Brilliant Trees

One of the excellent forces behind Japan, one of England's best bands. How many of ex-japan members are assisting I'm not sure. But up till now the creative forces are still there and the need to create innovative excellent music. David's unique voice and the underpinning's of excellent musicianship. Take for instance the trumpet solo (could be coronet not sure) on Nostalgia. The rock sounds on Red Guitar with the excellent Bass w overtones backbeat, coupled with the Piano interplay, leading into Davids great guitar work. One of Japan's greatness was the suptle interplay of sounds at times that had a great simplicity and D. Sylvians carrying on that tradition here. Take for example the synth sounds on Backwaters. This is not merely a copying of what othersare or were doing. The whole album is very solid. ********

I listened to this album almost continuously when it first came out (and for several years after that). This weekend when I dug it out again after a long hiatus, I wasn't sure what to expect. It's an album I associate with my (more) angsty youth when I'd lie on my bed for hours and let the music and the sound of David Sylvian's voice sink into my pores. Would I now find it cringe-worthy? Hurriedly delegate it to a teen nostalgia box? Well, I can tell you that I was blown away. If anything I appreciate its magic even more some 20 years later. This was David Sylvian's first solo work after Japan's break-up, and he allowed himself to be much more revealing. The lyrics are deeply personal and spiritual. The musical style I'd describe as jazzy-ethereal-poppy. I also found it more positive and uplifting than I remembered (it obviously bends to many moods). I'm now on a Japan kick (I know that DS has been dismissive of Japan but I think they were wonderful, especially in the last couple of years). Anyway, Brilliant Trees: a modern, quite brilliant album. I'll be listening to this for a long time to come.

As good as anything he did in Japan...but different. It's not jazz. And it's not new wave. And it's not pop. But it has all of them in there...along with brilliant sound design, imaginative use of instrumentation, and ambience for days. Steve Jansen's drumming is as wonderful as ever, Barbieri's synth work is cutting-edge and the guest parts by some of the world's great session players are used with restraint and tasteful elegance. Thirty years after its release, I still play it regularly. And every time I play it, I'm inspired to be a better musician and songwriter.

Walks a fine line between beautiful and pretentious. Mostly succeeds, and when it does it is resplendent!

David Sylvian is incredibly prolific! There are so many things to listen to, but this release was my first taste of his work & I never tire of it! Such an amazing musician- his voice is velvet & his collaborations with others are worth an exploration.listen for yourself

Great !

I had this CD long time ago, but I lost it so I purchased again. This album is amazing.

This album was purchased to replace on old CD that finally died...lol!I am a drummer you see, and the opening track, 'Pulling Punches', is just one of the funkiest Rock tracks I know of...a great groove, and some excellent music all round. The 'trumpet' solo in particular stands out as a great part of the song too. David Sylvian has a great voice, and the whole album is a great example of the then contemporary Rock that he played, both solo, and as the lead singer with the band Japan!