03.12.24: Permalink » The Good Son vs The Only Daughter and Died In The Wool
David Sylvian’s ‘The Good Son vs The Only Daughter - The Blemish Remixes’ and ‘Died in the Wool – Manafon Variations’ will be released on vinyl for the first time in January 2025. Initially released on Sylvian’s samadhisound label in 2005 and 2011, respectively, they were previously only available digitally and on CD. Available to preorder now – shipping 31st January 2025.
‘The Good Son vs The Only Daughter’ is the nine-track companion to David’s 2003 solo album, ‘Blemish’. The record features remixes by Burnt Friedman, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Ryoji Ikeda, Readymade FC, Yoshihiro Hanno, Tatsuhiko Asano, Akira Rabelais, Jan Bang, and Erik Honoré.
‘Died in the Wool’ features six songs from Sylvian’s 2009 album, ‘Manafon’, which have been reworked by modern classical composer Dai Fujikura. The album reinvents the ‘Manafon’ songs and adds new material, including ‘I Should Not Dare’ and ‘A Certain Slant of Light’, poems by Emily Dickinson set to music by Sylvian and Fennesz, sung by Sylvian, both of which feature Bang & Honoré, plus two new powerful compositions by Sylvian and Fujikura.
The album also features an 18-minute stereo mix of ‘When We Return You Won’t Recognise Us’ from the 2008–09 Biennial of Canaries. Sylvian, along with Fujikura, John Butcher, Arve Henriksen, Günter Müller, Toshimaru Nakamura and Eddie Prevost, created a semi-improvised piece for the commissioned sound installation. The piece, inspired by a genetics research article on the original inhabitants of the islands, was recorded at Air studios London and Sylvian’s own samadhisound studios in NH USA.
Shipping on 31 January 2025. For further details and to order, visit shop.davidsylvian.com
08.08.24: Permalink » Everything & Nothing
David Sylvian’s compilation album ‘Everything & Nothing’ is coming to vinyl for the first time. Originally released in 2000, the 29-track triple LP is a career-spanning compilation containing previously released, unreleased, re-recorded, non-album and alternate versions of tracks from Sylvian’s twenty years with Virgin Records.
The album features key songs from David’s solo recordings, collaborations with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Robert Fripp, Mick Karn, Alesini & Andreoni, and tracks by Japan and Rain Tree Crow.
Sylvian’s approach to the proposition of a compilation album covering his time with Virgin Record was to create an overview of the multiple directions in which his work had taken him during that period. Focusing entirely on vocal compositions, this double album also included a wealth of previously unreleased material, including ‘Ride’ from the sublime ‘Secrets of the Beehive’ sessions, ‘The Scent of Magnolia’ and ‘Cover Me With Flowers’ from the ‘Dead Bees On A Cake’ sessions, along with remixes of two of Sylvian’s Ryuichi Sakamoto collaborations, ‘Bamboo Houses’ and ‘Heartbeat’, as well as a remix of Japan’s ‘Ghosts’ and the unreleased ‘Some Kind of Fool’ taken from Japan’s 1980 sessions for ‘Gentleman Take Polaroids’.
With its appearance on vinyl for the first time, ‘Everything & Nothing’ provides a starting point for newcomers to David’s work and as a companion to the recently released 10-CD set ‘Do You Know Me Now?’ which explores Sylvian’s work on his own label, Samadhisound.
Shipping on 4 October 2024. For further details and to order, visit shop.davidsylvian.com
08.08.24: Permalink » A fourth collection of exclusive, limited edition items
David Sylvian in association with UMR launches a fourth collection in his series of exclusive, limited edition items. The focus for this collection is based on the debut vinyl issue of the retrospective album ‘Everything and Nothing’. This fourth collection will be shipping on 4 October 2024. To view the full collection and to order, visit shop.davidsylvian.com
The collection, artwork by Lula Sabrina, designed by Giles Dunn/Punkt, features four T-shirts, three sweatshirts, three posters (artwork by Sylvian) and a notebook.
