Samadhi [Live]

1. Raga Maru Bihag: Alap

2. Raga Maru Bihag: Jod (Jor)

3. Raga Maru Bihag: Gat in Vilambit (Slow) Teental (16-Beat Cycle)

4. Raga Maru Bihag: Gat in Madya (Medium)

5. Raga Maru Bihag: Gat in Drut (Fast) Teental

Samadhi,Vishwa Mohan Bhatt,Sense World Music,India,Indian,Indian Classical,Indian Folk,Int'l & World Music,Pop,Raga,This remarkable musician again astounds the audience with his mastery of the Mohan Vina.. a unique Indian slide guitar of his own invention.A solo performance of the highest quality.,World Fusion,Worldbeat

Average customer rating: experimental bliss Nine Horses Ride Again

Money for All David Sylvian , and Nine Horses Manufacturer: Samadhi Sound UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Snow Borne Sorrow Wonderful World EP World Citizen Prezens RockPaperScissors ASIN: B000J4QQ2S Release Date: 2007-01-30

Tracks:

1. Money For All
2. Get The Hell Out
3. The Banality Of Evil (Burnt Friedman Remix)
4. Wonderful World (Burnt Friedman Remix)
5. Birds Sing For Their Lives
6. Serotonin (Burnt Friedman Remix)
7. Money For All (Version)
8. Get The Hell Out (Burnt Friedman Remix)

Amazon.com

Remix projects are often commercially motivated ventures that jettison everything that made a track personal and expressive in favor of thudding, generic dance beats that will get played in clubs and on the radio. But as is usually the case, singer David Sylvian has a different approach. Nine Horses is his project with his brother and drummer, Steve Jansen, and electronica artist Burnt Friedman. They take songs from the 2006 release Snow Borne Sorrow and find new dimensions in their already multifaceted songs. These are more reimaginings than remixes. The slow electro-soul of "The Banality of Evil" becomes an ethereal New Orleans dirge that brings out Sylvian's baleful lyrics like a lost voodoo prayer. "Wonderful World" emphasizes Keith Lowe's slinky double bass line, underscoring the already smoke-filled jazz noir feel this track had in its original form. Stina Nordenstam sings the chorus on that, and the remix makes her fractured soprano an even more startling contrast with Sylvian's dolorously fudgy tenor. Nordenstam takes the lead on the hallucinatory lullaby of "Birds Sing for Their Lives," originally a Japanese-only bonus track. There are also new tracks: the funky and acerbic "Money for All" and the ominous, but still funky "Get the Hell Out," the latter full of glitchy beats and chamber strings. Both are reheated in alternate versions as well. You can't dance to the remixes of Money for All, but you can go deeper into the world of David Sylvian. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

experimental bliss.......2007-03-19

Hypnotic, dreamy, experimental, adventurous forays into sound like no other can produce. This is quite simply a visionary work that contains the marks of real genius. Enjoy in various states of consciousness.

Nine Horses Ride Again.......2007-01-27

David Sylvian, Burnt Friedman and Steve Jansen have fortunately made the decision to continue working together under the moniker of NINE HORSES. This eight track EP begins with the title track, "Money For All", a collaboration between Sylvian and Friedman. Jazzy vibraphone and clarinet riffs are intertwined with bluesy guitar licks and folky harmonica lines,...all casually placed atop a slightly trippy hip hop groove. The song also features the soulful harmonies from the very same backing vocalists who helped frame a large portion of the melody lines on Nine Horses' debut, Snow Borne Sorrow. Sylvian's lyrics seem to be filled with veiled attacks against the US President Bush and the Republican Party (referred to here as "a mean looking elephant"), basically hitting them hard where they purport to be the strongest: homeland security, capitalism, and the neo-conservative urge for war rather than diplomacy. Yet the cultural climate maintained by the nation's citizens is also taken to task: the endless need for foreign oil, the downside to nationalistic pride resulting in an 'us versus them' mentality, the overall greed that is prevalent in capitalism and destructive vices that many willingly take part in.
"Get The Hell Out", written by Jansen and Sylvian, is built upon a funked up techno beat which is somewhat similar to the recent sound of Massive Attack. Staccato synthesized horn kicks punctuate the track throughout the relatively aggressive verses, while Sylvian's smooth Fender Rhodes and a highly orchestrated sampling of violins permeate the much gentler bridges. Though Sylvian's lyrics are uncharacteristically less descriptive than usual, it appears as though the song's subject matter revolves around an abused woman in need of escape from her current situation.
"Birds Sing For Their Lives", which previously appeared on the Japanese version of Nine Horses' debut cd, is a collaboration between Jansen and Sylvian with singer Stina Nordenstam handling all vocals and lyrics. The song's minimalistic and icy tone atop an eerily adagio waltz tempo is perfect for Nordenstam's fragile vocal.
In the case of Friedman's remixes of the tracks from Snow Borne Sorrow, all three fail to improve upon the originals in any way and come across as unnecessary in my opinion. Yet the new material that is included can only be considered as especially strong additions to the Nine Horses catalog, so this is well worth it.

