David Sylvian - The Rabbit Skinner (Manafon, 2009)

[colinraycyrus68]

would it hurt him to record something with a tune , been a japan fan since 1980 and still love them but this solo stuff from dave i just cant get ,sorry folks,,,,no wonder they dont sell many ,,and this is coming from one of japans biggest ever fans,,i know hes not japan anymore and cant be with mick r.i.p but something on the lines of brilliant trees would be a welcome treat to all his fans

[hagstromman345]

so good. time for a bit of tonality though.

[SixOneCynic]

@USSCaprica - I like to think of the "discordance" a strange 'assonance' sort of italicising David's warm, buttery vocals - I must have listened to this song 100+ times since I posted that first comment of mine, everything you hear on Manafon now sounds natural and and in its place, so to speak, everything David Sylvian will ever do after Manafon will be judged intensely by those learned of this record of his; I still think he's more relevant now than ever; and I'm still enchanted after 20 years

[russellfoureyes]

It's a toss up between Mr Sylvian & Scott Walker...And the biggest tosser is...LOL...they're both wonderful artists...

[ALPQZM654]

Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth...

[dunning1977]

I adore Sylvian, but find the album Manafon an extremely difficult lesson.. and I get on with Blemish very well !! You definitely have to listen to this on headphones and in peace... maybe a bit like Mark Hollis' solo album I'd say.

[2xtrbo]

I used to think he could sing the phonebook and I would like it. Even his voice can't hold up this crap.

[citic101]

His work is inspired but has been made too accesable to the ears of the general population who need it all explained in the most simple of terms.his later work has a feeling of jean arp

[bamb04]

Am I the only one for whom Musil's novel pops up in his head when he hears "A man without qualities"? Great assortment of photos too! ty

[Nara1008]

I can think of few other artists who are willing to strip themselves bare in their revelation of their intimate personal world than David.That said I hope this stage of despair and resignation in and of the spiritual dimension is temporary.I miss the extraordinary warmth and beauty of previous works.Let the light back in.

[lemoncrushed]

I like some of Blemish, The Only Daughter is incredible - the album's lyrical honesty equally so, but Manafon leaves me completely cold. Sometimes, an artist's introspection can become an act of pure contrived, self indulgence. Music is music, and Manafon isn't music, it's philosophy, if I want philosophy I'll read a book. It's a shame, as I though musically Sylvian had a lot more to offer, Why are some artists so snobby about music when they get older, so elitist?

[hub1971]

@lemoncrushed don't be embarrassed to admit it. i would prefer it if he was still doing proper songs too!. however, i reckon he's earned the right to indulge a little. he seems to do something 'challenging' whenever a relationship has ended, and then write some more recognisably slyvianesque songs when he's back in love again. give it a year or so and the tunes will be back.

[bamb04]

Concerning most comments: Quite presumptuous to think he is making music for YOU (i.e. the listener), for your enjoyment and based on your tastes. What if, and hear me out now even though this might be groundbreaking stuff, what if... he's actually making music of himself for himself and the fact that you like it is only a bonus and not the reason for it.

Christ, I can only imagine the artists sighing in knowledge of such dim-witted, ungrateful crowds. So much for my patience..

[lemoncrushed]

@bamb04

Well, when asked "What is the ultimate goal of your music ?", Sylvian replied "To blow peoples hearts wide open." That tells you he has an agenda that goes beyond writing music for himself, or at least did. I find Sylvian an intelligent but quite weak and egotistical character - all this garbage about gurus tells you that; spending a life searching for something that does not exist, complete waste of time and quite childish. Still, that takes nothing away from his remarkable talent.

[bamb04]

@lemoncrushed Context plz:

AAJ: What would you like people to take away from your music? What sort of response or feeling do you hope is evoked in your listeners?

DS: I have often said that the desire is to blow the listeners' hearts wide open. By this, I mean I want them to be moved to the point of abandonment. This would be beautiful, an ideal, but it is too much to expect. That the work might resonate in the lives of others is no lesser achievement, and one I might more modestly aspire to.

[bamb04]

@lemoncrushed How would you describe the types of stories your records tell? How comfortable are you when you have to start from your own experience and expose it?

DS: [..] I do, feel uncomfortable when talking to media about the content of any given album because it is so innately personal. For someone who exposes so much of himself in his work—we're talking nervous system rather than simply standing naked [...]

[bamb04]

@lemoncrushed Now I won't say an artist of any sort, be it poet, musician, painter or whatever else doesn't want to please his audience but the question is how far does he feel he should go in order to do that compared to following his own vision for things, especially when that might not prove too popular.

[bamb04]

@lemoncrushed An artist is someone who has something to say (through whatever medium) but that isn't necessarily what you'd like to hear. Just because he's been saying all the things you like to hear until now doesn't mean he's going to keep doing it or that he's been doing it for you specifically.

Whatever goes on in his personal life shouldn't concern you, it's his business and we're here to enjoy the music. Don't use peoples flaws for your rationalizations. We all have flaws.

