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/
NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian considered 'Ride' to be the centrepiece of Secrets of a Beehive, but the song was unfinished when the sessions ended. He subsequently completed the track in 2000. In the late '80s Sylvian offered the track to Scott Walker.
sylvianvista.com/2026/09/18/r...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2026/09/18/r...
#davidsylvian
Ride - David Sylvian
Read about David Sylvian's song 'Ride', intended for Secrets of the Beehive but not completed until 2000. Also, how the song was offered to Scott Walker.
sylvianvista.com
September 18, 2026 at 6:49 PM
NEW ARTICLE: David Sylvian considered 'Ride' to be the centrepiece of Secrets of a Beehive, but the song was unfinished when the sessions ended. He subsequently completed the track in 2000. In the late '80s Sylvian offered the track to Scott Walker.
sylvianvista.com/2026/09/18/r...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2026/09/18/r...
#davidsylvian
FROM THE ARCHIVE: An article about 'Playground Martyrs' from Steve Jansen's debut solo album Slope, with lyrics written and performed by David Sylvian. Steve was responsible for all the music: piano, synthesisers, samples and string arrangement.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2018/09/07/p...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2018/09/07/p...
September 11, 2026 at 6:16 PM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: An article about 'Playground Martyrs' from Steve Jansen's debut solo album Slope, with lyrics written and performed by David Sylvian. Steve was responsible for all the music: piano, synthesisers, samples and string arrangement.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2018/09/07/p...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2018/09/07/p...
NEW ARTICLE: 'Big Wheels in Shanty Town' opens the Rain Tree Crow album - Sylvian, Jansen, Barbieri & Karn reunited. An instrumental epic showcasing the musicianship of each, with new flavours added - a horn section and African vocalists. Wonderful. sylvianvista.com/2026/08/22/b...
Big Wheels in Shanty Town - Rain Tree Crow
Read about this 'epic' track by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn & Richard Barbieri, the ex-members of Japan reunited in 1991 under a new name.
sylvianvista.com
August 22, 2026 at 10:05 AM
NEW ARTICLE: 'Big Wheels in Shanty Town' opens the Rain Tree Crow album - Sylvian, Jansen, Barbieri & Karn reunited. An instrumental epic showcasing the musicianship of each, with new flavours added - a horn section and African vocalists. Wonderful. sylvianvista.com/2026/08/22/b...
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)', David Sylvian's reinvention of Ryuichi Sakamoto's original track. Serendipity led to Ingrid Chavez undertaking the spoken word part. The song is a celebration of life, with wonderful Kevin Westenberg video.
sylvianvista.com/2022/04/08/h...
sylvianvista.com/2022/04/08/h...
Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II) - David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto
Read about 'Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)', a reinvention of Ryuichi Sakamoto's original track featuring David Sylvian, Ingrid Chavez and Bill Frisell.
sylvianvista.com
August 15, 2026 at 7:43 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Heartbeat (Tainai Kaiki II)', David Sylvian's reinvention of Ryuichi Sakamoto's original track. Serendipity led to Ingrid Chavez undertaking the spoken word part. The song is a celebration of life, with wonderful Kevin Westenberg video.
sylvianvista.com/2022/04/08/h...
sylvianvista.com/2022/04/08/h...
REMINDER: The latest article follows the connection between David Sylvian and Harold Budd. Sylvian long-admired Budd's music, the two meeting in 2003 and working on a number of projects, including a 'farewell' concert at which Steve Jansen & Bill Nelson appeared.
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
Avalon Sutra - Perhaps - Harold Budd
Read about Harold Budd working with David Sylvian to release the albums Avalon Sutra & Perhaps, and Sylvian's role in the publication of Harold's poetry.
sylvianvista.com
August 2, 2026 at 5:05 PM
REMINDER: The latest article follows the connection between David Sylvian and Harold Budd. Sylvian long-admired Budd's music, the two meeting in 2003 and working on a number of projects, including a 'farewell' concert at which Steve Jansen & Bill Nelson appeared.
