FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Snow White in Appalachia', the story of David Sylvian's meetings in Köln in 2004, of exploratory sessions in Vienna, never-used recordings with Noël Akchoté, and the hand of Christian Fennesz in this highlight from Manafon. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2021/07/23/s... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article looks at Japan's 'Burning Bridges' from Gentlemen Take Polaroids - which was influenced by David Bowie's albums Low & Heroes. David Sylvian & Steve Jansen met Bowie in '77, the year those albums were released. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/12/26/b... #japantheband

NEW ARTICLE: 'Burning Bridges' was a late addition to Japan's Gentlemen Take Polaroids. David Bowie was an influence for the band from teenage years and here the influence of Low and Heroes can be heard - especially the instrumentals involving Brian Eno. sylvianvista.com/2025/12/26/b...

REMINDER: The latest article is about 'Wonderful World' by Nine Horses. It was one of the early tracks worked on when David Sylvian & Steve Jansen started writing together in 2002, Keith Lowe joining them in New Hampshire to record upright bass. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/11/29/w...

NEW ARTICLE: 'Wonderful World' is the opening track of the Nine Horses album, Snow Borne Sorrow. It was recorded early on by a trio of David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Keith Lowe, with an additional vocal overlaid later by the wonderful Stina Nordenstam. sylvianvista.com/2025/11/29/w...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: Propaganda's 'A Secret Wish' is celebrating 40 years, so reposting this article about David Sylvian's fleeting involvement with the album: his synth & guitar lines for 'p:Machinery', and a reportedly gorgeous mix of 'Duel'. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/07/22/p...

Saw Joan as Police Woman perform last night at a packed EartH in Dalston as part of the London Jazz Festival. The highlight for me was the title track of Joan’s latest album, ‘Lemons, Limes and Orchids’.

REMINDER: the latest article features Lucrecia Dalt's A Danger to Ourselves. David Sylvian is her partner and his 'contribution became fundamental', she says, as inspiration, 'creative mixer', vocalist on the opener and lead guitarist on the final track. sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...

NEW ARTICLE: Lucrecia Dalt's new album A Danger to Ourselves has been widely acclaimed. Exploring her approach to developing the record's enthralling sound and David Sylvian's role as inspiration, mentor, co-producer & lead guitarist for 'Covenstead Blues'. sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: posted in memory of Dave Ball of Soft Cell & The Grid who passed away this week. An article about The Grid's 'translucent remix' of Sylvian/Fripp's 'Darshan'. Dave & Richard Norris stayed faithful to the track but gave it a new flavour. sylvianvista.com/2023/11/03/d... #daveball

REMINDER: The latest article explores 'Cosa Rara' by Lucrecia Dalt which features David Sylvian, who also co-produced and mixed the song. Recorded at the home they share in New Mexico, the lyric references road trips, Twin Peaks, and car crashes... sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c... #davidsylvian

NEW ARTICLE: 'Cosa Rara' - the single that paved the way for Lucrecia Dalt's new album A Danger to Ourselves. Structured around Alex Làzaro's percussion, with Cyrus Campbell on bass. The coda features David Sylvian's vocal and he also completed the mix. sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article features 'Alphabet Angel' from David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake. A gem with vocals by Sylvian and 'pseudo rhodes' played by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The sweet melody is offset by 'discolouration' in the mix. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a... #davidsylvian

NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake celebrates many joys of life, with 'Alphabet Angel' highlighting the 'miracle' of parenthood. The song is performed by Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto. 'Strange harmonics' lurk beneath the surface. sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a... #davidsylvian

FROM THE ARCHIVE: One of the earliest blog articles from the series, about 'Small Metal Gods'. I really like the sparse accompaniment to this song and Sylvian's rich vocal as he delivers the 'slightly bitter, quite petulant, disillusioned, angry' lyric. sylvianvista.com/2018/11/09/s... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article features 'Blackwater' by Rain Tree Crow, the first we heard of the project by the ex-members of Japan. An atmospheric song with intricate brushed drumming from Steve Jansen & unique atmospheres from Richard Barbieri. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...