Average customer rating: Smooth as silk Big Fan of Sylvian Great Sylvian a little flux, a little mutability did anyone notice ?

Snow Borne Sorrow Nine Horses Manufacturer: Samadhi Sound ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Money for All World Citizen Blemish The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter: Blemish Remixes Secrets of the Beehive ASIN: B000B8GUGO Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

1. Wonderful World
2. Darkest Birds
3. The Banality of Evil
4. Atom and Cell
5. A History of Holes
6. Snow Borne Sorrow
7. The Day the Earth Stole Heaven
8. Serotonin
9. The Librarian

Amazon.com

Snow Borne Sorrow is released under the name Nine Horses, but make no mistake--this is a David Sylvian CD, his best in two decades. After the dislocated dissonance of Blemish, Sylvian returns to songs and melody, recalling the jazz and ambient inflected work of earlier CDs like Product Description

Probably the most commercial release that David Sylvian has ever been involved with, Nine Horses still manages to sound unlike any other album out there at the moment. Breaking boundaries, fusing styles and yet delivering beautiful pop melodies and stunning vocals on songs that Sylvian fans everywhere are bound to fall in love with. Nine Horses brings together Sylvian, his brother Steve Jansen (ex-Japan), and the well respected Burnt Friedman and they have created a suite of remarkably poignant songs that are part social commentary and part self-analysis. Sylvian and his collaborators have never sounded better nor the material more immediate. Other guest contributors include: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Stina Nordenstam, Arve Henriksen and many more. Samadhi Sound. 2005.

Album Description

Probably the most commercial release that David Sylvian has ever been involved with, Nine Horses still manages to sound unlike any other album out there at the moment. Breaking boundaries, fusing styles and yet delivering beautiful pop melodies and stunning vocals on songs that Sylvian fans everywhere are bound to fall in love with. Nine Horses brings together Sylvian, his brother Steve Jansen (ex-Japan), and the well respected Burnt Friedman and they have created a suite of remarkably poignant songs that are part social commentary and part self-analysis. Sylvian and his collaborators have never sounded better nor the material more immediate. Other guest contributors include: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Stina Nordenstam, Arve Henriksen and many more. Samadhi Sound. 2005.

Album Details

Probably the Most Commercial Release that David Sylvian Has Ever Been Involved With, Nine Horses Still Manages to Sound Unlike Any Other Album Out There at the Moment. Breaking Boundaries, Fusing Styles and Yet Delivering Beautiful Pop Melodies and Stunning Vocals on Songs that Sylvian Fans Everywhere Are Bound to Fall in Love With. Nine Horses Brings Together Sylvian, his Brother Steve Jansen (Ex-japan) and the Well Respected Burnt Friedman. The Trio have Created a Suite of Remarkably Poignant Songs that Are Part Social Commentary and Part Self-analysis. Sylvian and his Collaborators have Never Sounded Better Nor the Material More Immediate. Other Guest Contributors Include: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Stina Nordenstam, Arve Henriksen and Many More. This Album's Sound is Expanded, Maximalist, Full, Rooted in Traditional Song Structures Like Some of Sylvian's Classic Solo Albums Like "Brilliant Trees", "Secrets of the Beehive" and "Dead Bees on a Cake".

Customer Reviews:

Smooth as silk.......2007-03-16

This music is smooth as silk, and often is gorgeously anchored by the sinewy bass lines of Keith Lowe (no pun intended).

Big Fan of Sylvian.......2007-01-03

I've been a big fan of Sylvian ever since Dead Bees on a Cake and this album doesn't disappoint at all. Only problem is waiting as long as we do between albums for the next! This album clearly is better than the last, however, which had some seemingly experimental songs that didn't quite work for me. LOVE this one, though and can't wait for his next.

Great Sylvian.......2006-12-09

This is the best Sylvian since Secrets. It's penetrating, powerful and beautiful. Even a little humor.

You like Sylvian? Buy this.

a little flux, a little mutability.......2006-10-28

In many ways, Snow Borne Sorrow felt like a surprise. "Blemish" while very experimental, began to feel like a boldly decided direction; abandoning the lush, Scott Walker-esque melancholoy of his 80s solo work in favor of cold, white noise and electronic sound scapes. But then here came Snow Borne Sorrow. I'm not sure what other people are hearing, but these songs are definitely very well structured, well written, impecibly produced, with lyrics on par with Leonard Cohen (well, almost). Yes, it's an undeniably admirable record. Then why do I, a diehard fan of Sylvian for more than 20 years, find myself advancing through most of the songs on this record?

