New Song On Sunday

 

Today's song is not new, it's a contemporary interpretation of a forgotten song from 1984. The first single by David Sylvian was released on his debut album Brilliant Trees after his band split up. On this album, he turned his back on the sound of Japan and, together with the Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, embraced a more jazzy sound without compromising his own style. The result was a veritable hit in the charts at the time.

More than 40 years later Kent's based electronic duo Puerto Montt City Orchestra transformed this song into a Balearic tune. The press release describes the song as follows: A 'Balearic Beat' that's now much more Mike Francis. The keys are rolling. The B-line roots reggae. The fretwork matching jazzy, cool and breezy electric with strummed acoustic. Sexy, spoken Spanish baritone narration countering Maya Blandy's ethereal lead vocal. It is rare enough for this description to apply.

And as a bonus the beautiful original, directed by Anton Corbijn.

Red Hot And Blue III

 

In today's installment of the theme, we set off on paths that couldn't be more different. Let's start with David Sylvain and the first single from his debut album from 1984. After he split from Japan, nobody knew which musical direction he would drift in, but he more than convinced many with his idiosyncratic mixture of art-rock, jazz, ambient and a voice reminiscent of Brian Ferry.

David Sylvain - Red Guitar

Next stop is Georgia. The Allman Brothers Band were well known for their interpretation of Southern Rock. But for me it is more than playing heavy guitars. They always included elements of jazz and prog-rock to their sound. Hot 'Lanta describes it very well. Excellent guitars moving over rolling drums that makes this song timeless.

Allman Brothers Band - Hot 'Lanta

In 2006 The Charlatans released Simpatico, the probably best album of their late history. There sound included still massive guitar and the voice of Tim Burgess but was extended with fantastic grooves and reggae rhytms.

The Charlatans - Blackend Blue Eyes

Jean The Birdman

 

In 1993 David Sylvian released his first collaboration with former King Crimson's guitar player Robert Fripp The First Day. I knew Sylvian from his former band Japan and his album Tin Drum. It was a kind of music I don't listen regular to but sometimes I get into the mood of getting lost in this kind of dreamy and arty music. Fripp's guitar broadened Sylvian's music into another musical dimension. This video from the 90's shows exactly his ambition in searching for another piece of ambient psychedelia.

Nostalgia

I can't remember posting anything from Japan/David Sylvian during the years and I don't know why I didn't. A few days ago I grabbed Brilliant Trees, the first solo album by David Sylvian and listened to after long years. It was back in 1984 when the album was released and I bought it by recommendation of a friend without listening to any song, knowing about the good taste of my mate. When I put the lp on my record player and listened to the songs I was bemused of the sound and the voice of David Sylvian. An accumulation of longer songs with no melody you can catch the first time. The bass was dominant in the foreground, drums and guitars seemed not to fit together and the leading voice was between singing and speaking. Well - it's another arty record in my collection I thought for myself and forgot this record while there was a lot of other great music around these days. A few years later I came home late at night after watching a football game with some of my friends and I wasn't tired enough to go to bed and wanted a last drink while listening to some music. I can't remember why I've chosen Brilliant Trees but in this mood I fell in love with this record. Suddenly I could see the whole concept in these songs and I understood that this was the plan. These songs are compositions not only songs.

David Sylvian - Nostalgia