NEW ARTICLE: 'Blackwater' was the single that heralded the new incarnation of Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn & David Sylvian as Rain Tree Crow. The members of Japan released new music a decade after Tin Drum. Bill Nelson is a welcome guest. sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b... #japantheband

FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Victim of Stars' was one of two vocal tracks featuring David Sylvian from the first edition of Hector Zazou's album Sahara Blue. The project was a celebration of Arthur Rimbaud and Sylvian's lyric was inspired by his poetic vision. sylvianvista.com/2019/01/11/v... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article features David Sylvian's Steel Cathedrals which he called the 'first step in a new approach for me', opening up the music for guest musicians to respond. The approach was rewarded with beautiful work from Sakamoto, Fripp et al. sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...

NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian's 'Steel Cathedrals' has a wonderful line up of guests: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Robert Fripp, Holger Czukay, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Jansen & Masami Tsuchiya. Developed from an earlier piece called 'Showing the Wound (A Will to Health)'. sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: Looking back to David Sylvian's first solo tour in 1988, with a stellar band of Isham, Torn, Jansen, Barbieri, Maidman and Aceto. Some terrific musicianship on display - the Hammersmith show I attended is a treasured memory. sylvianvista.com/2021/11/05/b... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article features the new album by Melaine Dalibert & David Sylvian, Vermilion Hours, with exclusive input from Melaine who gives insight into the work and its context - particularly 'Music for the Break of Day'. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...

NEW ARTICLE: An interview with Melaine Dalibert on the release of his new album with David Sylvian, Vermilion Hours. We talked about his motivation for revisiting the composition 'Musique pour le Lever du Jour' and inviting Sylvian to contribute electronics. sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: David Sylvian's Fire in the Forest tour (2003/4) was performed with Steve Jansen & Masakatsu Takagi. A Sylvian & Takagi collaboration track also resulted: 'Exit/Delete'. Back in 2018, Masakatsu told me how the song came about. Link: sylvianvista.com/2018/11/30/e... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article features 'Bamboo Houses' from the double A side single by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto released in 1982. Sylvian remixed the track, adding a new vocal, for his Everything & Nothing compilation in 2000. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...

NEW ARTICLE: 'Bamboo Houses' - part of the double A-side single released by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto in 1982. The project came before Japan's last tour and during a period when Sakamoto was busy with YMO, solo & other projects. Always a favourite. sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Visions of China' - tracing the roots of the fascination with China that underpins Japan's classic album, Tin Drum, and its sleeve imagery. Influences adopted into unique and technically ingenious pop music. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/12/02/v... #japantheband

REMINDER: The latest article features 'The Last Days of December', the second original piece from the collaboration of David Sylvian & @daifujikura.bsky.social. All the indications are that the lyrics concern the poet Sylvia Plath. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t... #davidsylvian

NEW ARTICLE: 'The Last Days of December' was the second original track created by David Sylvian and Dai Fujikura, with a string arrangement built around bass flute multiphonics and a lyric seemingly recounting the final hours of the poet Sylvia Plath. sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t... #davidsylvian

FROM THE ARCHIVE: Next month, the new instrumental album by Melaine Dalibert & David Sylvian, Vermilion Hours, will be released. Here's an article from 2021 about their previous work together - including an exclusive interview with Melaine. Link: sylvianvista.com/2021/09/03/y... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article features David Sylvian's 'Do You Know Me Now?'. Sylvian's affinity for the track was such that he named his retrospective boxset after it, and recorded a video for the song a decade after it was first released. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/05/02/d... #davidsylvian

NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian's 'Do You Know Me Now?' was first issued on limited edition 10" white vinyl in 2013. The song was created for an installation by the artist Phil Collins who collaborated with a shelter for the homeless in Cologne on the project. sylvianvista.com/2025/05/02/d...

REMINDER: The latest article features Steve Jansen's Slope, in particular the song 'Cancelled Pieces' with vocals from Anja Garbarek & 'great sounding guitar work' from David Sylvian. Also touching on Nina Kinert's lovely reprise of 'Playground Martyrs'. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/04/11/c...

NEW ARTICLE: Steve Jansen's album Slope features invited vocalists including Anja Garbarek on 'Cancelled Pieces' (David Sylvian plays guitar) and Nina Kinert for a reprise of 'Playground Martyrs'. Sylvian helped identify artists such as Thomas Feiner. sylvianvista.com/2025/04/11/c...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Let the Happiness In' from David Sylvian's Secrets of the Beehive is a true gem with its unusual brass orchestration and to-and-fro between vocal and Mark Isham's muted trumpet. Read an article with exclusive input from Mark Isham here: sylvianvista.com/2019/02/01/l...

