David Sylvian — Blemish

A pop-artist with aspirations for way more than just pop, that can be a tough situation. I think former Japan vocalist David Sylvian has been in this situation for the last 15 years.

His solo-albums weren't always well received in pop-circles in the past and often served off as 'pretentious, ambient drool'. Personally I'm not very familiar with his works before 1990, but The First Day, Damage (with Robert Fripp) and his previous album Dead Bees On A Cake are great albums made up of pop, ambient, rock, blues, jazz and a dose of Hindu mystique. Over the years he has been working with people from the more experimental side of the spectrum. With musicians like Holger Czukay (Can), Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Lounge Lizards and many John Zorn projects) Sylvian created a lot of beautiful music.

Despite the history of 'un-poppy' names of the past, the two circulating for this new album, released independently on his own label, were very surprising. Three tracks on Blemish are collaboration with 70 year old, free improv pioneer and legend Derek Bailey and the album's closing track, A Fire In The Forest was made with Austrian glitch artist Fennesz. The remaining tracks are micro-sound-ish, glitchy songs with a strong focus on Sylvians voice. The Bailey tracks are slightly more a-tonal, more or less dictated by Bailey's airy harmonics and acute guitareruptions. It somehow works, although the combination looked strange on paper initially (to me, combining their two sounds in my head). The biggest difference with his previous work is the small and intimate sound of this record. Whereas previous records had generous amounts of space and ambience, Blemish is the complete opposite: small and very direct and 'in your face'.

So this delicate and mysterious music ends up on the desk of many a 'pop'-journalist who expects catchy popsongs. This album offers something completely different, even though it's still a collection of songs. The journalist is puzzled and/or feels let down and writes a bitter review. Don't listen to them, listen to me! This is beautiful, profound and emotional music that touches the heart and you should at least give it a chance.