Shipping on 4 October 2024. Order now at shop.davidsylvian.com
07.06.24: Permalink » Forbidden Colours – exclusive, limited edition items
David Sylvian in association with UMR launches a third collection in his series of exclusive, limited edition items. The focus for this collection is on the collaboration between Sylvian/Sakamoto for the track ‘Forbidden Colours’, centered around Yuka Fujii’s photograph of their meeting in Tokyo for the session. This third collection will be shipping on 5 July 2024. Order now at shop.davidsylvian.com
The collection, designed by Giles Dunn/Punkt, features two T-shirts, a sweatshirt, a pin button set, an enamel badge set, a water bottle and a notebook.
Shipping on 5 July 2024. Order now at shop.davidsylvian.com
15.02.24: Permalink » Snow Borne Sorrow – Expanded Edition
A much requested white vinyl release for David Sylvian’s project with Steve Jansen and German musician/producer Bernd Friedmann aka Burnt Friedman. Release date: 20 April 2024, Record Store Day.
Features the nine tracks from the original album plus one track from the Money For All EP, the rare B-side of the “Wonderful World” single “When Monday Comes Around” and a previously unreleased Burnt Friedman remix of “Atom and Cell”. All on vinyl for the first time.
Designed by David Sylvian’s long-time collaborator, Chris Bigg (23 Envelope/4AD). Housed in a beautiful gatefold sleeve with printed inner-bags.
This Record Store Day edition of the album is featured as part of the WarChild initiative. To find your local participating shop, visit recordstoreday.co.uk/stores
06.11.23: Permalink » The Perfume of Wealth
Grönland is proud to announce The Perfume of Wealth – a limited edition set of 20 photographic prints by David Sylvian and Yuka Fujii. Release date: 23 February 2024. Pre-order at the Grönland shop.
Twenty 420 x 197mm prints, Indigo printed on FSC® certified 300 gsm Munken Lynx uncoated stock.
Each numbered print is individually wrapped in a semi-transparent sleeve, printed with redacting lyrics from ‘Do You Know Me Now’. Edition overlay sheet, is signed by the artists, embossed, numbered and comes housed in a black fluted corrugate portfolio. Designed by Giles Dunn at Punkt, London.
Visit the microsite for The Perfume of Wealth for Yuka Fujii’s reflections on how this collaboration came to pass, and for more information on its genesis.
Release date: 23 February 2024. Pre-order at the Grönland shop.
23.10.23: Permalink » Limited Edition Merchandise
David Sylvian in association with UMR launches a second line in his series of exclusive, limited edition merchandise. Taking inspiration from vintage designs and incorporating new work by long-time collaborator Chris Bigg, Sylvian continues his commitment to quality products, overseeing the design process from start to finish. This second collection will be shipping on November 24th. Order now at shop.davidsylvian.com
Also available via the online store is the Do You Know Me Now? exclusive 10CD box set, containing Sylvian’s solo and collaborative albums released on his independent label samadhisound, 2003–2014.
22.06.23: Permalink » samadhisound 2003–2014 – Do You Know Me Now?
Limited edition 10”x10” 10CD boxset. Presented in a slipcase featuring a 100-page hardback book with new notes from David Sylvian and unseen artwork. Release date: 4 August 2023.
samadhisound and UMR are proud to announce the release of samadhisound 2003–2014 – Do You Know Me Now?, a limited edition deluxe 10”x10” 10CD boxset. The box is presented in a stunning slipcase and features a 100-page hardback book with previously unseen artwork and contextual essays by David Sylvian and renowned graphic designer and author Adrian Shaughnessy on the visual aesthetic of the samadhisound label.
