David Sylvian is a man apart. In a thirty-year career that spans the New Romantic movement, ambient works and progressive rock, and mature and esoteric pop, Sylvian has tested popular styles and bent them to his own vision. But the '00s have seen a more extreme side of his work.

While 2003's 'Blemish' startled long-time fans with its emotional rigour, Sylvian has taken the next step with 'Manafon' - a work of nuance and stern musicality, that is also intriguing, suspenseful, and horribly beautiful.

Buy Music:

David Sylvian on amazon.com

David Sylvian on amazon.co.uk

On 'Manafon', Sylvian pursues "a completely modern kind of chamber music. Intimate, dynamic, emotive, democratic, economical." In sessions in London, Vienna, and Tokyo, Sylvian assembled the world's leading improvisers and innovators, artists who explore free improvisation, space-specific performance, and live electronics.

From Evan Parker and Keith Rowe, to Fennesz and members of Polwechsel, to Sachiko M and Otomo Yoshihide, the musicians provide both a backdrop and a counterweight to his own vocal performances - which, minus one instrumental, are nakedly the center of each piece.

Sylvian's voice has never been so dominant or so striking, and his resonant tenor and deliberate vibrato captivate the listener from the start of "Small Metal Gods." Its prominence would come off as egotistical - except that each performance is an exercise in self-exposure, and each character study is written in the third-person, to allow the maximum detachment.

"It's like a one-man monologue in which every change of light and backdrop is crucial to the carrying of the central performance. It's an ensemble work even though there is a central performance."

Though the setlist is all ballads, romanticism is out, and no percussion provides a pulse. All the melody and rhythm rest in the voice. Aside from overdubs of acoustic guitar or John Tilbury's somber, Feldman-esque phrases on piano, Sylvian enhanced but did not reconfigure the improvisations, giving himself just the skeletons of songs to guide him.

When an instrument locks with the lyrics - as when Fennesz introduces a texture that clinches the disaster of "Snow White in Appalachia" - the moment is indescribable; when it dissolves, Sylvian doesn't pause. Neither a complement nor a Greek chorus, the instrumentalists maintain an ambiguous attitude to the singer, and what he's saying. When Sylvian's delivery implies sympathy or mockery on "The Greatest Living Englishman," the music is cantankerous but dry, and Otomo Yoshihide's abrupt snippets of classical vinyl may or may not share the joke.

The closing track, "Manafon," depicts the British poet R. S. Thomas. Sylvian explains that it is "a description of a man of faith, who struggles with that faith, who imposes an order on the external world in the hope of finding it internally. A man who embraces the morals and values of his faith and lives by them but who also struggles with the silence that burns inside his own heart and mind. God's silence. He's a man out of time who begins to look, on the surface, more like some tragicomic figure as time passes. While he seems to be an insufferable individual in many ways there's a quixotic element in his quest for knowledge, for upholding morals and values that even he struggles with when it comes to believing in their efficacy."

Manafon's contradictions lay at the heart of its excellence. It's driven not just by the tension between improvisation and composition, frontman and ensemble, or in Sylvian's words, "intimacy and solitude." Manafon captures the dilemma of a man who studies himself clincically, but cannot truly understand himself; who's disillusioned, but maybe laughably so. The most common sensation, which hangs in almost every note, is a feeling of suspense. The sole instrumental - to which Sylvian also contributes - sounds less like a performance, and more like a wellspring of possibilities.

The album ends simply on a phrase and a breath. But there's a happier ending in its other theme: Manafon also explores the creative process. Intuition drew Sylvian to these pieces and these players, and the surprises they bring: a cello visiting like a warm hand on a forehead, the unpredictable use of unadulterated sine waves, the brassy path of Evan Parker's soprano sax solo. Manafon has a forbidding core, but aesthetically, each piece is an engrossing discovery.

"Maybe I'm attracted to the stories of individuals who search for meaning on their own terms," says Sylvian. "But what I'm fascinated by is the devotion to a creative discipline. The meaning with which the work imbues the life regardless of its reception and, to a certain extent, its importance."

Sylvian's search is endless, and maybe quixotic. The fruits of the journey are unknowably rich.

