vistablogger
@sylvianvista.com
The official account of Vista - a blog inspired by the music of David Sylvian and his collaborators
https://sylvianvista.com/
https://sylvianvista.com/
FROM THE ARCHIVE: Propaganda's 'A Secret Wish' is celebrating 40 years, so reposting this article about David Sylvian's fleeting involvement with the album: his synth & guitar lines for 'p:Machinery', and a reportedly gorgeous mix of 'Duel'.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/07/22/p...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/07/22/p...
November 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: Propaganda's 'A Secret Wish' is celebrating 40 years, so reposting this article about David Sylvian's fleeting involvement with the album: his synth & guitar lines for 'p:Machinery', and a reportedly gorgeous mix of 'Duel'.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/07/22/p...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/07/22/p...
One of the most read blog posts on Vista is about the Sylvian/Joan duets project that was never completed, tracing songs that were to have been part of it, such as Sylvian’s ‘Beautiful Country’ & Joan’s ‘Warning Bell’ - the latter was performed last night.
sylvianvista.com/2020/05/29/b...
sylvianvista.com/2020/05/29/b...
Beautiful Country
‘a return to more traditional forms of songwriting’
sylvianvista.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
One of the most read blog posts on Vista is about the Sylvian/Joan duets project that was never completed, tracing songs that were to have been part of it, such as Sylvian’s ‘Beautiful Country’ & Joan’s ‘Warning Bell’ - the latter was performed last night.
sylvianvista.com/2020/05/29/b...
sylvianvista.com/2020/05/29/b...
Saw Joan as Police Woman perform last night at a packed EartH in Dalston as part of the London Jazz Festival. The highlight for me was the title track of Joan’s latest album, ‘Lemons, Limes and Orchids’.
November 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Saw Joan as Police Woman perform last night at a packed EartH in Dalston as part of the London Jazz Festival. The highlight for me was the title track of Joan’s latest album, ‘Lemons, Limes and Orchids’.
REMINDER: the latest article features Lucrecia Dalt's A Danger to Ourselves. David Sylvian is her partner and his 'contribution became fundamental', she says, as inspiration, 'creative mixer', vocalist on the opener and lead guitarist on the final track.
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
November 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
REMINDER: the latest article features Lucrecia Dalt's A Danger to Ourselves. David Sylvian is her partner and his 'contribution became fundamental', she says, as inspiration, 'creative mixer', vocalist on the opener and lead guitarist on the final track.
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
NEW ARTICLE: Lucrecia Dalt's new album A Danger to Ourselves has been widely acclaimed. Exploring her approach to developing the record's enthralling sound and David Sylvian's role as inspiration, mentor, co-producer & lead guitarist for 'Covenstead Blues'.
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
A Danger to Ourselves – Covenstead Blues
‘working obsessively with sound’
sylvianvista.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:16 PM
NEW ARTICLE: Lucrecia Dalt's new album A Danger to Ourselves has been widely acclaimed. Exploring her approach to developing the record's enthralling sound and David Sylvian's role as inspiration, mentor, co-producer & lead guitarist for 'Covenstead Blues'.
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
sylvianvista.com/2025/11/01/a...
FROM THE ARCHIVE: posted in memory of Dave Ball of Soft Cell & The Grid who passed away this week. An article about The Grid's 'translucent remix' of Sylvian/Fripp's 'Darshan'. Dave & Richard Norris stayed faithful to the track but gave it a new flavour.
sylvianvista.com/2023/11/03/d...
#daveball
sylvianvista.com/2023/11/03/d...
#daveball
Darshan (translucent remix by The Grid)
‘atmospheric, ambient and electronic’
sylvianvista.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: posted in memory of Dave Ball of Soft Cell & The Grid who passed away this week. An article about The Grid's 'translucent remix' of Sylvian/Fripp's 'Darshan'. Dave & Richard Norris stayed faithful to the track but gave it a new flavour.
sylvianvista.com/2023/11/03/d...
#daveball
sylvianvista.com/2023/11/03/d...
#daveball
REMINDER: The latest article explores 'Cosa Rara' by Lucrecia Dalt which features David Sylvian, who also co-produced and mixed the song. Recorded at the home they share in New Mexico, the lyric references road trips, Twin Peaks, and car crashes...
sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c...
#davidsylvian
October 18, 2025 at 8:49 AM
REMINDER: The latest article explores 'Cosa Rara' by Lucrecia Dalt which features David Sylvian, who also co-produced and mixed the song. Recorded at the home they share in New Mexico, the lyric references road trips, Twin Peaks, and car crashes...
sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c...
#davidsylvian
NEW ARTICLE: 'Cosa Rara' - the single that paved the way for Lucrecia Dalt's new album A Danger to Ourselves. Structured around Alex Làzaro's percussion, with Cyrus Campbell on bass. The coda features David Sylvian's vocal and he also completed the mix. sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c...
