Sylvian’s Remixers
Before getting on to the sonic side of things, I should point out that the album packaging of The Only Daughter continues the tradition set by earlier Samadhi Sound releases. Designed by Chris Bigg, the record features Atsushi Fukui's curious artwork printed on fine cardboard. (Here's hoping jewel cases will be history in the very near future.)
The bright cover itself is a "visual remix" of the stark idea behind Blemish. The solid figure against the green background has given way to a mere outline drowned in warm daubs of color. Even Sylvian's likeness has been reproduced a few times (you can't make out these details from the scans available online): the listener can expect a multitude of voices.
The attention paid to the production of the album is a fair indicator of what a small record label can do. Belief in the work produces lovely results which are free of gimmickry. It is the difference between a gift and a swindle: one does its best to enrich the work, the other tries to conceal its defects.
The official websites of David Sylvian and Samadhi Sound are the opposing sides of the same Flash-based coin. The links to the websites of the remixers can be found on the Samadhi site, but here they are anyway:
- Ryoji Ikeda - 2004 article
- Burnt Friedman - entretien en fran?ais
- Sweet Billy Pilgrim
- Readymade FC
- Yoshihiro Hanno
- Tatsuhiko Asano
- Akira Rabelais - a nice reading of Borges' "The Library of Babel"
Sylvian's next project is going to be a collaborative album with Steve Jansen and Burnt Friedman, and it should be coming out in the Fall. This comprehensive fansite, alongside Sylvian's official website, is the safest bet for the latest developments.
