(August 2009) David Sylvian’s career has spanned a thirty-year period, initially finding its
way through the popular New Romantic movement with the band Japan. Sylvian
subsequently went on to produce a quality body of mature solo work, his debut
emerging in 1984 with Brilliant Trees. Going from strength to strength ever
since, he’s reinvented himself musically at various stages along the way.
His latest release, Manafon, is an unconventional work and perhaps one of the
most diverse to date, and testament to his development. It sees Sylvian
stripped bare of any lavish trimmings. The compositions reach out with naked
hands, clinging to intelligent and sometimes complex observations and rigorous
study of character.
Sylvian scratches the edges of some dark surfaces; however the centrefold is
even more expressive with its hues of jaded normality – a conceptual status
throughout.
Sylvian portrays deep insights with his lonely textured vocals, grasping the
heart of the subject and shaping it in a way that only his own strength of voice
could direct. Instrumentation is sparse yet effective and orchestrated in a
unique way – the diverse sounds intervene at all the right moments integrating
well with the mood. His haunting lullaby has a strong sense of purpose – pivoted
centrally throughout the album against its dark fabric – the colours of which
are all exceptionally responsive. With production that’s crystal clear – every
creek or stirring within the atmosphere can be heard – all reacting and
responding with an immense sharpness.
“Maybe I’m attracted to the stories of individuals who search for meaning on
their own terms,” says Sylvian. “But what I’m fascinated by is the devotion to a
creative discipline. The meaning with which the work imbues the life regardless
of its reception and, to a certain extent, its importance.”
Manafon isn’t just a listening experience – it’s a work that encompasses every
nuance of explicit chamber instrumentation, melody and structure – the qualities
of which become more engrained with every listen.
Manafon is out now on Samadhisound. [Listen / Purchase]