My immediate answer is that the songs are just too, too long and laden with meaning and heavyness. Not that Sylvian's stuff has ever been light fluff, take "Before the Bullfight" as an example. But missing here are the rich arrangements like Sakamato's contribution to "Beehive" or Fripp's huge guitar work on "...Bullfight" that lift the heavyness of the lyric or vocal styling into something warmer. The songs don't tend to move that much on Snow Borne Sorrow. They find a pattern and they stick with it for a long time. They feel as if they written on loops. Also, his voice, which I am utterly devoted to, is mixed entirely too high and never gives the music a chance to take center-stage.

What I find most redeeming about SBS are the lyrics. The wit and depth of image are superior to anything he's written before. Lyrically, it's the picture of an artist working at the peak of his abilities. On Seratonin, bed sheets become "mountain ranges at my feet." Harmony is new for Sylvian but it comes off strangely yet masterfully on the chorus of "Atom and Cell." But once again, not one song jumps out at me on this record and makes me say THIS is a phenomenal and perfect Sylvian song, the way "Talheim" or "Fire in the Forest" does.

Finally, it's worth it for any fan to pursue and ponder. As for anyone else, I'm not so sure.

did anyone notice ?.......2006-10-14

for all the sylvian fans who reviewed: did anyone notice that on "a history of holes" that david sylvian wrote one of his best lyrics? the beats and the rhythm drop out temporarily and david sings: when i was a boy/and i made mistakes/i was humiliated/till i knew my place. snow borne sorrow is a very good album. it may require one to listen to it a few times and to remember that david has an adventurous spirit. there is a feeling of completeness when listening to a recording artist who shares with you what you want AND need.

Average customer rating: secret ROCKS!!! A masterpiece! What a find! Worst band ever? Secret Samadhi

Secret Samadhi Live Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Grunge | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music $8.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $8.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Distance to Here Mental Jewelry V Throwing Copper Birds of Pray ASIN: B000003BRW Release Date: 1997-02-18

Tracks:

1. Rattlesnake
2. Lakini's Juice
3. Graze
4. Century
5. Ghost
6. Unsheathed
7. Insomnia And The Hole In The Universe
8. Turn My Head
9. Heropsychodreamer
10. Freaks
11. Merica
12. Gas Hed Goes West

Album Details

Australian Exclusive Release featuring Thier Latest Album Packaged with a Five Track Bonus Disc that Includes Freaks (Radio Edit), Lakini@s Juice (Live), Freaks (Album Version), Love My Way (Psychedelic Furs Cover), and Freaks (Remix).

Customer Reviews:

secret ROCKS!!!.......2007-07-09

i feel this disk was the BEST of all their works!!! LIVE is an awesome band and secret tops throwing copper and rocks out with soul searching authenticity!!! the *story* on this disk tells truth and brings a connectivity to all who listen to it~~~ it is a defining moment of our own humanity and our own acknowledgement of our understanding of our human experiences~~~ reflection reflection reflection~~~

she }{

A masterpiece!.......2007-01-02

This album, the third release from York, PA's LIVE, is a rare musical masterpiece. At first listen the album may be hard to swallow, but several listening sessions later, you'll want to keep it in your CD player for six straight months. No kidding. It's that good. The record's twelve tracks combine into a cohesive whole to evoke a mood that almost feels corporeal. True, the mood is decidedly dark and slightly gloomy, but the album never makes you feel depressed. Instead, it fills you with an almost mystical feeling that wisks you away into another reality. The musical arrangements and lyrical delivery form a powerful vessel that transcends just rock music. It is a song writing milestone. The album pulls you in and takes you on an otherworldly journey that you never want to end. It evokes a powerful and primal emotion that is both refreshing and unsettling. You either feel like you're standing at the beginning of time or the ending of it, and you can't tell the difference. Let me tell you: for music to reek of this much raw emotion is VERY RARE. Buy it. You will not be sorry. Then tell anyone who'll listen. Please. It's a tragedy that this album was released and marketed under the radar. Then again, a creative masterpiece like this that shatters boundaries and dares to shun fluff and b.s. is bound to never be revered by the masses, but rather by the minority that can appreciate the depth of the work. Such is often the curse of true excellence and originality!

What a find!.......2006-09-26

I loved a couple songs off of Live's first album, and was then completely blown away by Throwing Copper. Unfortunately TC was SUCH a big success, that nowadays, I can't really listen to Selling The Drama, Lightning Crashes and All Over You, since the unrelenting radio-play pretty much ruined these songs for me. But I still love jamming out to I Alone, Iris, Dam at Otter Creek and (the highlight of the album IMHO) White Discussion.

I remember hearing Lakini's Juice on the radio a few times, and Freaks too, but I never really got around to buying "Secret Samadhi". Just yesterday I finally downloaded all the tracks and gave it a listen and am surprised at what a tremendous album it is.