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
NEW ARTICLE: Exploring how David Sylvian worked with Harold Budd to release the albums Avalon Sutra and Perhaps, stage a farewell performance, and then Sylvian's involvement with the publication of Budd's poetry. The musicians shared a mutual admiration.
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
Avalon Sutra - Perhaps - Harold Budd
Read about Harold Budd working with David Sylvian to release the albums Avalon Sutra & Perhaps, and Sylvian's role in the publication of Harold's poetry.
sylvianvista.com
July 24, 2026 at 7:46 PM
NEW ARTICLE: Exploring how David Sylvian worked with Harold Budd to release the albums Avalon Sutra and Perhaps, stage a farewell performance, and then Sylvian's involvement with the publication of Budd's poetry. The musicians shared a mutual admiration.
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
sylvianvista.com/2026/07/24/a...
REMINDER: The latest article features the dobro pieces recorded for Dead Bees on a Cake. Bill Frisell performed 'off the cuff' miniatures and David Sylvian subsequently added vocals. Dobro #5 & #6 were added to the album for vinyl release.
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian #billfrisell
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian #billfrisell
July 4, 2026 at 8:35 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features the dobro pieces recorded for Dead Bees on a Cake. Bill Frisell performed 'off the cuff' miniatures and David Sylvian subsequently added vocals. Dobro #5 & #6 were added to the album for vinyl release.
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian #billfrisell
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian #billfrisell
NEW ARTICLE: When recording Dead Bees on a Cake, David Sylvian spent two days with guitarist Bill Frisell at a studio in Seattle. At the end of the session Bill improvised some pieces on dobro, three of which Sylvian turned into songs by overlaying vocals.
wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian
wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian
Dobro #1, #5 & #6 - David Sylvian
An article about three songs based on dobro improvisations by Bill Frisell, with vocals then overlayed by David Sylvian. #1 appears on Dead Bees on a Cake.
wp.me
June 27, 2026 at 10:25 AM
NEW ARTICLE: When recording Dead Bees on a Cake, David Sylvian spent two days with guitarist Bill Frisell at a studio in Seattle. At the end of the session Bill improvised some pieces on dobro, three of which Sylvian turned into songs by overlaying vocals.
wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian
wp.me/p9JX9e-4Dj
#davidsylvian
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Some Small Hope' sung by Virginia Astley & David Sylvian was written by Virginia & Ryuichi Sakamoto who produced some songs for her album 'Hope in a Darkened Heart'. Ryuichi's studio assistant, Masaki Sekijima, shares his memories.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2019/10/11/s...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2019/10/11/s...
June 19, 2026 at 6:17 PM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Some Small Hope' sung by Virginia Astley & David Sylvian was written by Virginia & Ryuichi Sakamoto who produced some songs for her album 'Hope in a Darkened Heart'. Ryuichi's studio assistant, Masaki Sekijima, shares his memories.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2019/10/11/s...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2019/10/11/s...
REMINDER: The latest article looks back to 'Still Life in Mobile Homes' from Japan's Tin Drum - a record displaying the unique musical styles developed by each of the band members. Now updated with details of the samples incorporated in the track.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
June 6, 2026 at 9:22 AM
REMINDER: The latest article looks back to 'Still Life in Mobile Homes' from Japan's Tin Drum - a record displaying the unique musical styles developed by each of the band members. Now updated with details of the samples incorporated in the track.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
NEW ARTICLE: 'Still Life in Mobile Homes' from Japan's 1981 masterpiece Tin Drum, including Steve Jansen's innovation in how the rhythms were put together, and the interlock with Mick Karn's fretless bass. Also exploring Mick's sculptures of the time.