In early 2003, having already parted ways with the Virgin label after a record 21 years, there followed a sense of both autonomy and having worked on retrospectives and remixes for the past few years, a change in direction was needed. As a result, that year Sylvian created the samadhisound label for which he claims he created his most liberated, personal and substantial work of his creative life. This newly collected 10CD set contains the entirety of the work Sylvian produced, both solo and in collaboration, over the 11 years of the label’s existence.
The boxset has been beautifully art directed and designed by Sylvian and his partner on all the label’s projects, Chris Bigg. The slipcase features a stunning photograph by Manafon cover artist Ruud Van Empel. There is also a collaboration with artist/musician Lance Austin Olsen for the three of the CD sleeves. The production values of this release are on par with all those that Sylvian and Bigg created for the samadhisound label itself.
samadhisound 2003–2014 – Do You Know Me Now? contains all of David Sylvian’s solo albums released on his independent label, samadhisound, between 2003 and 2014, plus the albums recorded with Nine Horses, Jan Bang and Erik Honoré, and Franz Wright and Christian Fennesz. The set also contains an exclusive compilation CD, “Do You Know Me Now?” featuring non-album tracks recorded with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Nine Horses.
Speaking of his time releasing music via samadhisound, Sylvian says “Although I personally maintain samadhisound is the home of my best work it was produced during a very turbulent period that precipitated some devastating changes in my life. I can’t gloss over this fact as it’s incorporated into, and informs the material in many ways. Maybe that’s why, after all this time, outside of any possible musical innovation, it remains so important to me.”
Moreover, David is offering official merchandise in celebration of the samadhisound 2003–2014 – Do You Know Me Now? CD box set, available to order online for the very first time. Made using 100% organic ringspun cotton, the three designs are available exclusively through David’s newly launched store. The range also includes an exclusive A2 poster, designed in conjunction with Chris Bigg. Printed on high quality 300 gsm silk paper stock, utilising metallic ink.
02.04.23: Permalink » Ryuichi Sakamoto: January 17 1952 – March 28 2023
23.02.23: Permalink » Wandermüde poster by Chris Bigg
Wandermüde: a stunning new poster designed by Chris Bigg celebrating the new vinyl release from Stephan Mathieu and David Sylvian.
Featuring photography by the incomparable Vincent Fournier and images by Chris Bigg, measuring 16.5″ wide x 23.4” high / 420 mm x 594 high, printed on 170gsm paper stock. Limited edition, hand numbered.
Purchase the Wandermüde poster at groenland.com
06.02.23: Permalink » Wandermüde – 2023 edition
Grönland is proud to announce the reissue of Wandermüde on CD and, for the first time, vinyl. Both versions include one previously unreleased bonus track. The 2LP is pressed on crystal clear vinyl. This 2023 edition was mastered by Stephan Mathieu from the original recordings. Release date: 21 April 2023.
Further information can be read in the discography section of the site.
Purchase Wandermüde (2LP / CD) at groenland.com
19.01.23: Permalink » Sleepwalkers – back in stock
Currently back in stock: Grönland Records have repressed vinyl copies of Sleepwalkers. It features the track ‘Do You Know Me Now?’ which is also the title of a Universal / samadhisound deluxe CD box set to be released later this year. More info on the latter to be announced shortly.
Purchase Sleepwalkers at groenland.com
30.11.22: Permalink » To The Moon and Back – out now digitally
In celebration of composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s 70th birthday, Milan Records presents A Tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto - To the Moon and Back, a collection of songs from Sakamoto’s vast catalogue newly reworked and remodelled by contemporary artists and collaborators.
The release, featuring ‘Grains (Sweet Paulownia Wood)’ (David Sylvian Remodel), is now available digitally. The vinyl edition will be released on Friday 9 December.
ryuichisakamoto.lnk.to/tothemoon
07.10.22: Permalink » A Tribute To Ryuichi Sakamoto – To The Moon And Back
‘A Tribute To Ryuichi Sakamoto – To The Moon And Back’ is a collection of songs celebrating the legendary composer on his 70th birthday. The album, to be released in December by Milan Records, includes ‘Grains (Sweet Paulownia Wood)’ (David Sylvian Remodel).