I won't go into the song breakdown but I will agree with many of the previous reviewers that this is a DARK album. But to me, that is simply picking up where White Discussion left off. Personally, I like the fact that there are no REALLY radio-friendly tunes on this album. And besides DARK can be good. TOOL's album "Undertow" is one of the best albums ever and that thing is dark and creepy as hell.

I also agree that Live was not a "grunge" band per se. They just sounded heavy at a time when sounding heavy meant you were lumped into a ridiculous label of being "grunge". After all if you listen to Soungarden's "Louder than Love", Alice In Chain's "Sap", and Nirvana's "Nevermind", they are all very different. And then are the Smashing Pumpkins "grunge?" What about Bush? What about Tool? The whole "grunge" category is terribly simplistic.

I have always felt that some bands defy category. Live is definitely one of them, and that's what makes them great.

As far as preachiness, I've never considered Ed's lyrics to be preachy. They're obviously very personal to him (is there any better source) but I've never felt that any kindof message was being pushed on me. Perhaps he's just urging the listener to think a little bit more (or in a different way) than usual.

So the long/short of it is, if you loved Throwing Copper because of the radio singles, you probably won't get "Secret Samadhi". But if you dug the darker tunes like Iris, Dam or White Discussion (although that got pretty significant airplay too) then you should check out this album.

One other thing that appeals to me about Live personally, is that they somehow capture the essence of Southeast Pensylvania. Maybe it's simply because I lived around Delaware/Philly when they were at their biggest, but their songs always remind me of the woods and the fields and the sticky summer nights. Probably just because that's where I usually was when listening to them, but it's still pretty cool.

PS- I've also always felt that Ed has one of the most unique (and cool) voices in music. The drummer is great too. Go see them live.

Worst band ever?.......2006-09-09

These guys are the biggest joke in rock music. All of these 5 star reviews are an even bigger joke. Ed Kowizsychik(SP) or however you want to spell it sounds as pathetic as he looks. This is garbage, plain & simple. Im glad radio is no longer saturated with their music. 20 years from now, no one will remember this group.

Secret Samadhi.......2006-05-09

I liked Live's first album, "Throwing Copper." However, "Secret Samadhi" was the album that made Live one of my favorite bands. I love the album's dark sound and powerful resounding choruses.

Average customer rating: the best This has slowly become my favorite Sylvian album Approach with caution Angry, Spare, Beautiful Música para gente introvertida

Blemish David Sylvian Manufacturer: Samadhi Sound UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Snow Borne Sorrow World Citizen The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter: Blemish Remixes Money for All Everything and Nothing ASIN: B00009YWAW Release Date: 2003-06-30

Tracks:

1. Blemish
2. Good Son
3. Only Daughter
4. Heart Knows Better
5. She Is Not
6. Late Night Shopping
7. How Little We Need to Be Happy
8. Fire in the Forest

Album Description

2003 solo album from David Sylvian, his first since 1999's 'Dead Bees on a Cake'. It's the debut release for his Samadhi Sound label. David set aside a month to write & record the album while taking a break from the project that he & his brother, Steve Jansen, are working on. He has created an impromptu suite of songs for guitar, electronics & voice. The compositions were crafted from improvisational sessions captured live in the studio. Working almost entirely alone David has created an emotionally raw, minimalist work, of immediacy & stark beauty. Adding to the intensity & air of experimentation is the presence of Derek Bailey. Three of the pieces included on 'Blemish' were written with, & feature, the legendary free-jazz guitarist. The final track of the CD features a haunting electronic arrangement by Christian Fennesz. Digipak.

Album Details

Sylvian Created an Impromptu Suite of Songs for Guitar, Electronics and Voice. The Compositions were Crafted from Improvisational Sessions Captured Live in the Studio. Working Almost Entirely Alone, He Has Created an Emotionally Raw, Minimal Work, of Immediacy and Stark Beauty. Although There Are Elements in his Previous Body of Work that Hint at the Direction Taken Here, "Blemish" Appears to Cover New Ground in Style, Content, Intensity of Emotion and in the Seemly Open Ended Nature of the Compositions Themselves. Adding to the Intensity and Air of Experimentation is the Presence of Derek Bailey. Three of the Pieces Included on 'blemish' were Written with and Feature, the Legendary Free-jazz Guitarist. The Final Track of the CD features a Haunting Electronic Arrangement by Christian Fennesz. The Album was Recorded February 03 and Mixed in March.

Customer Reviews:

the best .......2007-05-20

this is David's best work since leaving Japan, and his early sol efforts were great. But this is one of the top albums of all time, it is perfect. An all-star group of fennesz, bailey, sakamoto and slyvian all used sparingly--perfectly! wow! Very unlike the busy overproduced crap he's been doing for the past 10 years that occasionally yields a jewel, this album is one...all of it.PERFECTION. The best release of the last five, maybe 10 years.

