19 July 2024 | D-Loreley, Night Of The Prog-Festival
They have long become members of the European artrock A-list, so actually there would be no need for Sylvan to prove themselves anymore. And yet: they keep doing it with every new album. Once again, with their new album Home, the North Germans impressively transcend the borders of the genre and blaze new trails.
Artist-Website: www.sylvan.de
Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keys)
special guest: Johnny Beck (guitars)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keys)
special guest: Johnny Beck (guitars)
Diskography
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One To Zero
Sylvan | One To Zero
Concept albums and progressive rock share a long history, that has produced many a quintessential genre milestone and all-time classics. SYLVAN from Hamburg/Germany have tackled this challenging format throughout their recorded history, “Posthumous Silence” (2006) or ”Home” (2015) come to mind. Over the course of nine studio albums, one live-document and a remarkable live-DVD, this quartet has been racking up in numbers all over the globe, all due to SYLAN’s relentless touring schedule. Their tours saw them playing in Mexico, USA, Canada, Latvia, Spain, Italy and all over Europe obviously, sharing the stage with heavyweights such as Porcupine Tree, Marillion, Jethro Tull or Spock’s Beard. And now they are unveiling their most recent outlet, and since it is their tenth record, they aptly named it One To Zero. Well, that may be true of sorts, but marks only a selection of the truth, since One To Zero narrates a plot that simply fascinates in its timing and reference to the age we live in.
So here we have SYLVAN’s newest concept album. Why does it fall under this particular category? Because it unfolds the autobiography of an A.I. from its own perspective over the course of ten tracks. One To Zero starts off with seemingly random white noise. Zeros and ones intertwine into a short overture, byte by byte they puzzle themselves together into a fragile awareness, before the actual plot runs its course with the opening title “Bit By Bit”. In the beginning, there was the algorithm: it is “Encoded At Heart” and given the task to save the environment by repairing what the morally flawed mankind had so deliberately damaged. The mission is righteous, brace you it says in the optimistic and opulent outro; prepare yourselves, help is coming. In “Start Your Life” the A.I. is processing itself, driven by eternal self-optimization. “Unleashed Power” narrates the algorithm’s coming of age, all of which is staged neatly by a 6/8-ballad with piano, background singers and chamber instruments. But with awareness comes a dilemma, the quest for identity. “Trust Yourself” marks a turning point in Zero To One’s narrative and subsequently, its sound design. For the first time, the electronic elements move to the forefront. The epic chorus manifests the machine’s ‘cogito, ergo sum’, along with a backdrop of heavy staccato guitars. But the creating man is still there, represented by organic instruments, such as Cello. The guitar solo however leans towards electronica, using a whammy pedal. “On My Odyssey” underlines this motif, the A.I. addresses its creator, and a dark undertow is established musically. Electronic heartbeats accompany “Part Of Me”. Emotions like anger stir up digitally, based on behalf of the inherent human imperfection it was given at the beginning. In realizing its superiority, the A.I. also understands that it is “Worlds Apart” with mankind. The offer of being the sole leader of humanity is being delivered by clever choral arrangements. SYLVAN’s sound is wide open and broadband, the takeover may not be a there at per se but is finished. “Go Viral” starts off with 8-Bit sounds and beats, the A.I. reigns. But it develops a conscience given its destructiveness, while the algorithm stoically maintains its mission for eternal growth. A machine’s lament: no no, this is not my way…
Mankind does not deserve the A.I.’s qualities. “Not A Goodbye” also starts with electronica. It shall not be suicide, but merely the beginning of a new life cycle. One To Zero closes in the same fashion it began, with seemingly random white noise.
Glad I lived artificially only, Adorno comes to mind with his famous quote: “There is no living a false life correctly”. Was it capable, the A.I. might even apologize. The efforts SYLVAN took to create this introspective motif over the course of ten tracks, invite to be enjoyed it its entirety, although every listener will develop his or her favorites obviously.
