Best Sylvan disc
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Topic: Best Sylvan disc
Posted By: E-Dub
Subject: Best Sylvan disc
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 11:55
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I can't really vote in my own poll because I only have X-Rayed, Posthumous Silence and Presets; but, I do have Encounters and Artifcial Paradise on their way. A nice blend of modern hard rock and progressive with what I've heard. I'd like to see them focus more on the prog side, but these guys are really quite fascinating. Just some beautiful, atmospheric music at times (i.e. "A Kind Of Eden" from Posthumous Silence is stunning). Like to get a feel for what you guys think. E iTunes: "Our Favorite Shop" from The Style Council's Home & Abroad (live) ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 12:27
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Can't really vote as I only heard (and have) Artificial Paradise and Posthumous Silence.
Of these two, Posthumous by a stretch even though Artificial Paradise ain't bad at all, it's just that PH is one hell of an excellent album...
My review of it can be read here : http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=111026 - http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=111026
I wil definitely be getting more from this band anyhow.
------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: ProgFan
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 12:34
I have all their albums and I really like them all. But Posthumous Silence is my really favorite
Magnificent concept, fantastic lyrics and really beautiful music
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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 12:51
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Yeah, I'm really curious on the direction the voting takes. Reviews were mixed on Encounters, but overwhelmingly good for Artificial Paradise. These two have just been ordered from Greg Walker, so I'm anxious to hear them. I've listened to both Presets and Posthumous Silence the past couple of days and thoroughly enjoy them both. I agree with ProgFan...just really good, solid lyrics coupled with beautiful music. E -------------
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Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 14:06
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Gluhmann's voice is really amazing. ------------- "One likes to believe in the freedom of Music" - Neil Peart, The Spirit of Radio |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 14:32
| I have all six and I will say one thing for them - they are all consistantly strong. In fact, that may be seen as a failing - little changes from album to album other than strength of melody. |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 14:43
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Like I stated in my review, Presets is a wonderful ride , as "I can't get it out of my head" (ELO song). Its more accessible than previous efforts but the aforementioned melodies are virulently contagious on this record. Plus, my two daughters and son simply love it too, which is a prime motivator in deflecting their appreciation from the sheer aural garbage they are subjected to. Seeing them groove to "One step beyond" , and drool at the prog-rap of "When the leaves fall down" is worth a million smiles of pride. From Posthumous Silence" the track "In Chains" has great favour with them. |
Posted By: eugene
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 14:57
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Have all of their albums - first one impressed me a lot - "what a great band" - I thought then - mind you I was very much into neo-prog by that time as well. Second was about the same or even better. Third got me slightly bored as the band was seemingly repeating themselves. X-Rayed bored me to tears, and I was moving away from neo in general terms then. Posthuman Silence was quite a pleasant surprise as it turned out to be much better than the previous one, and I thought Silvan are still very much alive, despite me already being not in the neo sort of things. However Presets demonstrated a total decay - a complete let down of an album IMO - band run out of ideas and the music is totaly uninspired and ultimately boring even to listen to in the car; only the very last track, if I remember correctly, is more or less listenable. I voted for Deliverance.
------------- carefulwiththataxe |
Posted By: Spacemac
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 15:29
Posthumous Silence 
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Posted By: Komodo dragon
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 18:13
| I reely like Paradise and give my vote to him |
Posted By: anglagardist
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 19:11
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First of all I have to say one warning : I'm not a big fan of neoprog or other easy accessible forms of prog , so my view on Sylvan can be a little bit different. As for Sylvan, they are for me one of the few exceptions - their best songs can be appreciated by symphonic prog purist as I am. Why? Their best songs are not too sweet (as e.g. Collage), too poppy (as e.g. Pendragon), too bombastic (as e.g. Arena), their best songs are in my ears one of the best songs in their musical territory. So where I've found these best songs? I have first five albums and here is my order : 1. Deliverance - 4 really great songs (Seeking Nights, Those Defiant Ways, Deliverance, Childhood Dreams) - stylistically neoprog with some nice symphonic touches ( esp. beautiful piano segments) and great Gilmourian el. guitar 2. X-Rayed - fourth album has brought change in direction - less accesible and more metallic-alternative sound. Quite underrated album with no weak song, but at the same time, no real highlight 3. Artificial Paradise - 20 min. title song with aggressive and melancholic sections is for me the best Sylvan's song so far, another very good song (Deep Inside), unfortunately the rest is too 'easy listening' for sympho lover 4. Posthumous Silence - the most professional, but according to my taste too melodic and accesible and too polished, sometimes bordering with art-pop ------------- Mostly it's impossible to win the fight against stupidity. But always it's necessary to attempt it. |
Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 22:22
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I can't vote either having only heard the first three records.I'm going to listen to the rest in order."Artificial Paradise" is the best of what i have heard. ------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart" "Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN |
Posted By: lighthouse
Date Posted: May 09 2007 at 23:31
I got their first CD "deliverance" the first month is came out and I really liked it sadly for me in recent years the pop influence is becoming too strong I`m at the point now where I don`t get all that excited about new releases any more . I believe its a shame they played the popular card this band could have been more 
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Posted By: Forgotten Son
Date Posted: May 10 2007 at 11:55
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1. Artificial Paradise 2. Presets 3. Posthumous Silence -------------  
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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 10 2007 at 18:46
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I should be getting both Artificial Paradise and Encounters in the mail tomorrow. Taking into consideration that it's gotten a lot of votes, I'm spinning AF first. E -------------
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Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 12 2007 at 10:31
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Artificial Paradise and Encounters made it yesterday. I've only had a chance to listen to just a little bit of AP; but, from what I've heard it sounds to be one of their best. Beautiful melodies. E -------------
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Posted By: demolition man
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 07:58
Man, you said it!