This has slowly become my favorite Sylvian album.......2007-05-17

When I first picked this disc up I found it cold and a bit unapproachable. I was only slightly familiar with Derek Bailey at the time. The music and emotional tone seem to describe a broken, alienated, and unhappy world. But this first impression is wrong.

Sylvian is a serious artist whose work repays attention. Obviously, as many other reviewers have noted, much of the creative process here came out of the turmoil in his personal life. The icy remove of many of the songs reflects the personal pain one can presume he felt. But that isn't where the story ends. The despair slowly eases as Sylvian struggles to find happiness or preferably peace. It is a difficult quest that we must spend our lives engaged in. This last thought culminates in the beautiful "Fire in the Forest". It's no accident that Sylvian leaves us with this statement of quiet hope.

Atonal guitar and abstruse lyrics are not everyone's cup of tea. There is a lot of beauty here though, if one is willing to go along on the trip that Sylvian has laid out for us. He is a profoundly human artist who understands that despair and hope can exist in proximity. He tells us that maybe in the end hope can overcome despair.

Approach with caution.......2007-01-31

In my opinion, one would be hard pressed to find much of beauty here, or even of interest... Listen to clips, at least, before spending good money. Although perhaps beside the point, a good alternative is The Nine Horses project, featuring Sylvian, Jansen, Sakamoto and others.

Angry, Spare, Beautiful.......2006-09-08

I love a previous reviewer's assessment that this is the angriest quiet album you will encounter. David Sylvian has crafted a masterpiece from personal strife, and demonstrates again that he is one of the true 'originals', out there making his music. This album is bookended by two beautiful songs that could not be more different. Try this and then listen to 'Snow Borne Sorrow' to enjoy the ongoing trajectory of Sylvian's career.

Música para gente introvertida.......2005-11-01

Tras la decepción que supuso el último disco de Sylvian (el mediocre "Dead Bees on a Cake") su penúltimo trabajo "Blemish" resultó ser algo así como la antítesis de aquél. Mientras que el primero se gestó a lo largo de muchos años, éste se grabó en unas pocas semanas. Si "Dead Bees On a Cake" era el último trabajo que Sylvian grababa en la multinacional Virgin Records, "Blemish" representó el debut de la nueva compañía discográfica de David (Samadhi Sound). Si en el anterior disco la nómina de artistas involucrados era enorme y el nivel de producción notable, en "Blemish" el número de colaboradores se ha reducido a la mínima expresión (apenas son Derek Bailey y el propio David Sylvian) y la producción es más modesta pero muy personal. Esto viene a demostrar por enésima vez en la música que la forma importa más bien poco si no se tienen buenas ideas que plasmar y que la calidad supera a la cantidad. Temáticamente, ambos trabajos no podían ser tampoco más opuestos; pues si uno describía un estado de ánimo feliz y satisfecho, el otro ilustra (al parecer) una complicada etapa emocional en la trayectoria vital del artista: su ruptura con Ingrid Chavez, la mujer con la que tan encariñado se mostraba en el libreto de "Dead Bees on a Cake" (ironías de la vida...).

"Blemish" es un álbum minimalista y austero, compuesto mediante una escasísima instrumentación y sin innecesarios efectismos de por medio, sin duda alguna una bocanada de aire fresco en el desesperante panorama musical actual y en la cada vez más exigua discografía de este artista. Resulta curioso que un álbum en apariencia tan sencillo como éste sea tan difícil de describir, me resulta muy complicado hablar de él y comentarlo abiertamente. Las canciones parecen ser algo así como monólogos interiores acerca de malogradas relaciones familiares, desencuentros, rupturas, etc, todo ello cuestiones a los que este artista nos tiene acostumbrados. Hay temas, como por ejemplo la inquietante "The Only Daughter", donde la voz de Sylvian se corta abruptamente a media frase o reverbera de manera extraña, como si el protagonista de la canción no quisiera afrontar algún hecho en particular o deseara escabullirse de ese juez llamado conciencia pasando a reflexionar sobre algo diferente, evadiéndose.

La música también contribuye a realzar esa atmósfera críptica en la que Sylvian nos introduce de cabeza; ayudado en parte por el guitarrista Derek Bailey (compositor, junto a Sylvian, de tres de los temas del disco). No cabe duda de que éste es un trabajo difícil de asimilar, no es el típico disco que puedas poner de ruido de fondo mientras haces otras cosas pues demanda toda tu atención. Seguramente provocará (y de hecho, ya lo hace) graves divisiones entre los propios seguidores del inglés. Algunos considerarán a "Blemish" como un álbum audaz, sincero, honesto y muy destacable mientras que otros renegarán de él diciendo que es un trabajo hermético y poco inspirado que oculta sus carencias bajo un envoltorio vanguardista.

