Manafon (album)
| Manafon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 14 September 2009 | |||
| Recorded | between 2004–2007 in Vienna, Tokyo, London | |||
| Genre | Avant-garde | |||
| Length | 49:48 | |||
| Label | Samadhi Sound | |||
| Producer | David Sylvian | |||
| David Sylvian chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| musicOMH |  [3] |
| Pitchfork | 7.4/10[4] |
| Slant Magazine | [5] |
| Uncut | [6] |
Manafon is the seventh full-length studio album by David Sylvian, released on 14 September 2009 by the Samadhisound label. It is an avant-garde work combining elements of free improvisation, experimental rock and chamber music. It reached rank No. 6 in The Wire's list of best 2009 albums.[7]
Production
[edit]Manafon was recorded over a three-year period in Vienna, Tokyo and London. Of the recording process, Sylvian said:
"There was nothing written when we went into the studio – this was very much free improvisation. So, the selection of the group of musicians for each improvisation was paramount. I recognized on the day which pieces could work for me. The process was that I took the material away and then wrote and recorded the vocal line over in a couple of hours. So I couldn't analyze my contribution and that in a way was my form of improvisation – and I enjoyed the rapidity of response."[8]
"I take the sessions and work on them at a later time. I attempt to 'improvise' lyrics and melodies as I go, writing and recording all in a matter of hours. The basic tracks themselves undergo little or no editing as such. The structure pretty much remains as given from the original sessions. I might add an introduction or overdub other elements onto the original take. Here's a couple of examples: "Senseless Violence": Recorded in Vienna with Rowe/Polwechsel/Fennesz. I added guitar parts then layered Tilbury's piano into the track then added the vocal and an introduction. "Greatest Living Englishman: Initial take" suggested acoustic guitar overdubs which I requested of Otomo and Tetuzi on the spot. I later cut and pasted some interesting turntable activity from an alternate take onto this track. I also added an introduction by cutting and pasting elements from an earlier take. Tilbury was added to the coda. Melody and vocal added. "Rabbit Skinner": no editing. added acoustic guitar myself then vocals."[9]
Lyrical inspiration
[edit]For the recording of Manafon, Sylvian was also inspired by the Welsh poet R. S. Thomas: lyrics often reflect the main themes written by the poet[citation needed] and the title of the album refers indeed to a Welsh namesake village (in north Powys) in which Thomas lived for a while.
"Manafon is indeed a village in Wales, a village in which Thomas lived for sometime and served as rector to the parish. In this small village, Thomas had trouble filling the pews of a Sunday but in a sense it was something of an idyllic spot in which to raise a child (a strict, taciturn and somewhat indifferent parent), master his profession and write his poetry. So, the physically real village became for me a metaphor for the poetic imagination."[8]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by David Sylvian
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Small Metal Gods" | 5:49 |
| 2. | "The Rabbit Skinner" | 4:41 |
| 3. | "Random Acts of Senseless Violence" | 7:06 |
| 4. | "The Greatest Living Englishman" | 10:55 |
| 5. | "125 Spheres" | 0:29 |
| 6. | "Snow White in Appalachia" | 6:35 |
| 7. | "Emily Dickinson" | 6:25 |
| 8. | "The Department of Dead Letters" | 2:25 |
| 9. | "Manafon" | 5:23 |
| Total length: | 49:48 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Random Acts of Senseless Violence" (Remixed by Dai Fujikura) | 6:24 |
| Total length: | 56:12 | |
A limited edition boxed set came with a DVD of the album in 5.1 Surround Sound, and a feature-length making-of documentary, Amplified Gesture.
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
[edit]- David Sylvian – vocals (all tracks except 8), acoustic guitar (2), keyboards (3, 6), electronics (5, 7, 8)
- Christian Fennesz – laptop, guitar (exc. 4)
- Werner Dafeldecker – acoustic bass (1, 3, 5, 6, 9)
- Michael Moser – cello (1, 3, 6, 9)
- Toshimaru Nakamura – no input mixer (1, 4)
- Otomo Yoshihide – turntables (1, 3, 4), acoustic guitar (right channel) (4)
- Burkhard Stangl – guitar (1, 5)
- John Tilbury – piano (2–4, 6–8)
- Evan Parker – saxophone (2, 7, 8)
- Joel Ryan – tape signal processing (2, 7, 8)
- Marcio Mattos – cello (2, 8)
- Keith Rowe – guitar (3, 6, 9)
- Franz Hautzinger – trumpet (3, 9)
- Tetuzi Akiyama – electric and acoustic guitar (left channel) (4)
- Sachiko M. – sine waves (4)
Production
[edit]- David Sylvian – production, engineering, mixing, art direction
- Additional engineers: Christoph Amann (Vienna), Toshihiko Kasai (Tokyo), Sebastian Lexer, Neil Tucker (London)
- Yuka Fujii – art direction
- Chris Bigg – design
- Atsushi Fukui – David Sylvian portrait and related drawings
- Ruud van Empel – cover artworks (Study in Green N° 1, 5, 8 (2003), Study in Green N° 16 (2004) courtesy Flatland Gallery, Utrecht)
Special thanks to: Richard Chadwick, Yuka Fujii, Adrian Molloy, Chris Bigg, Sarah Humphries, Steve Jansen, Noël Akchoté, Philipp Wachsmann and all the musicians who generously participated in this recording.
References
[edit]- ^ "Manafon by David Sylvian". Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ MusicOMH review
- ^ "David Sylvian: Manafon Album Review – Pitchfork". Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Music – Slant Magazine". Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "UNCUT – The spiritual home of great rock music". Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ Cf. the official David Sylvian website Retrieved 1 March 2012
- ^ a b Sharma, Paul (11 September 2009). "David Sylvian and the Mysterious Sound of Inspiration – WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
- ^ "A Conversation". Manafon.com. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