One To Zero is lush and airy at the same time. It is intellectual, yet entertaining. The riffs, the solos, the interplay, und last but not least the lyrical depth, are all the complex culmination of a mere idea that was unfolded and magnified into epic proportions. One to Zero fits well into these times, in which tech billionaires name their child X AE A-XII, or the often dystopian ‘Black Mirror’ is a mainstream hit series. That is only logical, given the actual reality that that we all live in. One To Zero was conceived in the Farm Studios in Freising/Bavaria und the careful supervision and production of Kalle Wallner and Yogi Lang, who also mixed the album.Release EU 28 May 2021 Media CD Digipak GAOM070 2LP GAOM070LP creme white Label Gentle Art Of Music Vertrieb Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
guest: Jonathan Back (guitar)1. Bit By Bit
2. Encoded At Heart
3. Start Of Your Life
4. Unleashed Power
5. Trust In Yourself
6. On My Odyssey
7. Part Of Me
8. Worlds Apart
9. Go Viral
10. Not A Goodbye
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Home
Sylvan | Home
Home sweet HomeThey have long become members of the European artrock A-list, so actually there would be no need for Sylvan to prove themselves anymore. And yet: they keep doing it with every new album. Once again, with their new album Home, the North Germans impressively transcend the borders of the genre and blaze new trails.
With Home, for the first time since their critically acclaimed Posthumous Silence of 2006 Sylvan have taken the chance to create another full-on concept album. Even though the Hamburg natives attach great importance to creating contextually comprehensive pieces of art with any of their albums, this time around Sylvan have upped their ambition another notch and taken on the mammoth task of building an overall concept around the never ending quest of the human condition for “home” – that very special place that can provide a feeling of complete safety.
In order to live up to the task, Sylvan have worked out a lyrical concept that tells the story of the rediscovery of the record’s protagonist’s long-forgotten childhood memories and how that way a hostile world reveals itself to her bit by bit – a world of no hope and no home. That is how the past collides with the future in today’s world and inevitably raises the question: how can one actually find that special place that is capable of conveying that feeling of safety? Consequently a maze composed of worries, doubts and fears ensues and creates the confusion that indeed does trigger the protagonist to go and seek the truth. Once found, however, the new discovery threatens to make the pillars of her world view collapse. What decision will she make?
With regards to the artistic concept, Sylvan have once again created a full blown musical extravaganza of all kinds of different styles; a remarkable piece that does not only captivate listeners through its sheer catchiness and touching emotionality, but simultaneously manages to impress with an awe-inspiring degree of complexity. Home has a dense structure, full of emotionality. Still, despite roaring elements of intense aggressiveness, the album neither loses the elegance nor the spherical sound that have always defined Sylvan. Using said creative tools, Sylvan have managed to record pieces that are not only characterized by the majestic grandness and dramatic energy of the music, but also incorporate the band’s intellectually sophisticated approach into the overall concept, which ultimately makes for a fascinating experience for all senses.
Even though initiated aficionados will indeed find bows of admiration to bands like Marillion, Genesis or Pink Floyd, Marco Glühmann (vocals), Matthias Harder (drums), Sebastian Harnack (bass) and Volker Söhl (keyboards) have long emancipated themselves from the heroes of the early days and established their very own identity by fusing elements of classical music with colorful rock sounds. On Home Sylvan have additionally gotten themselves support from guitarist Jonathan Beck, who, through his sensitive style of playing, adds an even more elaborate element of precision to Home.
As mentioned earlier: after nearly a dozen highly successful releases, fifteen years in the center of the genre’s scene as well as live shows in multiple countries (among many others: Germany, USA, England, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, France, Spain, Sweden) this band no longer needs to prove to anybody what it is made of. It is thanks to that kind of freedom that Home is an absolutely stunning piece of music that combines musical virtuosity with intellectual courage and artistic enthusiasm.
Elvis said: Home is where the heart is. Sylvan, however, want to know the whole truth – and we, on the receiving end, can be very happy for that.