Lo que está claro es que "Blemish" no es para todo el mundo, y es improbable que deje indiferente a cualquiera que lo escuche. Deleitará a unos pocos y espantará a la mayoría, disgustada por la franqueza del artefacto en cuestión. Como Sylvian dijo ya hace años:

"Mi música es como estar solo en una habitación contigo mismo. Es introspectiva de una manera tal que hace sentirse a algunas personas muy mal a gusto. La clase de gente que inmediatamente enciende la televisión cuando se encuentra sola no disfruta con mi música, les hace sentirse terriblemente incómodos".

Sin duda alguna estas declaraciones del año '87 le van como un anillo al dedo a "Blemish"; un trabajo sombrío, etéreo, inaprensible, que sin embargo va haciendo mella en cualquiera que lo escuche atentamente varias veces. Atreverse con él es una experiencia curiosa, es ciertamente como estar en un lugar a solas con tus pensamientos.

Sin menospreciar ningún momento, sobresale especialmente el tema "A Fire In the Forest", un bellísimo colofón que, en un disco como éste, se asemeja a una especie de rayo redentor ante tanta amargura y soledad como destilan los ocho cortes compuestos por Sylvian (todos ellos homogéneos y perfectamente combinados). `Blemish' es un álbum peculiar y honesto que sólo unos pocos (los de tímpanos más inquietos) llegarán a apreciar en su justa medida. Para mí es lo mejor de Sylvian en muchos años. Es mucho y nada a la vez, una abstracción sonora, un estado de ánimo, una sensación, un pensamiento hecho música pero ante todo un álbum único e irrepetible. Gracias a Sylvian por variar de nuevo las coordenadas de manera tan acertada y por volver a lo que siempre se la ha dado mejor: a la experimentación y al retrato del desengaño, la inadaptación y la melancolía.

"Blemish" es uno de esos discos indescriptibles que ya no se hacen. Es por ello que resulta imprescindible escucharlo para saber de qué demonios estoy hablando.

Average customer rating: James Knapman's Igloomag.com REVIEW **** STOP - READ BEFORE YOU BUY **** An interesting companion to "Blemish".

The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter: Blemish Remixes David Sylvian Manufacturer: Samadhi Sound UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music New Age | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Snow Borne Sorrow Blemish Money for All World Citizen Everything and Nothing ASIN: B0006U54JG Release Date: 2005-03-15

Tracks:

1. Only Daughter [Remix] - Wilbert Aerts, Fabienne Dussenwart, Dominica Eyckmans, Ryoji Ikeda, Pascal Moreau, David Sylvian,
2. Blemish [Remix]
3. Heart Knows Better [Remix] - Alphonse Elsenburg, David Sylvian
4. Fire in the Forest [Remix]
5. Good Son [Remix]
6. Late Night Shopping [Remix] - Hayden Chisholm, David Sylvian
7. How Little We Need to Be Happy [Remix]
8. Only Daughter [Remix] - Nils Petter Molv David Sylvian
9. Blemish [Remix]

Album Description

Sylvian personally commissioned remixes of material from his critically acclaimed album Blemish, which was released in 2003. The album includes remixes from innovative artists such as Burnt Friedman, Yoshihiro, Ryoji Ikeda, Readymade and more. DMG. 2005.

Album Details

Sylvian Personally Commissioned Remixes of Material from his Critically Acclaimed 2003 Album 'blemish'. This Set Includes Innovative Contributions from Burnt Friedman, Yoshihiro Hanno, Ryoji Ikeda, Akira Rabelais, Readymade Fc, and More. One of the Top Two "Albums of the Year" for the Wire Magazine in 2003, 'blemish' was Heralded by Many as an Extraordinary Work that Cemented Sylvian's Reputation of Always Challenging Himself as Well as his Audience. The Remixers Involved in this Project Include Some of the Most Creative and Globally Respected Individuals at the Forefront of Musical Experimentation and Sound Manipulation. Presented in a Digipak with Artwork by Atsushi Fukui and Design by Chris Bigg, this Release Continues Samadhisound's Commitment to Creating Beautifully Packaged, Stunning Music.

Customer Reviews:

James Knapman's Igloomag.com REVIEW.......2005-12-23

REVIEW BY: James Knapman at Igloomag.com
(03.13.05) David Sylvian's Blemish album was the first release to appear on his own newly formed independent label Samadhisound in 2003. Written as a break from a project he was working on with Steve Jansen, Blemish is a suite of eight compositions based on studio recordings of live improvisational sessions utilizing Sylvian's voice as the focal point, minimal electronic brush-strokes and, on three songs, the prominently showcased free-jazz guitar work of Derek Bailey.