David Sylvian Official Website

Lance Reegan Diehl guest artist at the Aomori International Blues Festival in Japan. July 23rd to the 25th

Guitar expert and world-renowned performer Lance Reegan-Diehl will be hitting the road again to perform as guest Artist in Japan with DLB ZED Guitars, Sound Drive Amps, Graphtech and AXON.

Lance will be performing with the Curtis King Band as special guest for three days July 23, 2009 to 25th all in his unique Blues/Rock style, and in Tokyo he will do demonstrations regarding Guitarists and Technology. He will be using the DLB ZED Midi Guitar with Ghost Pickup by Graphtech, and the AXON AX100 with Sound Drive Guitar Amps, as well as the NEW a/b box, dual loop controller DOUBLE BARREL by DEELEEBOB MUSIC PRODUCTS, and discussing the many ways guitarists can be free of pedal crackle, and guitar change overs in a LIVE situation.

A send off show will be at the Rocky Mountain Tavern in Seoul Korea July 18th at 10pm with David Dauberman and Megan Kim L.R.D. band.

Anaheim California January 2009 Lance performed at the NAMM music trade show with great success. While performing he received Artist Endorsement from Graptech - GHOST systems, Armas guitars, AXON, and became more involved with the MIDI guitar systems - which all are currently being used for an upcoming studio album. He performed once again in Frankfurt Germany at the Musik Meese April 1st to 4th. As well as outside concerts and clinics.

Lance Reegan-Diehl (L.R.D.) is a Guitarist / Composer / Producer / Clinician with eight studio albums to his credit including the most recent rock-instrumental gem Chasing My Reflection. Originally from Canada Lance calls Seoul Korea home.

L.R.D. travels the world performing concerts, running guitar clinics and is one of the most active indie artists supporting U.S. troops overseas with ongoing live dates throughout Asia and Europe with Armed Forces Entertainment.

Visit Lance’s home on the web for tour dates, clinics, news, downloads, pictures and more:

Lance Reegan-Diehl Official Website
Lance Reegan-Diehl on CD Baby

Japanese experimental icons MONO are set to release 'Hymn To The Immortal Wind', their fifth and most expansive album to date. Due March 24, 2009 via Temporary Residence, the album finds the band effortlessly soaring through melodies both sincere in approach and grandiose in scale, all with the aid of a full 28-piece chamber orchestra.

Watch "Follow The Map" video:

MONO on amazon.com

MONO on amazon.co.uk

Their first release since 2006's landmark 'You Are There', MONO finds themselves raising the stakes yet again, steering their unmistakable cascade of sound into a dense world of strings, flute, organ, piano, tympani and more.

Hear for yourself on the majestic "Follow The Map".

Download "Follow The Map" MP3 from MONO's 'Hymn To The Immortal Wind' [March 24th; Temporary Residence Ltd.]

Recorded and mixed by Steve Albini in June and November 2008 at his Electrical Audio Recording studio in Chicago, IL, the resulting seven songs will be delivered on the brink of MONO's 10th anniversary as a group.

To celebrate, the four-piece are planning two very special performances in New York City. Welcoming another twenty-three pieces to their arsenal, the band will be backed by the Wordless Music Orchestra for a celebration of their past accomplishments and the newly minted beast that is 'Hymn to the Immortal Wind'.

The two evenings; May 8th and 9th, hosted by The New York Society for Ethical Culture and Le Poisson Rouge respectively will mark the ONLY North American dates in support of their new LP and will undoubtedly be evenings to remember.

Tracklist for MONO Hymn To The Immortal Wind:

01 Ashes In The Snow
02 Burial At Sea
03 Silent Flight, Sleeping Dawn
04 Pure As Snow (Trails Of The Winter Storm)
05 Follow The Map (MP3 http://www.dailyrindblog.com/audio/mono_followthemap.mp3 )
06 The Battle To Heaven
07 Everlasting Light

What The Press is Saying About MONO:

"If you're looking for music that transcends language and culture, well, this is it." - Alternative Press

"Songwriters whose lyrics are guitar lines sung, shrieked, and wailed to the accompaniment of a masterful rhythm section." - All Music

"MONO's fuzz-pedal fireworks are impressive in their sheer volume and vigor" - Pitchfork