“From contemporary admirers of Sakamoto’s work like Thundercat, Devonté Hynes, and Hildur Guðnadóttir to longtime collaborators and friends like David Sylvian, Alva Noto, Cornelius, and Fennesz, plus some of Sakamoto’s personal favorites like Lim Giong, Gabrial Wek, and 404.zero, the included artists reflect the breadth of Sakamoto’s influence on contemporary music. Given full access to the musician’s extensive catalogue of solo releases and film scores, each artist personally selected their contribution and put their unique spin on Sakamoto’s originals.”
Further info: ryuichisakamoto.lnk.to/tothemoon
07.10.22: Permalink » BBC Radio 6, 27 October 2022
David Sylvian will be appearing on the Mary Ann Hobbs radio show. More info: bbc.co.uk
07.10.22: Permalink » Shadow Worlds
“Plato suggested that a person chained alone inside a cave, unable to see the outside, would formulate their ideas of the physical world based on the shadows projected onto their cave walls.”
This text was the inspiration for a special folio of original prints by artists David Sylvian, Lance Austin Olsen, and Jamie Drouin.
Each artist was invited to interpret the theme in their own way, and to produce two unique visual artworks. Implementing a range of printing methods including letterpress, woodblock relief, giclée, and hand applied ink, the resulting six prints are housed inside a handmade paper folder with string-tie closure.
Extending upon the theme of an ever-shifting reality, the artist names, signatures, and edition number only appear on a page included inside the folio, with the six individual prints left open for association.
Shadow Worlds was available in a limited handmade edition of 25 from Infrequency Arts. This edition is now sold out.
21.07.22: Permalink » ‘Blemish’ and ‘Manafon’ – 180gram vinyl reissues available to preorder
samadhisound and UMC are proud to announce 180gram vinyl reissues of David Sylvian’s Blemish and Manafon albums, releasing on 2nd September 2022 and available to preorder now.
Vinyl versions of both records have been out of print since their very limited initial pressing in the early 2000s. These new versions of Blemish (1LP) and Manafon (2LP) have been recut for vinyl by veteran engineer Tony Cousins at Metropolis studios.
Blemish was David Sylvian’s first solo album to be issued on his samadhisound label. Initially released online in 2003, the vinyl version was published in 2004 and is now a collector’s item. Working primarily solo, Sylvian created an impromptu suite of songs for guitar, electronics and voice. The compositions were crafted from improvisational sessions by Sylvian and the acclaimed free-jazz guitarist Derek Bailey on three tracks and Austrian guitarist and producer Christian Fennesz on ‘A Fire In The Forest’. Sylvian said about the album at the time, ‘I wanted to get into those difficult emotions, and penetrate them as deeply as I felt I was capable of doing, in the security of that working space. So, although there were elements of my life that were bringing all these negative emotions to the fore, what I was doing in the studio was taking them further – whereas in life we try to restrain them, we hold them back. We don't allow ourselves to go too far with it because they feel dangerous, they feel threatening. Living through these emotions was very difficult, but finding a voice for them was so cathartic. After that six-week period, I'd felt I'd worked through some very difficult emotions. I felt an enormous amount of release.’
Released in 2009, Manafon was David’s second solo album for samadhisound and was described by the artist as ‘A modern kind of chamber music. Intimate, dynamic, emotive, democratic, economical’. Recorded during sessions in London, Vienna and Tokyo, Manafon brings together some of the world’s leading free improvisers, including Evan Parker, Keith Rowe, Christian Fennesz, Sachiko M, Otomo Yoshihide, John Tilbury and members of Polwechsel working in small ensembles. Of this process, Sylvian said, ‘It’s still a path I intend to pursue musically, working with improvisation in some form or another. So you just follow whatever you feel is right for you. You follow your instinct and that's all you can remain true to.’
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