Two new releases from the art-rock Olde Guarde (one slightly older than the other), both on the same day. Both of them feature slightly larger paper sleeves and a "bonus" disc of material, providing you choose the "limited" edition. Both of them are a jump into the past, in a way: David Bowie's
Heathen reunites him with Tony Visconti and while there's certainly a modern element to parts of the record, a lot of it has a really classic Bowie sound, both production-wise and songwriting-wise. (Additionally, the bonus disc features a reworking of a thirty-two year old song.)
Camphor, on the other hand, takes a bunch of David Sylvian's archival material and puts a new spin on it...barely. In some cases it means removing the vocals and in other cases just taking instrumental pieces from his other projects like Rain Tree Crow or Sylvian/Czukay. Following hot on the heels of
Everything and Nothing, another plundering of the vaults, it begs the question: has Sylvian's well run so dry that he's reduced to repackaging his own material in a slightly more sophisticated way than a K-Tel "Fabulous Hits of Sylvian" type of thing, or is he just getting lazy? And, for that matter, is Bowie any better? I mean, whenever he tries to do something truly new these days, a lot of people just roll their eyes and say "Give it up, granddad" and wait until he reunites with: a) Eno, b) Nile Rodgers, c) Tony Visconti, d) Reeves Gabrels (okay, maybe not, but maybe this will make mark s smile).
― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 12 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
For what it's worth, I actually like the new Bowie album quite a bit
while recognizing that's it's far short of earth-shattering. I think
I like it so much because it's a fairly comfortable fit and still
far better than a lot of the other stuff that passes for NU music
these days (yeah yeah I guess I'm getting old or somefin'). And as
I've said elsewhere on ILM, I love the fact that he covered the
Pixies' "Cactus".
Sylvian, on the other hand, is about to go on my ignore list. I was
already feeling pretty burned/ripped off/disappointed when I finally
got my hands on Dead Bees on a Cake after months of
anticipation, but then this wholesale regurgitation of the catalogue
since that point has just added to the disillusionment. I took only
a really cursory glance at the tracklist before I picked up
Camphor I think if I'd looked harder, I would have left it on
the shelf.
― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 12 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Sean- the cover of 'cactus' is something i have to hear (though i am
not a bowie fan).
There was a pixies doc in the UK where various ppl (Bowie, PJ harvey,
bono, etc.) talked at lenght abt why they liked pixies. I liked
bowie's contribution.
― Julio Desouza, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Also it just occurred to me that both of these are by someone named
David, so another connection.
Surely SOMEone out there has some sort of comment on this? Ned? You
have nothing to say on something "new" from Sylvian?
― Sean Carruthers, Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Sylvian made such a huge error with the choices of what songs finally
made the track list. He has grossly underrepresented his best
instrumental material from his solo career. No Words with the
Shaman, Steel Cathedrals, The Stigma of Childhood, Coyote: Campfire
Country or Blue of Noon. How Unfortunate...though I have read that
Virgin plans on finally re-releasing the excellent "Alchemy-an index
of possibilities" on disc.
Also,
― brian, Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Also, nothing. Sylvian needs Fripp to add some grit and balls to his
sound and Fripp desperately needs Sylvian because King Crimson sorely
lacks any resemblance of an actual songwriter. Just look at their
subsequent work since the disbandment. Crimson's Thrak and
Construction of Light were regressive trash and Sylvian's Dead Bees
on a Cake was a directionless snore fest. Then he puts out two
redundant compilations to mark time.
And as for poor Bowie, he tries to change his colors so often that he
doesn't know exactly who he is anymore.
― glenda, Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)
Ned? You have nothing to say on something "new" from Sylvian?
To be honest, I didn't even know such an album existed before your
post! I also missed his tour appearance last month in LA, which annoys
me greatly.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 15 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)