I would go as far as to say he has one of the most best voices in rock!!
I love Sylvan's music to bits. It's my latest big music find. The albums are all different and show real progression and muturity.
When a band starts with a solid neo prog album (Deliverence) you've gotta say "more of the same please". But no, there's not. The music steers to a more melodic style and the vocals just get better and better with each release.
Encounters is sublime, just sublime. Melodies that make me so excited.
Artificial Paradise probably got the band recognised and it's very solid throughout. Shows a tendancy towards mainstream rock / pop in places, but that's ok. Beautiful guitars and vocals.
Then with a massive big bang the band release one of the best concept albums ever, in my opinion: Posthumous Silence. Utterly fantastic from start to finish. However, could the band top that? Could they have peaked too early? Possibly, I thought.
Well, with Presets, they didn't quite top PS but instead changed direction yet again. I guess more mainstream again. The album has a few weak moments but is worth every penny because of the tracks "One Step Beyond" and "Cold Suns". here Marco Gluhman's voice has matured yet further to it's full potential.
What next for Sylvan? A live dvd later this year.
One thing is certain, the band will continue to progress and surprise. That's the mark of an excellent band; one of my very favourites! Sylvan - superb
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Melomaniac wrote:Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 08:14
damn... thought this was a David Sylvian thread  
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Posted By: demolition man
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 17:30
The old one's are the best eh?
Similar thing happened on the Porkies site on the Sylvan thread.
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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 17:33
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I'm ashamed to say I've heard nothing form this band other than a few short sample clips. They're not a high priority for me. I've had enough of the cookie cutter Neo-Metal bands for awhile.
------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 17:37
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I got Deliverance a long time ago and didn't think much of it at the time. I thought it was for the most part a fairly bland early Marillion ripoff. I ignored the band until Posthumous Silence came out and I heard great things about it. I absolutely loved that album. Since then I've heard Presets, which I also think is a brilliant album, X-Rayed and Artificial Paradise. Both are decent efforts, but no match for their latest two. I've recently gone back and listened to Deliverance again, thinking that maybe I would have a different feeling about it after hearing more of their stuff. Nope. Still think it's a fairly bland early Marillion ripoff. But they have gotten so much better with time. ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Komodo dragon
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 17:51
I agree with that man Artificial Paradise have that 20 minute long game but the rest is just  ... Posthumous Silence is most professional album and their best work !------------- 
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 18:10
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I bought Presets and dislike it immensly - it is the most disappointing album I have heard in many years and the first time that following a 'recommendation' from the PA has ever turned up a complete dud. Nothing on this Earth would encourage me to listen to anything else by them. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Komodo dragon
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 18:28
That bad haaaaaaa...I haven't heard it yet...but it got -------------
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: June 24 2007 at 18:48
True, however - 3.3 should mean Good (3) to Essential (4) by the rating definitions. ------------- What? |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: June 25 2007 at 08:41
hahha.. yeah.. something like that..... just be thankful he has a fanclub of ...what.. one here |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 15:35
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I've downloaded their 4 most recent albums from eMusic and so far I really enjoy their sound. I thought these were their only 4 since that is all that eMusic has listed. I will have to track down Deliverance and Encounters. Listening to Plane of Truth right now from PS, very nice guitar solo. I also really like their singer's voice. I guess I might say that I highly recommend this band to those rare prog fans out there like me who like their prog to be somewhat more accessible. ------------- 
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Posted By: demolition man
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 17:31
Excellent!
I can thoroughly recommend Encounters and Deliverance.
Great , great band.
Watch out for their dvd which will be released early in 2008.
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Posted By: Spacemac
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 19:54
| Posthumous Silence |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 20:24
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I paid a good chunk of money for the now out-of-print Deliverance and it's my least favorite. As for Presets, it's OK, but a step back after the amazing Posthumous Silence. The title track to Presets is friggin' amazing, though. E -------------
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Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 20:29
Posthumous Silence is a masterpiece. Although I also like Presets and Artificial Paradise quite a bit as well. Don't care much for Deliverance though. It seems like a rather dull imitation of Fish-era Marillion. A couple of decent songs, but it's not an album that holds together very well for me. Posthumous, Artificial and Presets are all excellent IMO, but PS is the best of the bunch.
 I forgot that I said almost the very same thing 6 months ago in this same thread. Must be old age or alcohol abuse. ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 20:37
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I have X-Rayed but haven't paid much attention on it (damn mp3s...) I have recently bought AP through EBay and I'm in the progress of discovering it Thus far, it sounds at least interesting |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: December 07 2007 at 20:40
same here.... both I guess... can't believe Secrets of the Beehive or Brilliant Trees isn't an option... haven't heard those albums. Need to explore more of this albums... ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |