve Jansen drums.
So this track is Bill Nelson in full guitar regalia. The sound is reminiscent of his Orchestra Arcana - Iconography album. He's playing the track with something called an e-bow, a device that creates an electronic vibration on the strings. Fripp has used it on occasion, as well as Church guitarist, Peter Koppes. I have a 12" '45rpm single of Taking The Veil with a remix on side B. You should listen to that.
And yes, there is Robert playing on this track. But Nelson plays the beginning riffs and adds that Nelsonion vibe to the track.
btw! Did you know that Sylvian originally led a New Wave band called JAPAN? Early JAPAN were more PUNK and Sylvian sang in a very loud aggressive screamy scratchy (ex: sex pistol-ish) vocal style. The EXACT polar opposite of his style in later years but afterwards JAPAN style became more refined / NEW WAVE and his voice was less intense and more cool like (ex: Bryan Ferry) before he began singing in this very mellow haunting way. A complete 180% change. I like all of his incarnations Check them out!
This is fair. Just as we get to share songs we love with you, you get to share songs you love with us.
Okay this is weird. Last night I dreamt of huge paintings of textured grey water in a rainy port. The canvases were asymmetric with ragged edges and yet the small bright naively painted objects scattered across the painting brought comfort, hope and pleasure. This song is like that painting. I enjoyed it a great deal.
Perfect dreams with fitting sounds :D
Great song ❤
My fave Sylvian album for sure. Silver Moon was a minor commercial success as a single if I recall. But this album is deep and I really enjoy the instrumentals as well.
Well, I don't hate it so I can't serve that purpose because I think it's one of the most organic pieces that seems to change its shape after every listen while remaining true to itself. There are some works if we try to solve too much why it's so moving then we lose it and this is one of those pieces. Yet as soon as it begins I always flashback to driving through upstate New York on the cusp of autumn and the sky was like the epitome of sky blue and the sun indescribably gold and trees just before their leaves start to crisp and turn, and I'm coming down a mountain road and a little town sitting on a wind-shimmered lake comes into view just as I come around a bend while Wave plays. Unforgettable.
Hi Justin I know you have reacted to the music of big big train, I wondered if yo knew that yesterday, the death of lead singer David Longdon was announced
I heard, incredibly sad news :(
I've loved this album the most ever (apart from Orpheus and nostalgia)...it touches the deeper part of my soul...7 had one of the most emotional days of my life walking around Central Park, wrapped in this...this is not romantic, just real and honest ..bless David's voice on this, the emotional lyrics and of course Mr Fripp
David Sylvian is awesome. His first two albums I played quite often. Mostly the sides 1&2 of this one. (not that much a fan of the rest of the ambient sides, too repetitive for my tastes) But this track's mood is so haunting.
Take a Dive into Jensen,Barbierie, Karn + Steven Wilson and Theo Travis live @ The Astora B London,Legend.on TH-cam
For a different arrangement of Wave, check out the live version on Damage.
One of my lost Island records.
Now then young whippersnapper i had this LP and if it weren’t for those darn kids I woulda got away with it
Doh wrong page
But i got ridda when the record purge began
But now thanks 2u i can hear it
Silver Moon was my fave
And Nostalgia from BT
And although this is playing in competition with a
Runnin Tap and a Boiling Kettle
I fully understand enthusiasm
your love and affection
For these sounds
As Del Amitri ‘s b sides say so beautifully
In the Meantime
I’m driving with the brakes on
Does the Vibe of this double lp get a trifle one dimensional after a while in the same way the solo piano
Paul Buchanan one does?
Answer : no it doesn’t but it’s not fir mee naww
Not
Any
More
Diolch
By the way. I love your taste and reactions. Thank you.
Appreciate that DB :)
So Justin, you haven't done any live reactions in a while, and you gave us a place to submit requests... so I did... so lets go 😃😎🙂
They're comin ;)
@@JustJP 🙂
@@Lightmane 😎
As much as David Sylvian has evolved over time, even in this track I still hear occasional nuances that stem right back to 1981s Tin Drum…..maybe its just me.
Silver Moon is fantastic. Fantastic album!!!
Thats a good one!
The version of "Wave" off the 1993 Sylvian/Fripp live album _Damage_ is superior & utterly sublime. The production on _Gone To Earth_ overwhelms the song.
I concur
David Sylvian did an amazing collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto, these are two fabulous music poets.
"World Citizen" and "Heartbeat" are true masterpieces.
Taking Islands In Africa
This theme sounds so familiar. Not as if the whole song is an exact copy - but the premise - the idea - the concept seems almost identical - but where do I remember this from? C'mon brain - tell me where did I first hear this Sylvian 'composition?' Oh it's coming to me - yes I'm remembering where most of this song was composed. It was around 1972 I believe. Then - in its' first incarnation - the song was called 'Sea Breezes.' I guess the author of that first rendition sought to make a few changes. He retitled his new version 'Wave' and released it some 14 years later. Same theme but he did change some lyrics but the overall structure is nearly identical. Musically similar with Frippian guitar in both versions and also spacey moody horn sounds. I wonder why the change? Oh wait a minute - the author of that first version is Bryan Ferry! And the author of the sequel is David Sylvian! Wow. I wonder if he was given permission. Sylvian did make some important changes however - he did alter the name of the song from 'Sea Breezes' to 'Wave.' Clever - bet Ferry wouldn't notice that if he did not seek permission. The lyrics also seem to tell the same story. I wonder why Sylvian didn't name 'his' rendition of this song to 'Son of Sea Breezes.' Or 'Sea Breezes pt. 2.' What a fraud. Almost everything I've heard of Sylvian is taken directly from the Roxy/Ferry playbook. I think his later career may have shown some originality but not this - no way. He should have named his band 'Roxy's Music.' He even tries to sing like Ferry. A complete and unoriginal 'talent.' Too bad for all those fans who heard Sylvian before they heard Roxy Music - it's a damn shame. A mockery. Here's the link for 'Wave' - the original version -
th-cam.com/video/Nqmf39ZOJRc/w-d-xo.html
Sorry but I find Ferry's quavering, bombastic voice ridiculous, and the instrumentation itself is very stilted and has nothing to do with Sylvian's awesome "Wave". To each his own !
@@a.k.1740 No need to apologize, A. K. - I respect your opinion 100%. I, however can't see how anyone can't notice that Sylvian's vocals are taken directly from Ferry. He sounds - if not the same - like he's trying to.
@@vdggmouse9512 I don't find David Sylvian's voice to be very similar to Ferry's although I recognize his influence on Sylvian (especially for the quavering voice from time to time) and also on Jim Kerr and Iva Davies (Icehouse).
You wound me good sir😂
@@JustJP Nothing personal - you know that. I can see/hear/read too much imitation/influence to let it slide. Question JP - which artist works did you come to first - Sylvian or Roxy Music? My guess is if you knew RM first - you'd agree with me.
Back to visit because I'm in one of those rare "80's moods". Went and listened to some Spandau Ballet, too, but haven't recovered from the overdose of long, long ago. It's nice enough music, but I can't bring myself to post a link. In some aspects they may have tried to copy David Sylvian (but he sounds better to me - maybe just because he was not on the overdose menu).
I think it's something to do with the music that was always playing at the time when might-as-well-have-another-drink-then kicked in. You get tired with dancing with yourself, and your mates don't want to come and dance, because they're scared all the girls who have rejected them will think they're gay if they do. Everyone just sitting there. Music going. Boredom. Drink drink drink said Father Jack. Not good for long term connections to that music.
(I did have one mate who would always dance. We got blasted, leapt around hazardously, got more blasted. God alone knows what music was playing, then, though.)
Hmm ... no ... Spandau Ballet always did those songs where you held her as close as decorum would permit, and secretly dog-snuffled round in her hair until she said thank you (in inverted commas). And that was on the good nights. On the bad nights it was played when the DJ was tired of people leaping around, on the brink of damaging something. So no dancing with even the mates who enjoyed it, then. Spandau Ballet would've mainly been the music where you were also sitting around around the tables not attempting the futility of conversation over all that noise (good thing too, because it was might-as-well-have-another-drink time, so the conversation would've been random anyway). Drunk, pogo-jumped out, and the girl who said yes to the date left an hour ago with someone she likes.
(Some of these statements are just fictions based on more boring facts. Others are toned down versions of facts one should not admit to.)
It occurred to me this afternoon that most of the news should be prefaced with the warning: Please note, the stories being told here are based on real life events, but are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons is accidental. (I forget the precise wording of those disclaimers.) The "news" grabs our attention with stories. Tales. And then they sell us other stuff, too. It's all entertainment. Don't fall into the trap of "staying properly informed".
I'm around the same age as Sylvian. I stupidly mistook japan as a boy band and though I knew the hits, never followed them or his solo stuff til the late 90s...i was so wrong.. As they say, never judge a book by its cover.
Cool album... My favs are probably Blemish and Dead Bees on a Cake. You should check out Richard Thompson - Mock Tudor album. Try the song Uninhabited Man... You won't regret it
Dead Bees is definitely one of my favorites! The whole atmosphere of that one is extremely rich
i think the overall sound of the alum is a bit tinny ,the sound lacks depth ,the music is great and how its arranged ,he has a lot of jazz influence coming through ,it should have sounded better ,my favourie album is secrets of the beehive too,do you have any thoughts what EXIT/DELETE is about , i have my thoughts ,i am thinking you know what the song is about ,someone will
Great tune! Also, w/ the unfortunate, untimely death of David Longdon yesterday (Big Big Train), you must do something from them. mho of course....though, tragic it was. A great artist gone too soon.
I prefer the live version to this, it's less wishy-washy and Fripp plays a monster solo towards the end, absolutely stellar. It also features Trey Gunn with a stick part I really miss from this version.
Waves without a sound? One hand claps applause all around. There's music in the silence if you want it to be found. Nice choice but I wont expound, Peace to you and all in your town.
Well gosh, this was lovely! Thanks for sharing this. :-)
Who knew Martha Stewart had a recording career!
All jokes aside, although I'm not a huge David Sylvian / Japan fan this is a decent album.
It's prozac music
Can't go wrong with Sylvian (or Fripp).
So Im not super familiar with this gent, and I see all the fans have chimed in...so as a new listener, I didnt "hate" it...but it was a bit.....plodding?...the tempo was a bit flat,..and I found myself losing interest early on....melody was ok, but not enthralling,...I am a huge Barbieri fan, from his incredible work with Porcupine Tree....
I have always found his music to be boring. I was hoping this song would change my mind.
It didn’t.
I love your review on this! I love this album!
Ty Chris!!!