‘Red Guitar’ was the first song heard from Brilliant Trees, being the advance single heralding Sylvian’s debut album. But when we carefully removed the vinyl from its designer inner-sleeve for the inaugural play of a Sylvian solo LP, it was ‘Pulling Punches’ that launched our ride into the unknown. And what an explosive, energetic opener it is.
It’s easy to focus on the otherworldly ambient textures of side B when reflecting on this album; Jon Hassell’s trumpet to the fore, combining with fellow Stockhausen alumnus, Holger Czukay. Certainly Sylvian emphasised the second side of the vinyl as the direction in which he was drawing his listeners. However, it would be wrong to assume that there was any less care taken in the creation of the earlier, more traditionally song-based, tracks nor in the selection of precisely the right musical partners to bring these compositions to life.
Continue reading “Pulling Punches”