#davidsylvian
#davidsylvian
Cosa Rara
‘a strange thing’
sylvianvista.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:31 PM
NEW ARTICLE: 'Cosa Rara' - the single that paved the way for Lucrecia Dalt's new album A Danger to Ourselves. Structured around Alex Làzaro's percussion, with Cyrus Campbell on bass. The coda features David Sylvian's vocal and he also completed the mix. sylvianvista.com/2025/10/10/c...
#davidsylvian
#davidsylvian
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Alphabet Angel' from David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake. A gem with vocals by Sylvian and 'pseudo rhodes' played by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The sweet melody is offset by 'discolouration' in the mix.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
September 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Alphabet Angel' from David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake. A gem with vocals by Sylvian and 'pseudo rhodes' played by Ryuichi Sakamoto. The sweet melody is offset by 'discolouration' in the mix.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake celebrates many joys of life, with 'Alphabet Angel' highlighting the 'miracle' of parenthood. The song is performed by Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto. 'Strange harmonics' lurk beneath the surface.
sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
Alphabet Angel
‘unconditional love’
sylvianvista.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:19 PM
NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake celebrates many joys of life, with 'Alphabet Angel' highlighting the 'miracle' of parenthood. The song is performed by Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto. 'Strange harmonics' lurk beneath the surface.
sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2025/09/19/a...
#davidsylvian
FROM THE ARCHIVE: One of the earliest blog articles from the series, about 'Small Metal Gods'. I really like the sparse accompaniment to this song and Sylvian's rich vocal as he delivers the 'slightly bitter, quite petulant, disillusioned, angry' lyric.
sylvianvista.com/2018/11/09/s...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2018/11/09/s...
#davidsylvian
Small Metal Gods
‘A new frontier’
sylvianvista.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: One of the earliest blog articles from the series, about 'Small Metal Gods'. I really like the sparse accompaniment to this song and Sylvian's rich vocal as he delivers the 'slightly bitter, quite petulant, disillusioned, angry' lyric.
sylvianvista.com/2018/11/09/s...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2018/11/09/s...
#davidsylvian
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Blackwater' by Rain Tree Crow, the first we heard of the project by the ex-members of Japan. An atmospheric song with intricate brushed drumming from Steve Jansen & unique atmospheres from Richard Barbieri.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
September 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Blackwater' by Rain Tree Crow, the first we heard of the project by the ex-members of Japan. An atmospheric song with intricate brushed drumming from Steve Jansen & unique atmospheres from Richard Barbieri.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
NEW ARTICLE: 'Blackwater' was the single that heralded the new incarnation of Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn & David Sylvian as Rain Tree Crow. The members of Japan released new music a decade after Tin Drum. Bill Nelson is a welcome guest.
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
#japantheband
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
#japantheband
Blackwater
‘the possibility of new life’
sylvianvista.com
August 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
NEW ARTICLE: 'Blackwater' was the single that heralded the new incarnation of Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn & David Sylvian as Rain Tree Crow. The members of Japan released new music a decade after Tin Drum. Bill Nelson is a welcome guest.
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
#japantheband
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/29/b...
#japantheband
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Victim of Stars' was one of two vocal tracks featuring David Sylvian from the first edition of Hector Zazou's album Sahara Blue. The project was a celebration of Arthur Rimbaud and Sylvian's lyric was inspired by his poetic vision.
sylvianvista.com/2019/01/11/v...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2019/01/11/v...
#davidsylvian
Victim of Stars
Poetic inspiration
sylvianvista.com
August 16, 2025 at 10:31 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Victim of Stars' was one of two vocal tracks featuring David Sylvian from the first edition of Hector Zazou's album Sahara Blue. The project was a celebration of Arthur Rimbaud and Sylvian's lyric was inspired by his poetic vision.
sylvianvista.com/2019/01/11/v...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2019/01/11/v...
#davidsylvian
REMINDER: The latest article features David Sylvian's Steel Cathedrals which he called the 'first step in a new approach for me', opening up the music for guest musicians to respond. The approach was rewarded with beautiful work from Sakamoto, Fripp et al.
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
August 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features David Sylvian's Steel Cathedrals which he called the 'first step in a new approach for me', opening up the music for guest musicians to respond. The approach was rewarded with beautiful work from Sakamoto, Fripp et al.
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian's 'Steel Cathedrals' has a wonderful line up of guests: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Robert Fripp, Holger Czukay, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Jansen & Masami Tsuchiya. Developed from an earlier piece called 'Showing the Wound (A Will to Health)'.
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
Showing the Wound (A Will to Health) – Steel Cathedrals
‘the first step in a new approach’
sylvianvista.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian's 'Steel Cathedrals' has a wonderful line up of guests: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Robert Fripp, Holger Czukay, Kenny Wheeler, Steve Jansen & Masami Tsuchiya. Developed from an earlier piece called 'Showing the Wound (A Will to Health)'.
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
sylvianvista.com/2025/08/01/s...
FROM THE ARCHIVE: Looking back to David Sylvian's first solo tour in 1988, with a stellar band of Isham, Torn, Jansen, Barbieri, Maidman and Aceto. Some terrific musicianship on display - the Hammersmith show I attended is a treasured memory.
sylvianvista.com/2021/11/05/b...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2021/11/05/b...