"MONO captures a voluminous immediacy, an affirming, searing air." - XLR8R

MONO 2009 Tour Dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

03-11 Osaka, JP - Unagidani Sunsui
03-14 Tokyo, JP - Liquid Room
03-20 Brighton, UK - Digital
03-21 Birmingham, UK - Hare and Hound
03-22 Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
03-23 Glasgow, UK - Stereo
03-24 Sheffield, UK - Corporation
03-25 Bristol, UK - The Croft
03-26 London, UK - Scala
03-27 Paris, France - Glaz’Art
03-28 Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat
03-29 Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang
03-30 Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen
03-31 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser
04-01 Oslo, Norway - John Dee
04-02 St Petersburg, Russia - A2
04-04 Berlin, Germany - Lido
04-05 Poznan, Poland - Stary Browar
04-06 Dresden, Germany - Beatpol
04-07 Prague, Czech Republic - Palac Akropolis
04-08 Vienna, Austria - Arena
04-09 Munich, Germany - Feierwerk
04-10 Athens, Greece - Fuzz Club
04-12 Brussels, Belgium - Domino Festival
04-13 Oberhausen, Germany - Zentrum-Altenberg
04-14 Frankfurt, Germany – Nachtleben
04-15 St Gallen, Switzerland - Grabenhalle
04-17 Barcelona, Spain - La[2]
04-18 Madrid, Spain - Ritmo Y Compas
04-19 Toulouse, France - Festival Lacrymal
04-20 Bordeaux, France - BT59
04-21 Nantes, France - Olympic
04-22 Bourges, France - Printemps De Bourges
04-23 Esch-Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
04-24 Tilburg, Netherlands - Roadburn Festival
05-08 New York, NY - Society for Ethical Culture Concert Hall*
05-09 New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge*

*Only U.S. appearances - In celebration of their 10th anniversary, MONO will be performing with a full 23-piece chamber orchestra

For more music and information, go to:

MONO Official Website
MONO MySpace

Petty Booka: Genre - Bluegrass

Japan is bringing a wildly diverse mix of its latest musical exports to America - from Tokyo bluegrass and comic punk to death dub and several genres in between, as the country seeks a larger audience for Japanese performers.

For many, the width and breadth of Japanese music is not only refreshing, it's surprising - as is the fact that Japan is the globe's second largest music market behind the United States (the U.K., home of industry juggernauts such as the Beatles and U2, is a distant third).

For many Americans, though, and particularly those in the movie, music and entertainment business, modern Japanese music remains elusive. For some, it means girl-driven J-pop or pulsating soundtracks behind the anime shows broadcast on U.S. cable networks.

But spend some time exploring the website www.jetro.org/sxsw2008 with its links to Japanese band sites and it becomes apparent that Japanese performers have much to offer a U.S. audience looking for new musical highlights, emotions and adventures.

The website promotes the appearance of numerous Japanese bands at two special events during one of the world's most influential music festivals, South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, March 12-16, 2008. As Japan's trade promotion arm, JETRO-Houston (Japan External Trade Organization) works to promote Japanese music and trade oversees.

This is the 11th year that Japanese bands have headlined a special stage during SXSW, and the showcases have become popular draws at the festival, which now attracts nearly 12,000 music industry professionals from around the world.

The Japanese bands playing at SXSW and headlining Japan Bash, March 13, and Japan Nite, March 14, are hoping to raise decibels of awareness in the U.S. entertainment industry and open doors to opportunities with record labels, film producers and advertising agencies. Already gaming giant Sega picked up Ketchup Mania, a band playing an infectious brand of female vocal-infused punk, for one of its commercials.

In fact, songs like ketchup mania's frenetic yet precise "Namida Vacuum Sound" - with its catchy punk foundation and a gritty surf solo segueing into a few bars of metal - demonstrate how Japanese bands take a derivative approach but then add a twist that is their own.