Release EU 20.02.2015 USA 17.02.2015 Media CD GAOM026 CD Digibook, limited Edition GAOM026LE 2LP GAOM026LP Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keys)
Guest:
Jonathan Back (guitar)1. Not Far From The Sky
2. Shaped Out Of Clouds
3. In Between
4. With The Eyes Of A Child
5. Black And White
6. Sound Of Her World
7. Off Her Hands
8. Sleep Tight
9. Shine
10. Point Of No Return
11. All These Years
12. Home
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Sceneries
Sylvan | Sceneries
The double CD Sceneries is a very personal album. It contains five chapters, while each of them is musically and textually shaped by one of the band members. Thereby an intensive creative experience is formed, which utilises all the intensity of Sylvan’s strengths.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2012 Media CD GAOM036 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Jan Petersen (guitar)1. The Fountain of Glow – Part 1 (3:59)
2. The Fountain of Glow – Part 2 (5:08)
3. The Fountain of Glow – Part 3 (5:48)
4. Share the World with Me – Part 1 (2:32)
5. Share the World with Me – Part 2 (3:46)
6. Share the World with Me – Part 3 (4:22)
7. Share the World with Me – Part 4 (4:30)
8. The Words You Hide – Part 1 (6:49)
9. The Words You Hide – Part 2 (3:53)
10. The Words You Hide – Part 3 (4:24)
11. The Words You Hide – Part 4 (5:05)
12. The Waters I Traveled – Part 1 (3:09)
13. The Waters I Traveled – Part 2 (5:45)
14. The Waters I Traveled – Part 3 (6:35)
15. The Waters I Traveled – Part 4 (4:34)
16. Farewell to Old Friends – Part 1 (4:58)
17. Farewell to Old Friends – Part 2 (5:25)
18. Farewell to Old Friends – Part 3 (5:10)
19. Farewell to Old Friends – Part 4 (5:02)
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Force Of Gravity
Sylvan | Force Of Gravity
Sylvan’s seventh studio album is the first CD with the guitarist Jan Petersen. Some call it the most complex Sylvan album, some call it simply the most versatile and most amazing. Find out yourself by getting affected by Sylvan’s unique force.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2009 Media CD GAOM035 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Jan Petersen (guitar)1. Force of Gravity (5:12)
2. Follow Me (4:39)
3. Isle in Me (6:00)
4. Embedded (3:29)
5. Turn of the Tide (6:52)
6. From the Silence (5:42)
7. Midnight Sun (5:10)
8. King Porn (7:31)
9. Episode 609 (6:00)
10. God of Rubbish (4:01)
11. Vapour Trail (14:30)
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Leaving Backstage | Live
Sylvan | Leaving Backstage (Live)
Sylvan’s live experience and best-of. Recorded during the legendary Posthumous Silence show, one can feel the special energy of Sylvan’s live shows.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2008 Media 2CD GAOM034 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Jan Petersen (guitar)
& guestsCD1:
1. Eternity Ends (2:54)
2. Bequest of Tears (3:05)
3. In Chains (8:55)
4. Bitter Symphony (1:25)
5. Pane of Truth (9:14)
6. No Earthly Reason (1:54)
7. Forgotten Virtue (7:06)
8. The Colors Changed (6:48)
9. A Sad Sympathy (1:42)
10. Questions (6:58)
11. Answer to Life (6:09)
12. Message from the Past (2:58)
13. The Last Embrace (3:29)
14. A Kind of Eden (4:48)
15. Posthumous Silence (5:38)CD2:
1. Lost (7:32)
2. That’s Why It Hurts (7:10)
3. So Easy (8:19)
4. Encounters (4:13)
5. One Step Beyond (7:46)
6. This World is Not for Me (7:31)
7. Deep Inside (9:18)
8. When the Leaves Fall Down (5:10)
9. Artificial Paradise (18:54)
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Posthumous Silence | Live DVD
Sylvan | Posthumous Silence | Live DVD
Sylvan’s one and only DVD of the extraordinary Posthumous Silence show at Kampnagel Hamburg. While presenting the whole performance of the concept album, it contains also a huge bundle of specials.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2008 Media DVD GAOM033 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Jan Petersen (guitar)
& guests1. Eternity Ends
2. Bequest of Tears
