Vista - inspired by the music of David Sylvian and his collaborators

Snow Borne Sorrow – Gone from the Landscape

‘a glorious piece of composition’

The final chapter of David Sylvian’s second volumesample of lyrics and poetry, Trophies II, contains a selection of compositions conceived as poems rather than words to be sung to music. The final piece is entitled ‘Gone from the Landscape’, and I remember how it pulled me up short when I read it for the first time. This was, after all, a volume published early in 1999 and containing the lyrics to Dead Bees on a Cake, undoubtedly some of the most joyful Sylvian has ever penned. Of course, the darkness is always lurking close to the surface, but here at the end of the book a shadow is cast heavy:

Darshan (translucent remix by The Grid)

‘atmospheric, ambient and electronic’

It was at The Royal Albert Hall in London in December 1993 that I became aware that there was to be a mini-album release by Sylvian/Fripp, Darshan. This would be the only occasion that I would see David Sylvian and Robert Fripp share the stage, their earlier touring incarnation in a trio with Trey Gunn never having visited the UK. As we took our place in the stalls, full of anticipation for the first of two London shows on The Road to Graceland tour, set on each seat was a postcard announcing the new release – which would be in the shops the following week!

The God of Single Cell Organisms

‘the muscle that connects me with the world’

Two voices share the listener’s focus on the opening track of Uncommon Deities, Jan Bang and Erik Honoré’s reimagination of the audio-visual installation of the same name staged at their Punkt Festival in 2011. First, David Sylvian reads Paal-Helge Haugen’s poem ‘The God of Single Cell Organisms’ in English translation, his precise diction crisply conveying the poet’s characterisation of a forgotten lesser deity who ‘in his impotence…seeks refuge among the microbes.’ As we grapple with the concept of a god who is so insignificant that ‘we cannot find him there, with our immense microscopes,’ a tight burst of bowed strings serves as the introduction to the second voice.

Nothing is Happening Everywhere

‘approaching an apocalyptic noir’

March 2012. Alerted by one of the online communities, it’s one of those moments when something appears totally out of the blue. For the most part, new material is advertised weeks or months in advance and there is opportunity for anticipation and some research into new musical partnerships. Not this time. There on soundcloud is a new account with just one track uploaded, ‘Nothing is Happening Everywhere’, credited to L A N D featuring David Sylvian.

Life in Tokyo

‘propulsive repetition’

In the liner notes to his 1989 Sound and Vision retrospective collection, David Bowie recalls how ‘one day in Berlin, Eno came running in and said, “I have heard the sound of the future.” And I said, “Come on, we’re supposed to be doing it right now.” He said, “No, listen to this,” and he puts on ‘I Feel Love’ by Donna Summer. Eno had gone bonkers over it, absolutely bonkers. He said, “This is it, look no further. This single is going to change the sound of club music for the next fifteen years.” Which was more or less right.’

REPRESS OF COLOURED VINYLS

OUT NOW FROM LUCRECIA DALT feat. DAVID SYLVIAN

Lucrecia’s new album A Danger to Ourselves is out now. All tracks produced by Lucrecia Dalt & David Sylvian, mixed by David Sylvian.

Sylvian also contributes vocal and feedback guitar to ‘Cosa Rara’ and electric guitar solo for ‘Covenstead Blues’:

Second edition repress of ‘Cosa Rara (feat. David Sylvian)’ with alternative artwork. Note that this vinyl also contains an extended mix of the ‘dopamine dub’ by Matias Aguayo, featuring David Sylvian (i.e. a different version from the first single release):