The Japanese bands playing Texas are certainly a diverse mix:

There's the girl ukulele duo Petty Booka; Peelander-z and their action-packed, comic-punk stage shows with the fun cheesiness of Godzilla movies; the aural onslaught of space guitar rockers Avengers in Sci-Fi, with their effects-enhanced, layered sound; Dokkebi Q, the progenitors of death dub - a mashup of Jamaican dub, brooding trance and irreverent punk; Quartz-head 02, improvised dance music courtesy of a jazz saxophonist trained at the Berklee College of Music; and Samurai rockers The Emeralds, who have parlayed an energetic live show and rapid-fire lyrics into an American following, as evidenced by comments left on their MySpace page.

JAPAN BASH PARTY, 5-8pm Thursday, March 13, 2008

South Tent, Brush Square Park, 401 Trinity St, Austin , TX 78701
Featuring: Peelander-Z, Toddle, Avengers in Sci-fi, ketchup mania

JAPAN NITE, 8pm Friday, March 14, 2008

Elysium, 705 Red River, Austin , TX 78705
Featuring: Detroit 7, Petty Booka, Ketchup Mania, quartz-head 02, Avengers in Sci-fi, Sodopp

For more information, and to experience the unique persona of Japanese performers, visit:

JETRO bands/SXSW Official Website

The UK's hippest new independent label Sonic Vista is hosting three nights in Tokyo, Japan. On November 11th and 12th, 2007 Ernest (described by the BBC as on the cusp of something amazing!) will headline at O Nest in Shibuya, Tokyo previewing songs from their innovative new album to be released in January 2008. On November 11th they will play with 24 and MASH. On the 12th Ernest is set to play with Caucus and Reach Up To The Universe. On the 13th November they play at What The Dickens in Shibuya (this is a charity night and will feature several support bands and a party atmosphere).

The O Nest gig will also have CD giveaways and vouchers on the door. See Indies Playground on Myspace for more information.

The visit is Sonic Vista's first foray into Japan after the successful trade mission in August and several Japanese labels will be in attendance. The gig will also be professionally filmed and recorded. Sonic Vista have recently signed some incredible breaking bands and this visit is a prelude to further visits in 2008.

Sonic Vista on Myspace
Sonic Vista - Japanese site

Seattle based "party rock super group" United State Of Electronica (or U.S.E.) has been creating quite a buzz around their live shows - and on the dance floor. They've toured the US and internationally including shows at clubs and festivals in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. Now U.S.E. is releasing their latest single, "Open Your Eyes" on Concept Music in the UK. With electronica pulses and disco beats, their infamous vocoder and party attitude, U.S.E. is sure to continue to win over the hearts of pop music fans from around the world.

United State Of Electronica (U.S.E.) interview with BandWeblogs.com
Compiled by Dave Tommo

Dave Tommo: How many people are in your band and who does what?

U.S.E.: There are anywhere from 7 (core musicians) to about 100 people on stage. The other 89 are dancing robots w/ healthy, human hearts. Jon e. "Blades" Rock - drums, Lightweight Luva, rice pilaf Derek "Shadowz" Chan - bass, death stare, vice grip Carly "Skullz" Nicklaus - Diva vocals, Mexi-fresh-seeker-outer Amanda "Eaglez" Khanjian - Diva vocals, tempo adjusta, Make-it-in-the-Big-Apple-well-wisher Peter "Danger Zone" Sali - Guitar, bloody murder screams Jason "Snake" Holstrom - Guitar, fist pumper, gun slinga Noah "Legendz" Weaver - Keys, robots, world hugger.

Are you looking for world domination or are you after something bigger?

If by world domination you mean for everyone to like us and to follow our commands, that would be a bit too much responsibility, because the old adage "absolute power corrupts absolutely" kind of scares us; we would just end up ordering people to get us things like macadamia nut ice cream and back massages w/ cloud blossom and cherub b.o. scented lotion. But from an empyreal point of view, we could just get the world together for one big party and leave our negative beliefs outside of the party grounds and perhaps something that changes the course of history for the better might take place. That may be more appropriate than world dominatrix.

Why would it be good if it was the 70's again?

People would dance in many different ways, there would only be really huge carphones for the super rich, no Bush regime, cheaper cereal, no SUV's except cool looking range rovers, vista lite drumsets were easier to find, and Led Zeppelin didn't wear pleated slacks and flowery silk shirts (until 1979).

