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Following 1999's Dead Bees On A Cake, Everything and Nothing is a collection of singles, live sessions and oddities from the David Sylvian back catalogue. Since severing connections with cult 1970s/80s band, Japan, Sylvian has continued to probe the underbelly of rock/pop with often arresting results. Many of the songs here have been reworked for this collection but these updated interpretations don't detract from any of the tender, deeply melancholic poetry of the originals. A serial collaborator, Everything and Nothing draws upon material from all his albums, including 1991's Rain Tree Crow (with Japan members Richard Barbieri and Steve Jansen), the 1986 Ryuichi Sakamoto album Heartbeat and 1989's Secrets Of The Beehive. In a wonderful coup for cult followers, Everything and Nothing also features the complete version of the lost Japan tune "Some Kind Of Fool", intended for Gentlemen Take Poloraids. However, as so much of what Sylvian achieved with Japan was built on artifice, it is refreshing to hear him in a stripped down arena. The opening "The Scent of Magnolia"--part electronica, part rock--glides with a subtlety and nous that puts many practitioners in both fields to shame, while "Albuquerque" sustains a gorgeous balance between conceptual boldness and engaging melody. Everything and Nothing is a good way to sample and celebrate Sylvian in shape-shifting form. He ducks in and out of focus, between rugged ballads (the infamous "Ghosts"), avant-garde jazz ("God's Monkey") and--on a couple of tracks where the multi-instrumental backing is dropped for synthesisers--a successful glossy pop. --Maxine Kabuubi
Product Description
MADE IN EU-2CD-EAN 724385001727
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Japan, David Sylvian's band from the 80's, had something individual which attracted my interest many moons ago. In July 2001 I read a very favourable review of Everything and Nothing and it mentioned that David Sylvian, a blast from the past, planned to play in Dublin in October. I bought the CD and it has been a revealation, giving me many hours of pleasure over the last few months. I saw David Sylvian and his band in Dublin and since then I have appreciated the music even more. Magnolia which opens the first disc is a superb track moving along against the back drop of a great drum beat. David Sylvian's voice does it for me - it has soul, passion and sets the mood of the piece. Some of the other tracks are very complex but as I got to know the songs they became my favourites - like all great music. The second song on CD2 has a dark grinding distorted guitar riff which weaves the piece into a complex, moody and torturous web reflective of the mind. I was once told that complex music needs an educated ear and that's the pity. The world prefer's the sing along chorus of Kylie and Robbie and the genius of David Sylvian is not heard. Maybe classical music like Wagner is at the top of the music tree but to me David Sylvian and his ilk - I would include Jeff Buckley in this small group, are the classical musicians of the 21st century. Give it a shot - I hope you like it. The CD includes 3 CD's and I have yet to listen to number 3. I am saving it for a rainy night in.
Mark H
Mark H
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Barely a year after Dead Bees on a Cake Sylvian returns with, not so much a greatest hits album, but more of a 3-course nicely presented meal encompassing previous favourites, rarities, unreleased material and the odd Japan composition, most of which has been re-recorded (vocally) remixed, and all remastered on this double CD package. Collaborative works are also featured, duets with Sakamoto, Jon Hassell, Robert Fripp to name several. The end result is something that holds together rather well, and certainly rewards repeated listening. Early, right through to recent, with nice liner notes explaining the source and alterations of each piece. There are wonderful songs on here such as Let The Happiness In, Ghosts, Orpheus and Laughter and Forgetting, even hard to get hold of stuff such as the one-off single 'Pop Song', an excellent track, and never one to trouble the compilers of the Top 40, such is Sylvian's non-commercial approach to tune making, but songs that, never-the-less, will wind their way into your conciousness. Though curiously, there is only one track from his Brilliant Trees album. That small gripe aside, there are no fillers here and it'll hold your interest from start to finish, a worthy addition to your collection.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Here's the short version, because I usually get too wordy when I try to describe a record by an artist I like...
Everything and Nothing draws more or less evenly from Sylvian's solo albums (not counting 1985's instrumental album, Alchemy), collaborations, and non-album singles, then adds a handful of previously unreleased songs on top.
As usual the packaging is very well done (though it is a bit fragile), with distinctive artwork; and the sound quality is mostly excellent - all three CDs in the limited edition are gold discs.
Highlights among the previously unreleased material are: "The Scent of Magnolia", which is better than most of the songs on Dead Bees on a Cake; "Ride", the lost centerpiece from Secrets of the Beehive; "Cover Me With Flowers", another Dead Bees outtake; and the almost legendary lost Japan track "Some Kind Of Fool". Also refreshing are the remixes of "The Golden Way" and "Come Morning"; both are far superior to the original Marco Polo versions.
The collection stumbles badly in two places, however. "Ghosts" suffers from the loss of its intro, which sets the mood of the piece, and the new vocal lacks the mood-enhancing tension of the original. Rather than just re-doing the vocal, perhaps Sylvian should have re-recorded it from top to bottom. The other mis-step is "Bamboo Houses", which contains a few embellishments that come off sounding totally gratuitous.
Overall, a wonderful piece of work. I suspect that Everything and Nothing isn't likely to attract many new listeners, but it will definitely keep the rest of us listening...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sylvian at his best
Would have put more of his most melancoly songs on it, but this collection is almost perfect. Sadness and it's emotions are his forte. No one does it better.
Published 1 month ago by Mystic Man
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some Amazing Unreleased Material
This double CD comprises 140 minutes of innovative music both blissful and aggrieved, both emotionally cold and daringly romantic. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Nicholas Casley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Indescribably beautiful
A compilation album, this 2-disc set includes a superb range of David Sylvian's lyric songs. Startlingly gorgeous, this selection is a journey into pure audio heaven. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Caroline Savory
4.0 out of 5 stars
stunning
i have just got this cd and it is truely stunning haunting and beautiful david sylvian at his best. I have been a fan since the days of european son and he just gets better and... Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2010 by G. S. Norman
5.0 out of 5 stars
The World's biggest Sylvian collector
No not me but my mate who has literally 1000s of items on Japan and Sylvian and even the bands who ex Japans played on. Read more
Published on 26 May 2008 by Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good stuff but................................................
How can you have a 'best of david sylvian' without including 'before the bullfight'? which is one of the best songs ever written EVER & sounds perfect too!
Published on 3 Nov 2007 by PhilthyPhil
3.0 out of 5 stars
Turn the light on - Please!
Twenty years of David Sylvian stumbling through the dark looking for a vocal line. Luckily someone turned the light on for Orpheus, Buoy, Ghosts and Let the happiness in. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2007 by Mr. M. Penn
5.0 out of 5 stars
sylvian the master
Been a sylvian fan since 1978 when everybody was into 70's glam rock and the start of the punk era when it was fashion to be listening to the so called in music. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2006 by Mr. A. Archer
3.0 out of 5 stars
A missed oppourtunity!
The 'David Sylvian' thing is so hard to justify, compartmentalise and explain to the uninitiated. A career spanning 27 years, from glam rock, Bryan Ferry/ David bowie wannabee, to... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2004 by "grandstickinsect"
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Sylvian is the most important artist since the Beatles
Need I say more. He does it all with guts, integrity- beyond any musician I have ever known and musicianship thats beyond amazing. Read more
Published on 30 April 2003 by James Fahnestock
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