Samadhisound returns to this fertile ground for its fifth release with The Good Son vs The Only Daughter: The Blemish Remixes, a collection of often radical re-workings by eight artists of seven of those original, stark compositions, all personally commissioned by Sylvian himself. If this to you sounds like the product of a small independent label attempting to fill time with a hastily thrown together remix compilation then think again. All hyperbole aside this has to be one of the finest remix compilations ever released.

One of the problems with both compilations and remix compilations is that an individual's appreciation of them as a whole is going to vary according to their appreciation of the work of the contributors. As these contributors can be both various and diverse (as is unequivocally the case here), the content of the compilation can often reflect that, in which case it becomes almost inevitable that the listener will end up favouring a select few tracks and disregarding - at least to some extent - the rest. The Only Daughter... dispels this possibility almost instantly.

The minimal nature of Sylvian's source material is, of course, a blessing. The majority of the tracks on Blemish owe their structure and melody almost entirely to Sylvian's vocals alone. Bailey's free-jazz guitar and the electronic brush-strokes that appear in these works serve more as undercurrents, adding a great deal texturally but less melodically, focusing the listener's attention on Sylvian's voice. The result is a suite of tracks from which almost all instrumentation can be substituted with totally new arrangements and accompaniments resulting in a fully recognizable yet totally different piece of music. Indeed many of the remixes on "The Only Daughter" would be better-termed re-workings or even re-recordings. In a number of cases, session musicians have been brought in by the remix artists to record completely new compositions and arrangements.

There is no clearer example of this than on the first track; Ryoji Ikeda's re-working of "The Only Daughter". Ever since Ikeda's Op release for the Touch label he has all but abandoned the electronic in favour of classical instruments, and this divergence is very much in evidence here. Interestingly, although the original version was not a track on which Bailey's erratic guitar-work appeared, Ikeda has reflected the free-form structure in a brand new, atonal arrangement performed on flute, French horn, violin, viola, cello and piano. The flute is particularly effective when used in atonal music, its lilting, hypnotic quality serving to provide a stabilizing and focal centre to what can otherwise be unsettling and disconcertingly random melodic structures. The result is nothing short of magical: Ikeda's remix has Sylvian speaking directly to you through the speakers, imbuing the piece with a humanity and a narrative that even the original version set at a distance with it's chopped up vocals and burbling electronic undercurrents. Eerie, unsettling, cinematic and utterly compelling, this is quite simply the product of genius.

Burnt Friedman's rather more conventional, smooth and noticeably rhythmic remix of "The Only Daughter" follows, refuelling the original with a hushed, loping beat, light piano keys and a newly recorded and softly blown clarinet solo. It becomes particularly apparent at this point that the album has been lovingly arranged and edited to match the narrative cohesion of the original: the remixes have been sewn together so deftly it's often impossible to hear the joins. Sweet Billy Pilgrim has also weaved newly recorded clarinet arrangements into his version of "The Heart Knows Better", blurring the lines between his and Friedman's remixes so completely they could be mistaken for two movements of the same piece. And yet after a few moments, Sweet Billy Pilgrim has firmly imprinted "The Heart Knows Better" with a completely new and individual identity.

The original version of "A Fire In The Forest" provided a soft and melodic exit to "Blemish," crafted as it was from the intricately woven sounds of the critically acclaimed Christian Fennesz. Readymade FC effortlessly transforms "A Fire In The Forest" into something totally other, emphasizing a pop sensibility that is hard to divine from the original by setting up an addictive and recognizable hook using a delicate, tinkling music box melody that is subsequently joined by crunching chatter and a frail, weeping violin.

But perhaps the most astonishing track on The Only Daughter... is Tatsuhiko Asano's extraordinary remix of "How Little We Need To Be Happy." To appreciate just what an achievement this remix is you need to have heard Sylvian's original version, as it is probably the most off-kilter and amorphous track on Blemish. Asano rescues Sylvian's voice from Bailey's lunatic guitar twangs, and sets it amongst a warm, smoky mix of loungy, trip-hop percussion, glowing guitars and laid back keyboards. A bridging section mid-way through reveals newly composed string motifs and the last, twisted vestiges of the original's guitar before the piece swirls away into the distance. Asano's new arrangement brings underpinning melody and free flowing but recognizable structure to a track that, in it's original form, was almost bereft of these facets. A startling achievement.

Elsewhere of note there is another variation of "The Only Daughter" by Jan Bang and Erik Honore, that remains relatively faithful whilst wreathing a new, almost Eastern trumpet solo around it and a typically elliptical version of "Blemish" by the extremely talented Akira Rabelais which finds the originals wowing guitar samples muted, twisted and eroded still further.

I would implore all those out there who doubt the value of or have become disillusioned by the remix to listen to The Only Daughter...; it could not have been a greater success and I can think of no better document to illustrate just how stunning the remix can be if assembled with passion and care. It is an astonishingly accomplished, cohesive piece of work that stands side by side with and in many places actually surpasses Blemish, and receives the highest recommendation it is possible to give.