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
Still Life in Mobile Homes - Japan
Read about the song from Japan's final album, Tin Drum, exploring the talents of bassist Mick Karn - including his sculptures of the time.
sylvianvista.com
May 29, 2026 at 5:33 PM
NEW ARTICLE: 'Still Life in Mobile Homes' from Japan's 1981 masterpiece Tin Drum, including Steve Jansen's innovation in how the rhythms were put together, and the interlock with Mick Karn's fretless bass. Also exploring Mick's sculptures of the time.
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/29/s...
#japantheband
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Atom and Cell' by Nine Horses (David Sylvian/Steve Jansen/Burnt Friedman) reflects on an encounter in NYC the day before 9/11 and on the aftermath the attack, both on individual lives and globally. The music features Ryuichi Sakamoto.
sylvianvista.com/2021/10/15/a...
sylvianvista.com/2021/10/15/a...
Atom and Cell - Nine Horses
Read about 'Atom and Cell' by Nine Horses. David Sylvian, Steve Jansen, Ryuichi Sakamoto & Arve Henriksen perform. Sylvian's experience in NYC before 9/11.
sylvianvista.com
May 23, 2026 at 7:10 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Atom and Cell' by Nine Horses (David Sylvian/Steve Jansen/Burnt Friedman) reflects on an encounter in NYC the day before 9/11 and on the aftermath the attack, both on individual lives and globally. The music features Ryuichi Sakamoto.
sylvianvista.com/2021/10/15/a...
sylvianvista.com/2021/10/15/a...
REMINDER: The latest article explores David Sylvian's 2024 track with Hildur Guðnadóttir, award winning soundtrack composer - including an Oscar for the movie Joker. 'I Measure Every Grief I Meet' features haunting cello from Hildur and Sylvian's voice.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
May 10, 2026 at 8:39 AM
REMINDER: The latest article explores David Sylvian's 2024 track with Hildur Guðnadóttir, award winning soundtrack composer - including an Oscar for the movie Joker. 'I Measure Every Grief I Meet' features haunting cello from Hildur and Sylvian's voice.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
NEW ARTICLE: Read about David Sylvian's work with Oscar-winning soundtrack composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, including their tribute to turntablist Philip Jeck who performed with Sylvian at Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, Norway, 2011.
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
#davidsylvian #hildurgudnadottir
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
#davidsylvian #hildurgudnadottir
I Measure Every Grief I Meet - David Sylvian & Hildur Guðnadóttir
Read about David Sylvian and Hildur Guðnadóttir's tribute to turntablist Philip Jeck, with words from an Emily Dickinson poem
sylvianvista.com
May 1, 2026 at 8:02 PM
NEW ARTICLE: Read about David Sylvian's work with Oscar-winning soundtrack composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, including their tribute to turntablist Philip Jeck who performed with Sylvian at Punkt Festival in Kristiansand, Norway, 2011.
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
#davidsylvian #hildurgudnadottir
sylvianvista.com/2026/05/01/i...
#davidsylvian #hildurgudnadottir
FROM THE ARCHIVE: What a pleasure to attend Richard Barbieri's events supporting his new album 'Hauntings'. In 2018, the early days of the blog, Richard kindly shared insights into Japan's 'Sons of Pioneers'. I enjoy re-reading it - I hope you do too.
wp.me/p9JX9e-89
wp.me/p9JX9e-89
Sons of Pioneers - Japan
Read about Japan's 'Sons of Pioneers' from the album Tin Drum, with its distinctive bass lead from Mick Karn. Includes an interview with Richard Barbieri.
wp.me
April 25, 2026 at 11:39 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: What a pleasure to attend Richard Barbieri's events supporting his new album 'Hauntings'. In 2018, the early days of the blog, Richard kindly shared insights into Japan's 'Sons of Pioneers'. I enjoy re-reading it - I hope you do too.
wp.me/p9JX9e-89
wp.me/p9JX9e-89
REMINDER: The latest article traces Ryoji Ikeda's link up with David Sylvian for interpretations of Sylvian/Sakamoto's 'World Citizen' and Sylvian's 'The Only Daughter'. Ikeda is a remarkable artist whose work spans both music and digital imagery.
