Dancing Fantasy – California Grooves

David Sylvain’s first taste of international acclaim came by way of his band Japan. Struggling to win over fans in the mid 70’s UK punk era, Japan ironically first found fame in Tokyo, and quickly integrated into the city’s vibrant pop scene and legendary avant-garde music culture that bubbled wildly below the surface. Sylvain would meet Ryuichi Sakamoto during his Japan days, and the two artists continue to share a lifelong creative partnership. Gone to Earth is Sylvain’s third solo release, and it’s a prolific showing with 17 tracks spread across two discs. Disc 1 contains Sylvian’s signature emotive vocal style while Disc 2 is completely instrumental. The tracks bleed effortlessly from one into another, tied together by underlying ominous backdrop that sets the stage beautifully for Sylvian’s poetic delivery on vocals, guitar, and keyboards.
– Tana Yonas
Recommended – A1 Taking The Veil, B2 River Man, Disc 2
A1 Taking The Veil
A2 Laughter & Forgetting
A3 Before The Bullfight
A4 Gone To Earth
B1 Wave
B2 River Man
B3 Silver Moon
C1 The Healing Place
C2 Answered Prayers
C3 Where The Railroad Meets The Sea
C4 The Wooden Cross
C5 Silver Moon Over Sleeping Steeples
D1 Camp Fire : Coyote Country
D2 A Bird Of Prey Vanishes Into A Bright Blue Cloudless Sky
D3 Home
D4 Sunlight Seen Through Towering Trees
D5 Upon This Earth
Instruments, Mixed By, Producer – David Sylvian
Engineer, Mixed By, Producer – Steve Nye
Acoustic Guitar – Phil Palmer
Bass Guitar – Ian Maidman
Drums, Percussion – Steve Jansen
Guitar – Robert Fripp
Pedal Steel Guitar – B.J. Cole
Guitar – Bill Nelson
Electronics – Richard Barbieri
Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler
Piano – John Taylor
Coordinator – Catherine Wilson
Engineer – Nick Blundell
Engineer – Noel Harris
Artwork, Design – Russell Mills
Photography – David Buckland