Is ABBA the best pop band ever? If not who?

ABBA is one of the best of course, but they have plenty of good company. Jamiroquai, Daft Punk, Barry White, George McRea, Autograph, Snake Lion, Al B. Sure, Steely Dan, Jungle Toa Toa and his Rubber band, Weezer, Refreshments, Garrison Starr, Dolour, Oasis, Hurricane Chris, this list is getting too long.

Where would your ideal gig be?

On top of the World on a large oak platform surrounded by marshmallows and lollipops.

Where would you be without your vocoder?

Somewhere in Lichtenstein opening a restaurant called "Delish Lichtenstish".

What is the best thing about Seattle?

The landscape. Being able to see snow capped mountains, oceans and forests from one vantage point - then deciding to go record music at these landmarks which are all only an hour away in most any direction.

What was it like playing in Japan?

It was as amazing as you can imagine it to be. The people, food, and architecture are truly awe-inspiring.

Did you go to any good parties there?

Yes, but what goes on in Japan stays in Japan. Though it can be said that what their drug culture lacks, they more than make up for in raw food and rice wine.

How do you record in the studio?

As mentioned earlier, we find a cabin on a mountain lake, a barn, in the woods, or in our guitar players basement studio, or even a pro set up, and knock out the riffs after pressing the red record button.

What would you say is the most important tool in your box?

The hi hat. And the floor thomas.

Where do you like to unwind?

Usually in fields, lakes, and/or helicopters or stress factories.

What movies (if any) inspire U.S.E.?

Weekend at Bernie's part II and Cool Runnings.

What's on your rider?

Red Bull, water and towels. If you want to know the miscellaneous you can throw us a party.

Will you be at Glastonbury in 2008?

We would love to be at this historic, magnanimous event. Will you be at our barn raising in 2009?

We would love to.

For more information:

United State Of Electronica Official Website
U.S.E. on Myspace

Serrato will be performing music from his CDcatalog, including his current release, Pianomania, enjoying popular success on jazz radio throughout the U.S.

Produced by Hiromi Kinoshita, the concert is being sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities. The organization provides programs to help families with children in need through appropriate hospital settings, family rooms and mobile care programs.

Paul feels a kinship with this cause since, in addition to producing music, he works for the New York City schools, teaching English to immigrants in underserved communities.

This is his first Japanese tour....

For additional information, contact:
Ms. Hiromi Kinoshita at underthetree@msj.biglobe.ne.jp

Website:
Paul Serrato

"Rose exactly represents the new breed of independent artists: globally focused, self starters that are able to bridge culture, language and values for a worldwide audience," commented MusicDish founder Eric de Fontenay. "The fact that she sold 50,000 CDs in Japan with no industry support speaks volumes."

Her debut CD "Family Love" boasts mature songs that blend a folk singer's lyrical depth, a pop singer's catchy melodies, and a hip hop diva's sultry yet raw vocal power into a unique sound. Starting in the underground - the streets of Vancouver and Tokyo - she is rising into the musical mainstream, because people's ears thirst for something real that they can feel. Currently, she is blowing up in Japan, where she has sold more than 50,000 records and performs weekly; all without the aid of any record label or music biz machinery.

In addition to her heavy independent CD sales, Rose Beach has been interviewed and received heavy airplay on Co-op Radio in her home base of Vancouver. She has also been interviewed and played on Inter-FM Radio in Tokyo. Rose was recently featured in the January 2007 issue of Hiragana Times.

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and raised primarily in Saskatchewan by a strong, loving and musically inclined mother of Canadian aboriginal ancestry and a farmer stepfather with a love of country music, she had the dream of music early in life. This dream took Rose to Vancouver, where she fronted a trip hop band called The Loxley Project.

At the same time, she began to build a love affair with Japan, working in many of Tokyo's famous clubs, including the world renown Club Asia. Her solo work and the energy of the Tokyo music scene caused Rose Beach to decide to expand her musical knowledge and to become a more serious and focused producer and performer. She entered music engineering school at Columbia Academy in Vancouver and graduated from the Digital Analog Recording Arts Program in June 2005.