[lemoncrushed]

@bamb04

Never said we didn't. If what goes on in his personal life shouldn't concern anyone then why does Sylvian respond to questions about his personal life in such incredible depth? Again, seems like an egotistical pursuit, not something someone does if they're only interested in the music. There are a few artists who succeed in taking the principled stance of it being solely about music and therefore not talking to the media unless they absolutely have to, Sylvian isn't one of them.

[bamb04]

@lemoncrushed I'd respond further but it is pointless and by now I'm starting to look like an apologist which is what I hate most.

Like a wise man once said, "to defend something is always to discredit it".

[ajdicks]

@bamb04 There has to be some sympathy for the listener. I personally think David is digging into territory that was already covered by Scott Walker, Mark Hollis, and Leonard Cohen.  Every song can't be bleak and abstract. All but the most loyal fans will stop buying CD's and attending concerts.

[bamb04]

@ajdicks Do you understand how absurd it is to insinuate that an artist shouldn't cover subjects that have been covered before? Since the beginning of time, I might add, not just those you mentioned. It's like saying Shakespeare shouldn't bother writing since the subjects he treats have been dealt with in the scriptures of his forefathers already. It's not about WHAT you write/sing/etc about but HOW since the only thing humans can share with one another is PERSPECTIVE. A new one from which.

[bamb04]

@ajdicks "Every song can't be bleak and abstract." Why not? You're making an assumption that somehow people can't/don't enjoy these as well, and that his fans will only end up buying his cds because of his past performances, which just goes to illustrate their own stupidity.

And the last sentence should've been "A new one from each". Sowwy.

[SixOneCynic]

Behind him now are bombastic synthesizers and distorted guitars, behind all of us. A tired sound replaced by something alien and difficult which by the comments in this page display clearly the intention of David to test his listener.

This is David Sylvian the Artist moving forward, sculpting a sound not heard on many records, stop looking for 80s David and accept the aging man coming to terms with his own mortality through bleak sonicscapes.

[USSCaprica]

@SixOneCynic Sadly you are right... the problem is that David the Artist is producing... what exactly? you tell me what you hear in this....? what you term as bleak sonicscapes is an arty way of exusing tuneless experts, discordant instruments plonking away in the background overlayed with David's brilliant vocals that really don't do or go in any particular direction. I guess it all depends on what you look for in music... if you are looking for a tune, this is not it.

[misterberko]

@SixOneCynic

Have to disagree. After Blemish this (Manofon) is a massive disappointment.

[aramanth]

Dim... and very bleak. Like many, I have been a Sylvian fan for years and years.... but when Blemish was released he really tested me. He got me again with Snow Borne Sorrow... but Manafon....

I know he is minimal.... but this is going too far into droning. It's gray and dismal.

I get more pleasure out of the noises my washing machine makes!!

And what is with this video? Why bother in the frist place?

[fistft99]

@aramanth

this is called ART!!! Let me see.. let's put the washing machine on Pre Wash and cotton.. like the sound it makes especially when I do the underwear..mmm maybe i will release it and make a million or 2 :)

[TheAmazingMrBlunden]

I've been in utter adoration of Sylvian for virtually his whole career, but I'm afraid to say, he's completely lost me of late with such abstract 'music'. His colours are all the wrong shape...

[kjf1964]

Pure Genius

[gjllian]

Molto molto toccante. Decadenza di questo nostro mondo. Intelligente.

[freetobefreddy]

@1966present Are you "Sylvian Freak" from the "Japan-Pioneers" Yahoo Newsgroup? You sound just like him.

[misterXds]

I told you...you're on my golden way

AB

[aproachingsilence]

what an incredible video for this masterpiece!

[lisaloveshadleigh]

Think I must be more 'Red Guitar' than The Rabbit Skinner. Sounds like a lot of musicians tuning -up, but I am sure that Sylvian fans out there will love it...Just not for me!

[PearseB]

What's happened to sylvian?

[docmontecristo]

Hi my friend. I haven't put down Manafon a minute yet! Great choice of track for the people that still don't know the album. As usual, your visuals interact perfectly with the sound!

[TheCinemage]

...so you put the Paci's phenomenology of the negative not only in your books, mi querida amiga...

[bulucette]

I think the whole Manafon is a work of Phenomenology. I mean, the eidetic science of consciousness of Husserl and Paci...

[Crimsonphilosophy]

@TheCinemage or perhaps thats a phantom interpretation of the artists work...almost like a "phantom limb."

[TheSasao]

....un video pieno di buone sensazioni.....

[Throbber1]

Wonderful track, wonderful album. Once again an amazing video too Bulucette. Thank you for sharing this.

5* and favourite.

[nightporter2005]

Video magnifico....splendido Sylvian

[bulucette]

l'intero Manafon è spettacolare.

grazie

[nightporter2005]

Sono assolutamente d'accordo...

[burzinskimusic]

black and white... moving video... a wonderful dream...

[ghostsonatasong]

beautiful and stark.

a wonderful video

thank you, Bulucette.

[nightporter2005]

Thank you...ghost

[bulucette]

thanks dear friend, an honour you put my simple and imperfect video on your page

*it's my first experiment using stop motion photography*

cri

[MrJcocteau]

the video is perfect for the song.

BRAVO BRAVISSIMO

J.

[bulucette]

always too much generous.

Thanks

[1sacabutx]

es más duro de tragar que una piedra