Search - David Sylvian :: Approaching Silence

Sylvian Shimmers

J. Bjorne | Huntsville, AL. USA | 10/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the first time since "Ember Glance" David Sylvian releases more of his ambient 'instillation' music. This is the perfect stuff to put on in the background while reading, plus close listening provides its own rewards. This is my bag, I only wish Sylvian would release more, both vocal and instrumental."

Vast, vast beauty

DAC Crowell | 04/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the 1980s, Sylvian did two amazing collaborative albums with Holger Czukay. These were dark, lush, multilayered efforts, each with only two tracks apiece, but in those two tracks seemingly encompassing whole vast landscapes of sound. And here, Sylvian has returned to the same, complex turf with a set of pieces for some art installations. This picks up where the Sylvian/Czukay albums leave off, and add several degrees further of depth, it seems. The first track pairs Sylvian with percussionist Frank Perry, playing gongs and bells, creating an atmosphere akin to that of some otherworldly Zen temple. Then there's a little 'seed' piece of soundsources, leading into the work they're intended for, which is a vast twilight soundplace which pairs Sylvian and Robert Fripp. Those expecting "Darshan" here will be disappointed...but those who found the beautiful, unfolding textures of the ambient works on Sylvian's "Gone to Earth" to their liking will be enthralled with this seemingly endless sonic vista. Intriguing music, both for listening as well as for 'pure ambient' uses as background sonics, and some of the best ambient work I've heard in the past few years."

Yes, it is a bit soon for a new Sylvian album...

R. L. MILLER | FT LAUDERDALE FL USA | 04/04/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...but this one suit me just fine. Because it isn't really a new album, it's a re-release of some hard-to-get material. Where it fits my needs is the fact that I came on board a bit late as a fan. My brother lent me "Gone To Earth" and I ended up holding onto his copy until I got me one. The owner of the store who sold me that one also sold me his personal copy of "Secrets Of the Beehive". It took me forever to find "Brilliant Trees", but eventually I did. Then I discovered his ambient work--you see, he's two artists in one--progressive and ambient. I grabbed his two albums with Can alumnus Holger Czukay, but by the time I did that, his first one--"Ember Glance" with Russell Mills--had dropped out of print. Not to mention the fact that his box set, the "Weatherbox", is in and out of print on an irregular basis and costs a mint when it is available. Well, for those of you who wanted "Ember Glance", here it is in the form of the tracks "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and "Epiphany". Plus, the third track, the title track with Robert Fripp, has only been available before on (I think) the "Weatherbox". Oddly enough, that track "approaches silence" the least closely of any of the three--it's more of drone than a whisper, with an aspect of a regular tolling that suggests a large cathedral bell. Those of you who aren't into ambient (which I'm not either, especially) will notice that Sylvian's ambent material is influenced by his progressive side, and as such, has a bit more tonality about it. That's probably why it appeals even to me. Not only that, this album is really a twofer--the first two tracks were their an album in their own right and the third could have been. And it's an import. Which gets you a double length import for the price of a single-length domestic realease. If you like Sylvian at all, how can you go wrong with this thing?"