David Sylvian - Manafon

[dconnery1966]

Yes i have listened to Small Metal Gods and Snow White In Appalachia in full,and have to say they are truly amazing,the lyrics and the vocals are wonderful,Davids vocals are at the forefront of all the tracks apart from the instrumental,brilliant not much else i can say here,well roll on the 14th of September.
all the best Dougie

[tracycowell]

I must admit to not being too over whelmed by Sylvians latest outing. I like Small Metal Gods, but everything else iv'e heard is disappointing for me. Having followed Sylvian for 26 years and not found much else i was'nt to sure of (except Blemish) I just wish he would do a Secrets of the Beehive or Snow Born Sorrow which are truly amazing. I also hate that artwork of David holding a dead rabbit. I think hes been spending far to much time alone and needs to come to my or neonicos house for a chat and a nice cup of tea!!

[Simonp]

I agree with you Tracy, Snow Borne Sorrow is amazing BUT can you imagine if he just released that kind of music over and over again. What i like about Sylvian is that you never know what to expect next. If he had just kept on releasing music a la SOTB I would've given up on him a long time ago. Don't give up on Manafon yet until you've listened to it properly on headphones. To judge it purely on the short clips on his site is a little unfair.

I actually rather like the image of David holding the rabbit although he does look a little psychotic to be honest...lol

[tracycowell]

I do agree, I just need to give it time. His voice IS amazing but it would sound better ( to me ) if there were some "music" i could hear, I like a tune. Having said all that I have in fact ordered the delux edition!! What I don't want to do is say "oh its brilliant, amazing" just because its Sylvian ( which my husband is always accusing me of). I don't do that but I know some that do. Ive ordered the delux for the extra's not the cd. I found Blemish difficult except for A Fire In The Forest, I rarely play it in fact. Sorry Dave if you are reading!

[neonico]

I also hate that artwork of David holding a dead rabbit. I think hes been spending far to much time alone and needs to come to my or neonicos house for a chat and a nice cup of tea!!

I agree then he doesnt need they bunny thing anymore well talk him out of it.

[digimarsh]

If Manafon is anything like blemish then it will be the sort of album you eventually become to love.
Initially i was suprised by Blemish but i found it quite compelling and found myself listening to constantly,one of the most amazing things about the album is how he is able to create provocative melodies purley with his voice,this becomes even more apparent when you listen to the remix album the Good Son.

[Silver Moon]

I haven't let myself listen to one tiny little snippet of the music yet. I want to listen to the whole album when my special edition arrives! Yes, I ordered the special edition. I know it was expensive, but I had to ask myself: Is this special edition worth a week's worth of pay?! ... Heck yes!

Anyway, after reading so many mixed responses on here I am very interested to hear it. I do have to agree, though, that the image of him holding the dead bunny is a touch creepy, seeing as bunny rabbits are my favorite animal of all time! But then again, I do live only a stones throw away from Appalachia, so maybe I'm snow white!?!?

-K-

[Simonp]

http://www.samadhisound.com/reviews/igl ... nafon.html

[Chet]

recieved my copy of Manafon yesterday - have listened to it without interruption now at least ten times.
and i do think it's better than Blemish, much better than SBS, much much better than DBoaC. not as good as but more interesting than RTC.
No song is bad, some songs are fantastic, the snippets are crap compared to the full tracks, I adore the piano playing of John Tilbury. Davids voice is, as many have mentioned, very loud in the mix, the cello is very beautiful.
The Rabbit Skinner has become my favourite, but that will possibly change,
i will write more tonight.

[Simonp]

How on earth have you managed to get hold of a copy of Manafon so soon???? I think, from what I have heard, that Tilbury's contributions are essential to "lift" the music.

[Chet]

journalist friend who hated it, knows i'm a fan and gave it to me.

[Simonp]

Hi chet

check your private messages!

Simon

[neonico]

i also want one chet

[jebe68]

I also PM'd ya regarding this, Chet.

[baht habit]

I predict that Chet will be receiving quite a lot of messages.
I envy just how fortunate you were in this case, Chet. I had kept up a healthy correspondence with a writer very close to the SamadhiSound company and couldn't score an early listening to Manafon. My contact gave valuable interesting info but made sure that would be all.