"Brilliant Trees" by DAVID SYLVIAN – June 1984 UK Debut Solo LP [ex Japan] on Virgin Records featuring Richard Barbieri and Steve Jansen of Japan, Steve Nye of Penguin Café Orchestra, Holger Czukay of Can, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Danny Thompson of Pentangle, Kenny Wheeler, Mark Isham, Jon Hassell, Phil Palmer and Ronny Drayton (September 2003 UK Virgin CD Reissue and Remaster in Card Digipak Sleeve with Altered Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

"...Ink In The Ink Well..." 

 

A lot was expected of the improbably handsome David Sylvian back in the mid Eighties (he was once voted most beautiful man in the world by a committee of men who idolised hair bleach). And the ex Japan frontman delivered big-time with his June 1984 debut solo album "Brilliant Trees".

 

This is a fabulous record - one I’ve always loved and admired - lifted up here into the stratosphere by a subtle yet genuinely muscular 2003 CD Remaster by TONY COUSINS who did such stellar work on the Gabriel-years Genesis albums.

 

I had the original Virgin Vinyl LP (they've altered the front cover artwork slightly as per Sylvian's update, bringing only the photo into focus) and as sure as God Shiva made little green radioactive apples, it didn't sound as good as this. Just a few moments of Danny Thompson's double bass on "The Ink In The Ink Well" or that huge backbeat with spoken lyrics by Holger Czukay (of Can) meshing with those swirling staccato keyboard soundscapes in "Backwaters" and I'm hurtling towards sonic raptures. This thing sounds gorgeous – new life ahoy. To the banks of sexy red guitars...

 

UK released September 2003 - "Brilliant Trees" by DAVID SYLVIAN on Virgin CDVX 2290 (Barcode 724359130729) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the 1984 debut solo album in new digipak artwork and plays out as follows (39:48 minutes):

 

1. Pulling Punches [Side 1]

2. The Ink In The Well 

3. Nostalgia 

4. Red Guitar 

5. Weathered Wall [Side 2]

6. Backwaters 

7. Brilliant Trees 

Tracks 1 to 7 are his debut solo LP "Brilliant Trees" - released 25 June 1984 in the UK on Virgin Records V 2290. Produced by DAVID SYLVIAN and STEVE NYE - it peaked at No. 4

 

MUSICIANS were: 

DAVID SYLVIAN - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Treated Piano and Tapes

RICHARD BARBIERI [Japan, Rain Tree Crow and Porcupine Tree] - Synthesizers on Track 1

STEVE NYE [Penguin Cafe Orchestra] - Piano and Synthesizer on Tracks 3 and 4

RYUICHI SAKAMOTO - Piano and Synthesizer of Tracks 4, 5 and 7

KENNY WHEELER - Flugelhorn on Tracks 2 and 3

MARK ISHAM - Trumpet on Track 4

JON HASSELL - Trumpet on Tracks 5 and 7 (also wrote the music)

HOLGER CZUKAY [Can] - Guitar, French Horn and Spoken Voice (Track 6)

RONNIE DRAYTON - Guitars on Tracks 1 and 4

PHIL PALMER - Guitars on Tracks 2 and 4

DANNY THOMPSON [Pentangle] - Double Bass on Track 2

WAYNE BRAITHWAITE - Bass on Tracks 1 and 4

STEVE JANSEN [Japan] - Drums and Synthesizer

 

Pretty as it looks (folds out into three flaps of sepia photos from the period), the new digipak is tactile enough and updates the musician credits to feature the new, but ultimately feels flimsy and disappointing. There is no history or new liner notes – no comments from the players. But all that is whomped like a goodun by a TONY COUSINS Remaster from original tapes carried out at Metropolis Mastering in London – beautiful, subtle – give it some crank on the volume dial and you will be blown away.  

 

Richard Barbieri on Synth and Ronnie Drayton on Lead Guitar contribute cool flourishes to "Pulling Punches" - a great five-minute opener. Virgin pre-empted the LP with "Red Guitar" as a true solo 45-single in May 1984 - Virgin VS 633 making it to 17 in the UK charts. Fans will be disappointed that its even cooler B-side "Forbidden Colours (Version)" is not included on this CD reissue - what a genuine bonus that would make for both Sylvian and Sakamoto fans. Speaking of singles, the sexy rhythms of "The Ink In The Well" were used as LP-45 number two in August 1984 - Virgin VS 700 with another Non-album B-side mix called "Weathered Wall (Instrumental)" on the flip. 

"Nostalgia" sounds just huge - pinging notes swirling around your room and again you wish the packaging had maybe stumped up his lyrics as a read. "Backwaters" is the kind of Sylvian sound-stage that just keeps creeping in - a fab track that I return to and get something new every time. I know not everyone can make it through the full eight-and-a-half minutes of the title-track closer, but I love it - rich and textured - like the album itself.

 

To sum up, as a CD reissue without bonuses and properly in-depth annotation, This 2003 variant of "Brilliant Trees" is 3 to 4 stars presentation-wise at best. But man that 5-star sound gets me every time...so it award it the bung.

 

"There you stand...making my life possible..." Sylvian sang on the typically ethereal and odd love song "Brilliant Trees" – lessons to be learned – prices to be paid – leading me back to the source. Well, dip into your forest pockets for this one – because it is brilliant...and no foliage was damaged during its upgrade...