For more information on Rose Beach, visit http://www.musicdish.net/rosebeach/

Rose Beach joins an eclectic roster of artists under the MusicDish brand, including Haitian American singer/songwriter Karlex; electro-groove artist Polarity/1; calypso-reggae band Kobo Town; alternative rock Love Kills Theory; folk-country artist Amy Speace and drum 'n' bass artist Mashed Buddha.

About MusicDish, LLC
MusicDish, LLC has been at the forefront of the digital sector, publishing some of the industry's leading music magazines, including MusicDish e-Journal (http://www.musicdish.com) and Mi2N (http://www.mi2n.com). MusicDish Network is the artist development department of MusicDish LLC. Launched in 2001 as a marketing service for independent artists, MusicDish Network has grown into a complete artist development program, leveraging brand development, saturated and relationship marketing, digital distribution and industry outreach to support emerging artists' and bands' careers (http:// www.musicdish.net).

Vernon was supported by his all-star band consisting of Juan Nelson (Grammy Award winning bass player and member of Virgin Records recording group "Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminals), Derek Organ (drummer Janet Jackson, Gladys Knight, New Edition, Mary Jane Girls), Norman Weatherly (Ike Turner Band, Rose Royce), and Edward Neal (The Dramatics, Bloodstone, Rufus Thomas). They descended upon the world famous Musicians Institute Hollywood, where they gave a tremendous, crowd pleasing performance for the international body of students attending.

After the performance, as is customary with Vernon, he took and answered questions ranging from his career in the music business to the type of gear that he uses during performances. After the Q&A the students went crazy when Boosweet Records promotions and marketing director Pierre Neilly gave out CD's, t-shirts, hats and other merchandise to the very eager and excited students, making the event a total and complete success.

Vernon Neilly will travel to Japan in April to perform, visit music schools and, most importantly, gain support for a big charity jazz event called, "Katrina Struck Jazz Charity" that he is involved in. "Katrina Struck Jazz Charity" was put together by Japan Enterprise LLC and their director Chiharu Fujimoto. Realizing that the government has fallen very short on their promises to victims of the Katrina Hurricane disaster, this event will raise money to support these victims, some of whom are still homeless and who do not even have the basic necessities to survive. Vernon will do interviews at FM Yokohama, J-Wave Radio, Musicum TV and several other media outlets, as well as interviews for some of Japan's leading music trades such as Jazz Life.

Commenting on his involvement in the charity event Vernon said, "It is criminal that the most powerful and richest country in the world has not taken care of it's own citizens, while it continues to pour money out of the country and waste resources that are much needed here to care for our nations elderly, sick and poor. Money that is needed to upgrade the public school systems here in the US, so that our children can have an outlook for a brighter future and be competitive with the other children of the world on an academic level; I could go on and on... Americans are a giving and charitable nation, but we must not and cannot forget our own!"

Those wanting to get more information, or who want to help can contact Japan Enterprise LLC at fujimoto@j-enterprise.com.

Vernon Neilly is an award winning guitarist/producer who is also a world touring performer. He is also the CEO/President of his own internationally distributed label Boosweet Records, and Guitar Global, a company that exports high quality guitars and basses internationally. Vernon has also participated in 2 major blockbuster films by Warner Bros and Universal Pictures, and has done a cameo appearance in the UPN TV Comedy "One On One." Vernon is endorsed and sponsored by some of the worlds leading musical equipment and musical software manufacturers such as Seymour Duncan, Tagima Guitars, Giannini Strings & Guitars, Morely, Digitech Electronics, Cakewalk, Sony Media Products, Levys Bags and Straps, Nady, Xotic Effects and Jim Dunlop who supplies his signature guitar picks.

For more information on Vernon, visit http://www.vernonneilly.com

Vernon Neilly is also currently promoting Vernon Neilly Signature Guitar Giveaway, presented by Tagima Guitars and Seymour Duncan. Launched in late 2006, the giveaway will offer the opportunity for entrants to win a Tagima Signature VN1 Vernon Neilly Guitar, Set of Seymour Duncan Pickups, G-Fire CD and Vernon Neilly Live In Brasil DVD. The deadline for the giveaway is March 30, 2007. For more information or to enter, visit Guitar Global http://www.guitarglobal.com/content/contest.asp