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
The Only Daughter (remixed by Ryoji Ikeda) - David Sylvian
Read about the mixes that Japanese composer & visual artist Ryoji Ikeda created of Sylvian/Sakamoto's 'World Citizen' & Sylvian's 'The Only Daughter'.
wp.me
April 18, 2026 at 8:24 AM
REMINDER: The latest article traces Ryoji Ikeda's link up with David Sylvian for interpretations of Sylvian/Sakamoto's 'World Citizen' and Sylvian's 'The Only Daughter'. Ikeda is a remarkable artist whose work spans both music and digital imagery.
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
Read here: wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
NEW ARTICLE: Ryoji Ikeda remixed 'World Citizen' by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto for the 2003 ep, elaborating 'upon the emotional heart of the work in a striking manner.' Next was a remix of Sylvian's 'The Only Daughter' with classical instrumentation.
wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
#davidsylvian
wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
#davidsylvian
The Only Daughter (remixed by Ryoji Ikeda) - David Sylvian
Read about the mixes that Japanese composer & visual artist Ryoji Ikeda created of Sylvian/Sakamoto's 'World Citizen' & Sylvian's 'The Only Daughter'.
wp.me
April 3, 2026 at 6:55 PM
NEW ARTICLE: Ryoji Ikeda remixed 'World Citizen' by David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto for the 2003 ep, elaborating 'upon the emotional heart of the work in a striking manner.' Next was a remix of Sylvian's 'The Only Daughter' with classical instrumentation.
wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
#davidsylvian
wp.me/p9JX9e-4vo
#davidsylvian
REMINDER: The latest article explores the wonderful 'Nostalgia' from David Sylvian's album Brilliant Trees. A truly evocative song reflecting on changing times. Recorded during the London sessions, engineer Peter Williams shares his memories.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
#davidsylvian
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
#davidsylvian
March 22, 2026 at 8:45 AM
REMINDER: The latest article explores the wonderful 'Nostalgia' from David Sylvian's album Brilliant Trees. A truly evocative song reflecting on changing times. Recorded during the London sessions, engineer Peter Williams shares his memories.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
#davidsylvian
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
#davidsylvian
NEW ARTICLE: Featuring 'Nostalgia' from David Sylvian's debut solo album, Brilliant Trees. Exploring the opening sample of Shusha Guppy and the London recording sessions for the album, with exclusive input and a first-hand account from engineer Peter Williams.
sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
David Sylvian - Nostalgia
Read about 'Nostalgia' from David Sylvian's album Brilliant Trees. With details of the opening Arabic sample and insights from engineer Peter Williams.
sylvianvista.com
March 13, 2026 at 7:49 PM
NEW ARTICLE: Featuring 'Nostalgia' from David Sylvian's debut solo album, Brilliant Trees. Exploring the opening sample of Shusha Guppy and the London recording sessions for the album, with exclusive input and a first-hand account from engineer Peter Williams.
sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
sylvianvista.com/2026/03/13/n...
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Before the Bullfight' from David Sylvian's Gone to Earth. Richard Barbieri brings atmospherics, Steve Jansen's drums personify the bull, Kenny Wheeler's flugelhorn brings to mind Miles' Sketches of Spain and Bill Nelson's guitar sparkles.
sylvianvista.com/2022/01/07/b...
sylvianvista.com/2022/01/07/b...
Before the Bullfight - David Sylvian
Read about 'Before the Bullfight' from David Sylvian's Gone to Earth. Shades of Miles Davis in Kenny Wheeler's flugelhorn with lead guitar from Bill Nelson.
sylvianvista.com
March 7, 2026 at 9:27 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Before the Bullfight' from David Sylvian's Gone to Earth. Richard Barbieri brings atmospherics, Steve Jansen's drums personify the bull, Kenny Wheeler's flugelhorn brings to mind Miles' Sketches of Spain and Bill Nelson's guitar sparkles.
sylvianvista.com/2022/01/07/b...
sylvianvista.com/2022/01/07/b...
