David Sylvian - 2003-2014 Do You Know Me Now?

David Sylvian has been a favorite artist of mine ever since I first saw a video of him performing the song "Ghosts" with the band Japan. Since that time, back while I was living in Japan, he has been on my radar. I didn't know the music of the band beyond that one song. My freshman year of college, I found a record called Exorcising Ghosts that had that track on it, and others that I didn't know. I was hooked. I also noted that Sakamoto Ryuichi also played on a track or two. More about him in another post but suffice to say that this album cemented my desire to hear more of Sakamoto, and any project he was a part of - YMO and Yano Akiko to start with. What I find interesting is that both artists - Sylvian, and Sakamoto went on a similar musical journey through their lives.

Sylvian, as part of Japan, was doing somewhat punk/glam rock versions of songs on Japan's first two albums, then they came out with Quiet Life which sounded more like who they were becoming as a band. Somewhat New Romantic (if you have to put them in a box), but also very Berlin Bowie-inspired. A fascinating band that broke up after their fifth album, though they did release a live album at the end. After that, the majority of the band went on, or continued, to work on their solo or collaborative work. Sylvian went solo (though often times he did have some of his band mates play on his albums). Starting with Brilliant Trees released in 1984, and continuing to put out music to today. His music has changed and grown as he has changed and grown as an artist. The first CD I ever purchased was a David Sylvian Boxset named Weatherbox. I didn't even own a CD player at the time but it is a gorgeous box that collects his first few solo albums. I had been listening to Secrets of the Beehive and Gone to Earth quite a bit during college so I was ready to hear it on CD, and to hear other music that I didn't know - like his first album and some ephemera he did for some art films. 

The box set named "Do You Know Me Now?", put out on his label Samadhi sound, collects his works from 2003 - 2014. It is an impressive collection that is made of ten albums. They are not always the most easy to listen to. They are a bit experimental with overlapping vocals, or sound collages. He also has two albums of remixes in here which is very unusual for him. Blemish (2003) is followed by The Good Son vs The Only Daughter (The Blemish Remixes) [2005], while Manafon (2009) is followed with Died in The Wool (The Manafon Variations) [2011]. There is a collection of singles and eps named "Do You Know Me Now?", and the tracks on there range from 2003-2013, and include collaborations with Sakamoto Ryuichi, along with Nine Horses. He has moved into doing longer improvisational compositions which are interesting to listen to. I have listened to this box set once through and will need to listen to his later work again. 

What I have always enjoyed about him is his voice, and his lyrics. To the point that back in the day he would put out limited edition lyric books via Opium Art. I believe he put out three in total, and I found my way to owning all three. He also came out with a full book of lyrics and writings named "Hypergraphia." It collects his writings from 1980-2014, and is 638 pages long. It is a gorgeous book. I have yet to see anything that David Sylvian puts out into the world that is not just gorgeous. The artwork he selects, the way he packages his music is so intentional and perfect. While I may not always listen to his most recent work on the regular, I will continue to support his journey in any way that I can. Sometimes there are artists like that - David Bowie, Prince, David Sylvian, Japan, Yano Akiko, Sakamoto Ryuichi to name a few. Even after they have passed, I will support the estate as I can. However I hope that Sylvian has many more years to go.