#davidsylvian
Brilliant Trees – Steel Cathedrals – live
Re-taking the stage
sylvianvista.com
July 19, 2025 at 8:50 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: Looking back to David Sylvian's first solo tour in 1988, with a stellar band of Isham, Torn, Jansen, Barbieri, Maidman and Aceto. Some terrific musicianship on display - the Hammersmith show I attended is a treasured memory.
sylvianvista.com/2021/11/05/b...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2021/11/05/b...
#davidsylvian
REMINDER: The latest article features the new album by Melaine Dalibert & David Sylvian, Vermilion Hours, with exclusive input from Melaine who gives insight into the work and its context - particularly 'Music for the Break of Day'.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
July 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
REMINDER: The latest article features the new album by Melaine Dalibert & David Sylvian, Vermilion Hours, with exclusive input from Melaine who gives insight into the work and its context - particularly 'Music for the Break of Day'.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
NEW ARTICLE: An interview with Melaine Dalibert on the release of his new album with David Sylvian, Vermilion Hours. We talked about his motivation for revisiting the composition 'Musique pour le Lever du Jour' and inviting Sylvian to contribute electronics.
sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
Musique pour le Lever du Jour
‘a counterpoint of timbre, of colour’
sylvianvista.com
July 4, 2025 at 7:34 PM
NEW ARTICLE: An interview with Melaine Dalibert on the release of his new album with David Sylvian, Vermilion Hours. We talked about his motivation for revisiting the composition 'Musique pour le Lever du Jour' and inviting Sylvian to contribute electronics.
sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
sylvianvista.com/2025/07/04/m...
FROM THE ARCHIVE: David Sylvian's Fire in the Forest tour (2003/4) was performed with Steve Jansen & Masakatsu Takagi. A Sylvian & Takagi collaboration track also resulted: 'Exit/Delete'. Back in 2018, Masakatsu told me how the song came about.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2018/11/30/e...
#davidsylvian
Link: sylvianvista.com/2018/11/30/e...
#davidsylvian
June 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: David Sylvian's Fire in the Forest tour (2003/4) was performed with Steve Jansen & Masakatsu Takagi. A Sylvian & Takagi collaboration track also resulted: 'Exit/Delete'. Back in 2018, Masakatsu told me how the song came about.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2018/11/30/e...
#davidsylvian
Link: sylvianvista.com/2018/11/30/e...
#davidsylvian
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Bamboo Houses' from the double A side single by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto released in 1982. Sylvian remixed the track, adding a new vocal, for his Everything & Nothing compilation in 2000.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
June 21, 2025 at 8:07 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Bamboo Houses' from the double A side single by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto released in 1982. Sylvian remixed the track, adding a new vocal, for his Everything & Nothing compilation in 2000.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
NEW ARTICLE: 'Bamboo Houses' - part of the double A-side single released by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto in 1982. The project came before Japan's last tour and during a period when Sakamoto was busy with YMO, solo & other projects. Always a favourite.
sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
Bamboo Houses
‘excited by sound’
sylvianvista.com
June 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
NEW ARTICLE: 'Bamboo Houses' - part of the double A-side single released by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto in 1982. The project came before Japan's last tour and during a period when Sakamoto was busy with YMO, solo & other projects. Always a favourite.
sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
sylvianvista.com/2025/06/13/b...
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Visions of China' - tracing the roots of the fascination with China that underpins Japan's classic album, Tin Drum, and its sleeve imagery. Influences adopted into unique and technically ingenious pop music.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/12/02/v...
#japantheband
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/12/02/v...
#japantheband
June 7, 2025 at 7:24 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Visions of China' - tracing the roots of the fascination with China that underpins Japan's classic album, Tin Drum, and its sleeve imagery. Influences adopted into unique and technically ingenious pop music.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/12/02/v...
#japantheband
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2022/12/02/v...
#japantheband
REMINDER: The latest article features 'The Last Days of December', the second original piece from the collaboration of David Sylvian & @daifujikura.bsky.social. All the indications are that the lyrics concern the poet Sylvia Plath.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian
May 31, 2025 at 8:34 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features 'The Last Days of December', the second original piece from the collaboration of David Sylvian & @daifujikura.bsky.social. All the indications are that the lyrics concern the poet Sylvia Plath.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian
NEW ARTICLE: 'The Last Days of December' was the second original track created by David Sylvian and Dai Fujikura, with a string arrangement built around bass flute multiphonics and a lyric seemingly recounting the final hours of the poet Sylvia Plath.
sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian
The Last Days of December
‘no you to be found’
sylvianvista.com
May 23, 2025 at 7:29 PM
NEW ARTICLE: 'The Last Days of December' was the second original track created by David Sylvian and Dai Fujikura, with a string arrangement built around bass flute multiphonics and a lyric seemingly recounting the final hours of the poet Sylvia Plath.
sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2025/05/23/t...
#davidsylvian