In discussion with Luke Solomon about “Snow Borne Sorrow” by Nine Horses (2005).
How did you come across “Snow Borne Sorrow”? Was it out of a longtime fondness for David Sylvian’s work?
First and foremost, I am a huge fan, probably since the age of 11. “Snow Borne Sorrow” I was actually turned on to by one of my oldest and closest friends. It was only a couple of weeks after release.
Why did you decide to discuss this album, and not another one of his many remarkable records? What makes this so special to you?
There are records and there are records. That’s my philosophy. I’ll elaborate. We all know the classics, there are lists of those everywhere. But I believe in personal classics. This to me, is music that happens along at a poignant time in your life. The stars are aligned, and bang, it’s like a spark, and epiphany. A moment that can be deemed as a marker. “Oh, that was the Snow Borne Sorrow time.” Or something. That was the “Snow Borne Sorrow part” of my life.
How would you describe “Snow Borne Sorrow”, also in comparison to other music Sylvian was involved with?
More than anything, on first listen it was the sound and the maturity of his voice. I listened to it recently on an 8000 pound pair of speakers, and I was blown away by the detail. Incredible. And then there are the songs, the subject matter, the arrangements. I could go on.
In discussion with Jorge Socarras about “You Forgot To Answer” by Nico, from the album “The End” (1974).
What makes this song so special for you? Are there personal experiences involved or is it more a decision of musical taste?
For me a song that is truly special effects a seamless conflation of aesthetic and subjective elements. The combination allows me, as listener, to at the same time admire and experience the song. We could say that it blurs the distinction between objective and subjective, balances the either/or of the question. This is precisely what I find so special about “You Forgot To Answer”.
Nico seemed to be very determined and uncompromising with what she wanted to do as an artist. How would you place this song in her musical history?
I see this song as representing the pinnacle of her musical achievement. The artistic promise that she showed on “Chelsea Girl” and “The Velvet Underground with Nico” is at “The End” stage fully realized. Not to say that these early achievements aren’t beautiful and worthwhile – on the contrary. But her artistry is most unmistakably individuated and formidable on “The End” album, especially in “You Forgot To Answer”. That uncompromising quality you mention is so articulated and refined in this song that one could almost interpret it as a refutal of her earlier, more celebrity-identified persona (or personas). John Cale, of course, played no small part in Nico’s coming to artistic maturation. Their creative relationship was so evidently mutually inspiring – she playing muse, he Svengali. She was the ideal songstress and he the ideal arranger for the quite serious music they envisioned. Read the rest of this entry »
Terry Hall – Sense Stereolab – Miss Modular The La’s – There She Goes Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Opportunity Superpanzer – Geheimer Star The The – Heartland Spandau Ballet – I’ll Fly For You The Waterboys – The Whole Of The Moon Lewis Taylor – Say I Love You XTC – The Loving Tears For Fears – Sowing The Seeds Of Love Tex & Erobique – People Of A Destimate Prefab Sprout – Electric Guitars Jack Peñate – Every Glance Tuxedomoon – In A Manner Of Speaking John Cale – I Keep A Close Watch Glenn Gregory – Perfect Day The Monochrome Set – Goodbye Joe David Sylvian – The Ink In The Well It’s Immaterial – The Better Idea Thomas Dolby – I Scare Myself The Special AKA – Racist Friend The Beat – Drowning UB40 – The Earth Dies Screaming Carmel – I’m Not Afraid Of You Matt Bianco – More Than I Can Bear Human League – Louise Pet Shop Boys – Hey Headmaster Osymyso – Fiver To Bigwig Saint Etienne – Hobart Paving The Style Council – Changing Of The Guard Robert Wyatt – At Last I Am Free
Ippu-Do – German Road (Epic) Salon Music – Hunting On Paris (Phonogram) Yellow Magic Orchestra – Key (Alfa) Miharu Koshi – Ryugujo No Koibito (Alfa) Earthling – You Go On Natural (Phonogram) Hajime Tachibana – Liquid (Ralph) Sandii & The Sunsetz – Sticky Music (Alfa) The Eastern Gang – Charlotte (Miracle) Minako – Town (Alfa) Yukihiro Takahashi – Drip Dry Eyes (Alfa) Miharu Koshi – L’Amours Toujours (Alfa) Testpattern – Modern Living (Alfa) Yukihiro Takahashi – Walking To The Beat (Alfa) Ryuichi Sakamoto & David Sylvian – Bamboo Houses (Virgin) Ippu-Do – Morning Menu (Epic) Ryuichi Sakamoto – Kimi Ni Tsuite (Nippon Life Insurance Co.)
Dies ist der Nachfolger des ersten ‘Secret Rhythms’-Albums von 2002 und abermals gelingen Friedman und Liebezeit schöne Exkursionen zwischen Elektronika und Jazz. Liebezeit ist und bleibt ein Ausnahme-Schlagzeuger, der kompakt die vielen melancholischen Klänge zusammenhält, die Friedman aus seinem Archiv beigibt. Die beiden wissen ziemlich genau, wie man die Inhaltstoffe dosiert. So klingen die getragenen Momente nicht tranig und die komplexen Momente nicht verfrickelt. Für diesen winterlichen Flow hätten sie auch keinen geeigneteren Gastsänger finden können als David Sylvian, der auf ‚The Librarian’ ganz der wehmütige Crooner sein darf, der er immer sein sollte. Dieses Album sollte man am besten allein in einem verfallenden Landsitz hören, in dem einzigen Raum der noch beheizt ist.
Recent Comments