REMINDER: The latest article is about 'Life Without Buildings'. Japan were a remarkable band, each self-taught member developing a unique musical voice. Their alchemy is showcased on this track, recorded in the run up to the Tin Drum album. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/03/21/l... #japantheband

NEW ARTICLE: Japan's 'Life Without Buildings' was a b-side but it marked a shift in how the band worked, pointing ahead to the detailed sound design of Tin Drum and absorbing influences such as Byrne & Eno. Mick Karn said it was his favourite Japan track. sylvianvista.com/2025/03/21/l...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: In 2021 I was privileged to interview Elizabeth Oehlkers Wright about her late husband, poet Franz Wright, & his work with David Sylvian for The Kilowatt Hour & 'there's a light that enters houses with no other house in sight'. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2021/04/09/s...

REMINDER: The latest article features the Sylvian/Sakamoto song 'World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)' - a pop-oriented track featuring Ryuichi's YMO bandmates. Its message of global community is still so very important... Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/02/28/w... #davidsylvian #ryuichsakamoto

NEW ARTICLE: 'World Citizen (I Won't Be Disappointed)' is the more 'pop-oriented' composition on the Sylvian/Sakamoto World Citizen EP. Sketch Show - Haruomi Hosono & Yukihiro Takahashi - were the other performers, making the line-up YMO plus Sylvian. sylvianvista.com/2025/02/28/w... #davidsylvian

FROM THE ARCHIVE: About 'Forbidden Colours (version)', the 'not so grand' version of the song based on the theme for Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence that David Sylvian recorded with Ryuichi Sakamoto & Steve Jansen during the sessions for Brilliant Trees, 1983. sylvianvista.com/2018/12/20/f...

REMINDER: The latest article looks back to David Sylvian's 1986 album Gone to Earth and the contribution of Bill Nelson, who shared various interests with Sylvian at the time. 'Answered Prayers' has a wonderful acoustic solo by Nelson. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/02/07/a... #davidsylvian

NEW ARTICLE: Bill Nelson's guitar playing is a joy on David Sylvian's album Gone to Earth, both a contrast & a complement to Robert Fripp's work as the other primary guitarist. For the instrumental 'Answered Prayers' Bill's crystalline lead is perfect. sylvianvista.com/2025/02/07/a... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article explores David Sylvian's 'Late Night Shopping' and the various remixes giving different perspectives on the original. 'In America shopping is a constant, almost automatic activity, you do it even if you don’t need anything.' Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/01/17/l...

NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian said of 'Late Night Shopping': 'It’s a humorous piece but it’s also a healthy critique of life in America, I think.' The track went on to be remixed by Chris Vrenna/tweaker, Burnt Friedman, & Atom™ (an out-take just made public). sylvianvista.com/2025/01/17/l...

FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'God's Monkey' is the opening to the Sylvian/Fripp album, The First Day. A song constructed in the studio with great contributions from Trey Gunn, David Bottrill. & Marc Anderson who shares some memories from the recording at Dreamland. sylvianvista.com/2021/05/21/g... #robertfripp

REMINDER: The latest article features 'Silver Moon', the ballad that ends the vocal disc of Gone to Earth. I spoke to Jennifer Maidman who played bass on the song, and Nick Brandt who directed the promo video in the Lake District. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2024/12/26/s... #davidsylvian

NEW ARTICLE: 'Silver Moon' completes David Sylvian's album Gone to Earth, encompassing a 'lightness' & 'exuberance' that Sylvian saw in the record. Guest musicians include Bill Nelson, Jennifer Maidman, B.J. Cole, Robert Fripp & Mel Collins. Read more: sylvianvista.com/2024/12/26/s... #davidsylvian

REMINDER: The latest article features David Sylvian's reading of poetry by Nils Christian Moe-Repstad for 'I Swallowed Earth for This' from Uncommon Deities. Nils was a remarkable poet with a passion for the combination of poetry and music. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2024/12/06/i... #davidsylvian

FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'A Fire in the Forest' is a stunning track, the perfect combination of David Sylvian's voice & Christian Fennesz's incredible electronics. Including some insights from Christian exclusive to this article. Read here: sylvianvista.com/2021/09/24/a... #davidsylvian #fennesz