Samples of each track on The Only Daughter... are available from the pretty but annoying, Flash-based Samadhisound website, but will more than likely prove off-putting. As is often the case with sound-samples of such delicate and carefully woven music, these fragments offer rather empty glimpses of the whole that end up sounding rather lifeless and discrete. Rest assured that this is not the case. Buy, without hesitation. Immediately.

**** STOP - READ BEFORE YOU BUY ****.......2005-08-09

Overall I can only recommend this to hardcore collectors. It really isn't very different than David's version. OK so they made some tweaks but I guess I expected them to be a little more creative and make bigger changes. Yes they were respectful, but I was a little disapointed.

But before you go...

See that $40.99 price tag that Amazon has put on this disc? Did you know that you can buy it directly from David for $15.99? (One of my local independant record stores has copies at their regular price of $14.99.) And why is it the independant always sell for less than the big guys? I always thought it was supposed to be the other way around.

An interesting companion to "Blemish"........2005-07-01

Perhaps the strangest remix album I have ever heard, "The Good Son vs. the Only Daughter" does two things. The first, and most essential to the success of a remix album is that the pieces largely manage to strike that fine balance between injection of personal identity of the remixer without loss of the original theme of the piece and maintaining the feel that the primary artist (in this case David Sylvian) still feels like the primary artist. BUt the second thing it does is far more intriguing-- the pieces from "Blemish", a dense, difficult album with a lack of concrete melody and traditional structure, are rendered in fashions that are actually more listenable.

Mind you, I feel it falls short of the original album's brilliance in that it is a lot less dense, but its pretty unusual for a remix album to sound more commercially viable than the original. A fair number of the remixers saw fit to blend the original tracks with new performances on acoustic instruments and the addition of beats to provide a rhythmic foundation to work with (Burnt Friedman's remix of "Blemish" and "Late NIght Shopping", Sweet Billy Pilgrim's "The Heart Knows Better", and Jan Bang and Erik Honore's "The Only Daughter"-- the latter being the best, interspersing fantastically moody playing from Nils Petter Molvaer on trumpet with the original piece) and some made the choice to abandon the backing track nearly in its entirity for a totally new arrangement ("The Only Daughter" remix by Ryoji Ikeda adds orchestration, Hanno's "The Good Son" is laced in techno elements, and Readymade FC's "A Fire in the Forest" replaces the previous synth drive with delicate, minimalist keyboards and organs). Its all quite adventerous, and its largely successful.

All in all, its a good remix project, get "Blemish" first, but this is a nice companion piece. Recommended.

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Samadhi Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Manufacturer: Sense World Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music General | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music Similar Items: Indian Delta Bihag/Desh Gathering Rain Clouds The Master (Ram Narayan) Sarangi ASIN: B0006VYEVE Release Date: 2005-02-15

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4. Raga Maru Bihag: Gat in Madya (Medium)
5. Raga Maru Bihag: Gat in Drut (Fast) Teental

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Samadhi Nada Shakti , and Bruce BecVar Manufacturer: Shining Star ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music Similar Items: Jiva Mukti ASIN: B0000010O4 Release Date: 2003-05-06

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Wonderful World EP Nine Horses Manufacturer: Samadhi Sound. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Money for All Snow Borne Sorrow Laughing Stock World Citizen The Good Son vs. The Only Daughter: Blemish Remixes ASIN: B000EJ9KW6 Release Date: 2006-04-03

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Album Details

The First Single to Be Taken from the Acclaimed Album 'snow Borne Snow". Presented in a Digipak, with Artwork by Acclaimed Us Artist Wes Mills, and Design by Chris Bigg this Release Continues Samadhisound's Commitment to Creating Beautifully Packaged, Stunning Music.

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Samadhi Manufacturer: The Tranquility Training Method ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music ASIN: B0009XFYCM

Product Description

The Tranquility-Training Method (TTM) is a 21st century approach to meditation that will help you achieve a profoundly peaceful state of being. Tranquility-Training utilizes over forty years of consciousness research and a clinically proven brainwave entrainment technique that will help you reach a deep state of relaxation and clarity in your daily life. In combining your intention with the power of binaural beats, you can learn to reach deeper states of awareness as easily as wearing headphones. The word Samadhi has been used in the Yoga traditions to describe a state of unity with the divine. It is a meditation practice that requires many years of dedication. One must move the body and mind into a state of total serenity in order to open to the experience of union. This divine union is the subtle underlying cause of every spiritual system. Tranquility-Training teaches that union with the divine is available here and now for all who are willing. This meditation helps you learn to profoundly relax the body and quiet the mind so that you can realize the divinity within. 2 CDs with 4 Meditation Exercises.

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