File:David Sylvian - Ghosts - Interview - The Other Side of Life - Riverside Studios - 20 November 1982

40 years ago today, David Sylvian made this one-off solo performance for the BBC TV youth culture show Riverside.

Here’s my restored version of the two broadcasts of that unique and beautiful appearance.

•

Now I find myself alone

“No, we’re splitting up”, David Sylvian tells Riverside presenter Mike Andrews. Sylvian’s declaration feels very poignant, after his stark stripped-down 12-string accompanied solo performance of Ghosts. Mike Andrews responds, “…Japan have fought so hard to get to where they are now, which is one of the biggest bands in the country”.

Despite Japan being on their most extensive tour to date, and finally enjoying commercial and critical success in the UK and abroad, including the March 1982 top 5 hit single "Ghosts", the band would indeed imminently split up. They played their last ever concert in Nagoya, Japan on 16 December 1982. Then all that remained for the group to do was complete the Oil on Canvas “live” album and video. When Oil on Canvas was released in June 1983, it was another big success for the band, ironically and unusually for a live album, it became their highest charting album.

“And so for your first solo project après Japan, do you have something in mind?”, Mike Andrew’s asks. After a pause, Sylvian answers, “It’s very difficult to talk about it… I’ve only just got the ideas together to do it. I haven’t found musicians I want to work with yet..”

The Riverside appearance was during Japan’s 6-night residency at the Hammersmith Odeon. Riverside Studios are also in Hammersmith, and in fact are located on the same street. It’s cool to imagine that after the filming of his Riverside appearance, Sylvian, carrying his 12 string, took the 3 or 4 minute walk along Queen Caroline Street, on a cold London November afternoon, from Riverside Studios back to the Hammersmith Odeon, to rejoin his band mates for the show that night.

Sylvian's debut solo album, Brilliant Trees, would be released in 1984. It was another critical and commercial success, peaking at No. 4 in the UK charts. The album included contributions from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Kenny Wheeler, Jon Hassell, Holger Czukay, Ronny Drayton, Danny Thompson, and from former Japan bandmembers, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri.

It would be four more years until Sylvian’s first tour as a solo artist in 1988. Joining Sylvian were Jansen, Barbieri, Robbie Aceto, Mark Isham, Ian Maidman and former Japan live guitarist David Torn. No Japan songs were performed on the tour.

•

The quality of the visual source I used for this video is far from HD. In order to create better definition, I resorted to using a higher AI setting than I would usually employ. AI video enhancement is a mixed bag. With careful use, in combination with other enhancements, it’s possible to get great results. However, the idea that it’s a universal quick fix, which will create the appearance of authentic looking HD from any crappy old footage is – let’s put it politely - wishful thinking. Using AI enhancement to excess can give footage an unrealistic and animation-like appearance, and even create disturbing visual artefacts such as making human skin appear reptilian and cause hair to look like cobwebs.

Another issue is that the audio source was extremely oversaturated, creating distortion. I did what I could to mitigate, but it’s still noticeable, particularly on The Other Side of Life.

Hopefully a better source will pop up one day. For now, this is all we have.

Thanks for watching, hope you dig it!

•

Credits

Audio and Video Source: David Sylvian | Ghosts | Interview | Other Side of Life | Live at Riverside Studios, London | Recorded 20 November 1982 | Directed by David G. Croft | Broadcast 29 November 1982 & 17 January 1983

Musicians: David Sylvian | vocals, 12-string guitar

•

This video is dedicated to my sister Sally, who loves David Sylvian. Sally was brainwashed into it I suppose, hearing Japan so often blasting out of her brothers room when we were growing up in the early 80's.

•

Always more videos to follow, so please keep your electric eye on me babe!

I don't own the rights, and I'm not making any money out of this etc. Just a fan making videos for other fans.

Please Share, Like, Comment, Subscribe NachosVideos.com Facebook.com/TheNachoVideos YouTube.com/NachoVideo ok.ru/nachovideo DailyMotion.com/NachosVideos Instagram.com/NachoVideo Twitter.com/NachosVideos Patreon.com/nachosvideos

TheNachoVideos@gmail.com

I edit, therefore I am


 * 1) DavidSylvian #Ghosts #TheOtherSideOfLife #Japan #TinDrum