Felt so lucky to see and hear them.

I love this man. So smart and talented and quietly brilliant. just a genius. An true unheralded genius. You can hear his and Steve's influence in ever, ever, EVERY film and TV music composure. Jansen's Slope, influence, even, is everywhere.

I went to see David Byrne in Nottingham doing the album some years back. It was a superb sounding concert.

You're welcome. Thank you for your feedback. :-)

Herbie is an old man, why would you look for programming clues from a virtuoso jazz pianist? His groundbreaking contributions to synth work were achieved in the mid-70s and were dwindling in the 80s. By the time he got his hands on the Kronos, it was the same story as with Peterson and his Synclavier or Chick and his Kurzweil being used to play e-piano jazz solos. These guys have dough and love the latest and best gadgets. Don't listen to Herbie. He's only got afoot in this world.

@@urabenowar2167 not looking for programming cues, just astonished how he doesn't seem to care about sound anymore... but it's of course also a matter of taste.

@@rolandwyss I'd hate to disparage Mr.Hancock, being one of the last great keyboardists of the 70s. However, he did mention not being able to handle digital gear by the mid-90s, relaying sound design duties to Mr. Laswell et al. By that time and probably before he would tend to just slightly modify presets by nudging envelope & filter settings or adding chorus & reverb to an FM patch. Besides, he's a generation older than Richard, and their intrinsic value and roles musically are almost antithetical. I could understand a congruence with Mr. Zawinul yet Herbie's audio palette was always histrionic and abundant with tacky und marmite elements. For Korg to make instruments pre-programmed with comps, basses, pads, and leads making stylistic references to his oeuvre in my opinion is no small feet also worth riding on the coattails of a style you co-designed is something that could be run on autopilot for the economy of effort. I think Hancock's sound overall represents his essence and as you express, its bottom line is a matter of taste.

And yet some of Sylvian's best work was post-Japan. I doubt he cares. He seems to given up on making music which is pleasurable to listen to. Don't get me wrong, he sounds a truly horrible person. There is a space in hell for him/NOMIS for what he did, especially with Rain Tree Crow. Hopefully RB will have a fat pension with Porcupine Tree.

It always bothered me that David was the only one on the covers of their last 3 albums, Gentleman Take Polaroids, Quiet Life and Tin Drum. The entire band should've been on them or no one at all. That said, Japan's first two albums had the entire band on them but not in a good way. Their debut Adolescent Sex had the huge name Japan with All 5 bands members heads but with David's being the largest and in front. A terrible cover. Their 2nd album Obscure Alternatives was not only a bad title but while it had the entire band on the cover in a beautifully lit photo, it had David in the foreground with the other four standing in a line behind him like they were his dutiful servants. It's not David Sylvian and Japan, it's JAPAN!!! My favorite style of Japan's music was what they ALL exhibited on songs like Methods of Dance, Swing, Quiet Life, Halloween, Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Life in Tokyo, European Son, Adolescent Sex, Fall in Love with Me. When their final album Tin Drum came out, I didn't like it and still don't to this day...including their supposed biggest song Ghosts. Gone were all the qualities I loved most about them. It's obvious David manipulated and controlled the musical direction of the band and for me, he obliterated their sound. If David wanted a Tin Drum type sound, he should've left that for a solo album. I still don't listen to Tin Drum because it upsets me too much. Japan should've stayed in the style of all the songs I listed above because THAT was their best COLLABORATIVE sound. Also, Japan songwriting credits should've been shared EQUALLY like Duran Duran did because without Richard, Steve, Mick and Rob, David would NOT have been unable to replicate the sound they ALL created. In a 2022 self interview, David said he hasn't listened to a single note of Japan's music since the band broke up in 1982. That, to me, is sad.

@Liqueurice Allsorts Yes.

@Liqueurice Allsorts David once said in an interview that he found childhood particularly difficult - that it wasn't his family - it was society or some words to that effect. Many artists have demons and depression that allow them to become the wonderful artists they are...then they don't get adequete treatment for their depression/traumas. Alsom David knows the influences and "secrets" behind all his creativity - and perhaps fails to appreciate his moments of spantaneous originality within his filters... I mean, what would we think of an artists that understood their own genius, or mentioned it? We migth hate that. Although, Prince could get away with it! I wish David and Ingrid had gotten good therapy rather than divorcing. They relied on religion/spirituality instead of the science of John Gottman and Harville Hendrix and their wives. Relationship and counseling science that could have saved their romance and marriage. Both would probably have been the better for it... my two pennies...

@@ericlindsey3069 From a selfish point of view, with "Dead bees on a cake" being my least favourite of Sylvian's solo albums, I'm happy that he and Chavez parted!

​@@MisAnnThorpe Agree....there was that weird Yoko Ono vibe.

Indigo falls album is excellent

Steve was in love with them; their creativity, their vibe, it was a match made in heaven for a while...

And funny enough, I was also at that David Sylvian gig!

And Richard gets to talk about his ideas around Ghosts

Thank you. I enjoyed this conversation very much. Maybe soon there will be a part two. :-)

Indeed! The modular is actually a Roland System 700.

Lots of young people are buying vinyl these days.

Yep.

@@markusreuter Mick Karn is why I became A Bassist in 1987 ( I was 15 ) . Had all the JAPAN stuff and Karn's "Titles" at 12 years old. Changed my life. Thank you for this interview. And Truth be known, I am the reason Morgan Agren got a Facebook account. Talked him into it years ago via email. Lol.. Take care and I look forward to more interviews, sir !! .... Ryn

Sony MDR 7506

@@richardbarbieri8386 Thank you Mr Barbieri. I remember you recommending a particular Yamaha headphone but couldn't remember where. Have been going through the comments sections of your interviews looking for this! Hope you are keeping well.