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Bringing Down the Light', the closing track from Sylvian/Fripp's album, The First Day. Hope emerges as the album develops, intensified in this finale. With past quotes from David & Robert about their collaboration.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
February 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Bringing Down the Light', the closing track from Sylvian/Fripp's album, The First Day. Hope emerges as the album develops, intensified in this finale. With past quotes from David & Robert about their collaboration.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
Link: sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
NEW ARTICLE: Sylvian/Fripp's album The First Day ends with 'Bringing Down the Light'. It's the first recorded instance of Robert Fripp's Soundscapes technique, the digital evolution of Frippertronics. David Sylvian called it a 'very hopeful and uplifting' resolution.
sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
Bringing Down the Light - David Sylvian & Robert Fripp
An article about the final track from Sylvian/Fripp's The First Day, 'Bringing Down the Light', the first recorded instance of Fripp's Soundscape technique.
sylvianvista.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:34 PM
NEW ARTICLE: Sylvian/Fripp's album The First Day ends with 'Bringing Down the Light'. It's the first recorded instance of Robert Fripp's Soundscapes technique, the digital evolution of Frippertronics. David Sylvian called it a 'very hopeful and uplifting' resolution.
sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
sylvianvista.com/2026/02/13/b...
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Darkest Dreaming' closes David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake. Just Sylvian's voice, his processed guitar/keyboards, and a sample of Djivan Gasparyan's haunting duduk playing from the track 'Mother of Mine'. Beautiful.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2019/04/05/d...
#davidsylvian
Link: sylvianvista.com/2019/04/05/d...
#davidsylvian
February 7, 2026 at 9:38 AM
FROM THE ARCHIVE: 'Darkest Dreaming' closes David Sylvian's album Dead Bees on a Cake. Just Sylvian's voice, his processed guitar/keyboards, and a sample of Djivan Gasparyan's haunting duduk playing from the track 'Mother of Mine'. Beautiful.
Link: sylvianvista.com/2019/04/05/d...
#davidsylvian
Link: sylvianvista.com/2019/04/05/d...
#davidsylvian
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Weathered Wall' from David Sylvian's debut solo album Brilliant Trees. Berlin was the location for the initial sessions, with Sylvian meeting both Holger Czukay and Jon Hassell for the first time at Hansa Tonstudio.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
January 31, 2026 at 10:00 AM
REMINDER: The latest article features 'Weathered Wall' from David Sylvian's debut solo album Brilliant Trees. Berlin was the location for the initial sessions, with Sylvian meeting both Holger Czukay and Jon Hassell for the first time at Hansa Tonstudio.
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
Read here: sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
NEW ARTICLE: 'Weathered Wall' from David Sylvian's Brilliant Trees featured Jon Hassell, Holger Czukay & Ryuichi Sakamoto along with 3 ex members of Japan. It was recorded at Hansa by the Wall in Berlin - a location that was 'native to no one involved'.
sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
#davidsylvian
Weathered Wall - David Sylvian
Read about 'Weathered Wall' from David Sylvian's Brilliant Trees, recorded at Hansa by the Wall in Berlin with Holger Czukay, Jon Hassell and others.
sylvianvista.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:03 PM
NEW ARTICLE: 'Weathered Wall' from David Sylvian's Brilliant Trees featured Jon Hassell, Holger Czukay & Ryuichi Sakamoto along with 3 ex members of Japan. It was recorded at Hansa by the Wall in Berlin - a location that was 'native to no one involved'.
sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
#davidsylvian
sylvianvista.com/2026/01/23/w...
#davidsylvian