David Sylvian
Approaching Silence

THE REVIEW

As always, Sylvian hits the mark.

"Approaching Silence" is an Album of great depth but very difficult in listening and interpretation. Composed and performed with the collaboration of greats like Frank Perry and Robert Fripp.

Three tracks: "The Beekeeper’s Apprentice" (33 minutes) - "Epiphany" (2 minutes and 30 seconds) – "Approaching Silence" (38 minutes).

In the first and third track, besides the influence of Tibetan music, the length of atonic melody represents a clear suspension between time, the organic and nature, practically an alchemy of environmental structure existing in the Zen philosophy. Bells, gongs, keyboards, and slow-extending strings intersect creating cold and polished sounds. While the second track is very brief, it's fundamentally important as an interval between listening to the first and third piece, and it is sketched by almost imperceptible gentle and light voices.

"Approaching Silence" is a mix of artistic expression, the sound borders on the impalpable as well as the unreachable infinite. Synthesizers create spiritual and evocative sounds with the intent to pass through the silence, caressing the matter surrounding it. As the Zen school teaches, this is a mysterious journey between space and time that Sylvian wants to describe as a combination of chaos and peace, between real life and abstract life, seeking the positive side in every situation.

In "simple" words, this Album is an exercise in meditation to find the best part of what is bitterly and stupidly despised (naturally, this also applies to the interpretation of "Approaching Silence") difficult, right?

I would call it a wonderful experience, as always.