David Sylvian

Years ago my brother was a Dj at KCR radio on the SDSU campus. Once in a while I would get to go in with him while he was on the air and help pick out records or just allow myself to get exposed to whatever was not being played on commercial radio. It was a great education and a big influence on my life.

One of those artists was a group called Japan. They started out as a glam rock band in the late 70's and evolved into one of the pioneers of the New Romantic seen out of England. In an age of Duran Duran and Simple Minds, they were a breath of fresh air to listen to because it was unlike anything that was mainstream. But like a lot of groups I like to listen to in my teens, they had already disbanded. But I was and am lucky enough to be around to fallow lead singer David Sylvians' solo career. 

At the core of everything Sylvian does, whether it's a jazzy or experimental or improvisational style of music, he is a soul singer. It's just to obvious to ignore. While in Japan they covered "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson and "Ain't That Peculiar" by Marvin Gaye. And why not. The Beatles wanted to be Elvis, which in  essence is R & B. The Stones wanted to be blues men. So I think Sylvian wanted to grow up to be a soul man.  Am I wrong? Does anyone else hear it?
If you are not a fan of David Sylvian, then you should take a listen. Of you who are familiar with his work could argue that it goes all over the map musically. But the soul is always there.
To this day my favorite record is "Gone To Earth". I think because it still has a little jazziness feel like his first record "Brilliant Tree", but then it has the beginning of the experimental introduced with the help of Robert Fripp (King Crimson) playing guitar. The Fripptronic sound is all over the second disc, which is all instrumental. The work together spawned a collaborative record call "The First Day" which is worth a listen.
"Dead Bees On A Cake" is another record I really enjoy. Of all his records before, this is the one that musically sounds the most soulful. Maybe it had something to do with his marriage to, once Prince protege, Ingrid Chavez and living in Minneapolis for a while. Maybe? But then following their guru Shree Maa to Northern California may have helped give the record it's spiritual vibe too. Either way, I like the record.
The record that fallowed, "Blemish", was a complete 180 from his last. Almost completely improvised. Though there is structure in it's sound. Unlike his latest "Manofon" which is indeed completely improvised musically. In fact, all the musicians did what they pleased and Sylvian found melody and wrote vocals after the fact.
Regardless, I still find everything he has ever done to be worth listening to. I am a David Sylvian loyalist. Give him a listen. You might like something he does.     

  

Mogwai (because that's who I was listening to on the way to work at 5am)

I have a love/hate thing with Mogwai. On one hand they are an amazing band with a sonic wall of sound vibe. As well naming themselves after a cute cuddly fictitious creature.  On the the other, they stole my idea.
Back when I was a teenager, I thought it would be cool to start an instrumental band that was sonicly beautiful, yet loud as fuck. Then, years later, I discover Mogwai. I'm not saying they sound exactly like how I heard it in my head when I was 16, but pretty darn close. But what can I say. I missed my window and hence plenty of great instrumental bands have come along sense (Dif Juz, MONO, The Fucking Champs, etc...). I do like to tell myself that no one would have gotten it back in '86, so I'm just glad someone else came along and did it.
I know Mogwai have had the tunes with vocals as well, but their non-vocal tracks are by far the best. And the best part of being a band with no words means you can call the songs anything you want. In Mogwai's case you have "I Know What You Are But What Am I?" or  I Love You, I'm Going To Blow Up Your School", "Mogwai Fear Satan." I mean they could have a song called "Fluffy Bunny" and it would sound like they where going to drive it off a cliff in a flaming car. Then they would have a song that was soft and pretty and you want to smile and be happy when you hear it and the track is called "Retarded Velociraptor Falling Off A Swing." You get what I mean. It's brilliant. It's funny.
I've read that they say Slint is one of there big influences, which I think is cool seeing as Mogwai is from Scotland and Slint broke up long before Mogwai formed. I think death metal is another, which makes sense to me because I want to write pretty songs when I'm listening to metal too. I can't say I've heard any band prier to Mogwai that sound the way they do, but I'm sure they are out there. Now I like (japanese band) MONO, but they sound A LOT like Mogwai to me. They definitely were listening to a lot of Mogwai when they started. I could be wrong, but...
If you haven't seen them live, you should. It's like getting hit in the chest with a blast of sound. AND they are loud as fuck. They are the only band that I've seen where I didn't mind wearing ear plugs, because I honestly think it help them sound better. That and the fact that I would have had ringing in my ears for days after.
Well I'm done for now. Maybe I'll explore this topic again someday. Maybe that will be a thing with this blog. If I Feel the need to expand on a topic more, I'll just do it. Why not.
In the mean time, enjoy!

~Colin

Let's Get Started

Years ago my buddy Mitch said that I should write a book about the history of music and bands and where they get there influences from etc... He said because I knew so much I should share it. Well instead I'm starting a blog.
Now it might not be exactly be a history of bands, but maybe just a blog about how I hear music. Or maybe how I listen to music. And if I happen to mention some band that sounds like another band and who I think they sound like or who they may have been influenced by, well then there you go.
I don't want you to thinks this is a blog to review music. I don't want to criticize anything, though I might depending on my mood. I just want to write about stuff I like.
I like to think I have unique taste in music. I don't think I'm a snob, but I like to think I know what's good and what's crap. But who am I to say. I can't help it if some people wouldn't know great music if it landed on their face and started to wiggle. For each their own.
Anyway.... Like I said this is just about what I like and what I think is good. DON'T agree with me. In fact tell me what I might like and I'll give it a listen.
Well first official post soon. As soon as I figure out who I want to talk about first.

~Colin