Mick Karn - Vista

Big Wheels in Shanty Town

‘an epic track’

‘Virgin were ecstatic when they heard the news from an equally ecstatic Richard Chadwick,’ said Mick Karn of the decision for himself and ex-Japan band-mates Sylvian, Jansen & Barbieri to come back together, ‘and within days came up with an amount for recording that made us ecstatic. None of us had ever seen such a large sum for recording before. And what’s more, once lawyers had prepared the contracts and suggested we have accountants carry out an audit on Virgin, they hastily sent us a substantial cheque each for Japan videos…

‘The four of us set forth on a driving holiday through Italy for a week in June 1989, to research some of the available residential studios we’d been considering. The budget would go a long way if we were careful, and the trip enabled us to spend time together bonding, and for me to show off my Italian as band translator. We decided on a studio Steve and Rich had already used, Condulmer, near Venice, and planned to be there for a month in November after starting the project in the south of France in Miraval for five weeks at the beginning of September.’

Still Life in Mobile Homes

‘the importance of individual personality’

The opening track to Side 2 of Japan’s iconic final studio album, Tin Drum, sequenced between the China-influenced ‘Canton’ and ‘Visions of China’, stands alone in the construction of its rhythm track, pointing forward to new ways of working for the band’s drummer, Steve Jansen. ‘Still Life in Mobile Homes’, Steve said, was ‘the only drum track recorded piecemeal on that album.’ (2015)

Burning Bridges

‘our influences on our sleeve’

Richard Barbieri, Mick Karn and David Sylvian were all classmates at Catford Boys school in South London. Karn and Sylvian were friends, their surnames then Michaelides and Batt, the latter’s home being ‘close to the school,’ as Mick recalled, ‘so we would go there together for lunch, with his brother Steven Batt bringing a friend and joining us.

Blackwater

‘the possibility of new life’

The story of the ‘reformation’ of Japan (or to be accurate, of the four members who created the band’s final studio album, Tin Drum) was something that I followed in real time through the pages of the fanzine Bamboo. The first hint of such momentous news was contained in the Summer 1989 edition and almost comically understated, undoubtedly because the situation developed whilst the print publication was being finalised.

Nightporter

‘influenced by something relatively untouched’

Teenage musical memories often take hold for a lifetime. Early in the ’80s a friend of mine held a party at his family’s home. These were always good nights, an opportunity to spend time with friends outside of sixth form classes and the common room at school. A time to enjoy the music that was in and around the charts, and favourite past tracks from Bowie and others. At the end of the evening, most people having by now drifted away, someone took out the vinyl of Gentlemen Take Polaroids and dropped the needle mid-way through side B for ‘Nightporter’. I knew the song, of course, but here it was being played on a quality sound system and at a volume that wouldn’t have been possible back at home. The person who selected it then sat cross-legged on the floor, head bowed, eyes closed, transfixed by the music.

As mentioned in this recent article, David Sylvian was instrumental in the publication of Harold Budd’s first book of poetry – Colorful Fortune.

A small number of copies are available direct from Keith Lowe (bass player on Nine Horses and on stage with David Sylvian, who published the book), priced at US$35 plus shipping. There are also a handful of copies signed by Harold, priced at US$125 plus shipping. Each book comes with a small promotional card. Contact moonlinermusic@mac.com for more information.

Further information sometimes comes to light after an article is published. The following pieces have recently been updated with new material:

June 2026
The Ink in the Well – added additional quotes from Danny Thompson and Peter Williams.
Nostalgia – added quote from Steve Jansen about the demo of the song.
Brilliant Trees – added date of Jon Hassell’s session from his diaries.
Ancient Evening – Incantation – added date of Jon Hassell’s session from his diaries.
Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II) – added insight from David Sylvian that Bill Frisell’s solo was from a single take.

The recent reissues of David Sylvian’s early solo albums on coloured vinyl sold out quickly.

All were repressed and re-released on 19 December 2025.

Brilliant Trees – burningshed

Alchemy – official store

Gone to Earth – official store

Secrets of the Beehive – official store

Lucrecia’s album A Danger to Ourselves was released in September 2025. 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):