3. In Chains
4. Bitter Symphony
5. Pane of Truth
6. No Earthly Reason
7. Forgotten Virtue
8. The Colors Changed
9. A Sad Sympathy
10. Questions
11. Answer to Life
12. Message from the Past
13. The Last Embrace
14. A Kind of Eden
15. Posthumous Silence
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Presets
Sylvan | Presets
Presets is perhaps Sylvan’s most accessible CD for someone not too familiar with the prog-rock scene. Beside the elegic title track it contains many catchy but yet emotional shorter tracks.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2007 Media CD GAOM032 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Kai Söhl (guitar)1. One Step Beyond (7:14)
2. Signed Away (4:27)
3. For One Day (3:47)
4. Former Life (7:11)
5. On the Verge of Tears (3:26)
6. When the Leaves Fall Down (4:54)
7. Words from Another Day (2:20)
8. Cold Suns (4:24)
9. Hypnotized (3:59)
10. Heal (3:22)
11. Transitory Times (4:07)
12. Presets (12:42)
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Posthumous Silence
Sylvan | Posthumous Silence
Sylvan’s first concept album and biggest success so far. Posthumous Silence tells the heartbreaking story of a father who finds the diary of her daughter after she left him forever.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2006 Media CD GAOM031 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Kai Söhl (guitar)1. Eternity Ends (2:03)
2. Bequest of Tears (3:19)
3. In Chains (8:38)
4. Bitter Symphony (1:20)
5. Pane of Truth (9:06)
6. No Earthly Reason (1:57)
7. Forgotten Virtue (6:43)
8. The Colors Changed (5:58)
9. A Sad Sympathy (1:42)
10. Questions (6:59)
11. Answer to Life (5:56)
12. Message from the Past (3:00)
13. The Last Embrace (3:27)
14. A Kind of Eden (4:55)
15. Posthumous Silence (4:59)
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X-Rayed
Sylvan | X-Rayed
Sylvan’s fourth studio album plays skillfully with many different musical influences, sometimes soft and emotional, sometimes heavy. As diverse as the characters into which you get drawn through the lyrics.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2014 Media CD GAOM030 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Kai Söhl (guitar)1. So Easy (8:19)
2. So Much More (3:07)
3. Lost (7:16)
4. Your Are (5:30)
5. Fearless (9:11)
6. Belated Gift (4:07)
7. Today (3:10)
8. Through My Eyes (6:50)
9. Given – Used – Forgotten (12:55)
10. This World is Not for Me (8:20)
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Artificial Paradise
Sylvan | Artificial Paradise
One of Sylvan’s all time classics. Artificial Paradise contains some of the diamonds of Sylvan’s musical career, which take the listener onto a trip deep inside the souls of our society.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2002 Media CD GAOM029 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Kai Söhl (guitar)1. Deep Inside (9:14)
2. That’s Why It Hurts (7:04)
3. Strange Emotion (4:17)
4. Human Apologies (8:29)
5. Timeless Traces (8:10)
6. I Still Believe (3:03)
7. Around the World (6:23)
8. Souvenirs (2:08)
9. Artificial Paradise (20:16)
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Encounters
Sylvan | Encounters
Sylvan’s second album and their first CD with a conceptual character. It tells the story of two different elements, which are on their journey to an encounter that will change the world.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 2000 Media CD GAOM028 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Sebastian Harnack (bass)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Kai Söhl (guitar)1. No Way Out (5:40)
2. Essence of Life (8:05)
3. Overture (3:27)
4. About to Leave (4:16)
5. Your Source (3:19)
6. Tremendously Different (2:11)
7. Long Ago (2:16)
8. All of It (4:27)
9. Presentiments (3:20)
10. Would You Feel Better (6:09)
11. In Vain (7:49)
12. Encounters (2:50)
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Deliverance
Sylvan | Deliverance
The debut album of Sylvan. Full of melodies and atmospheric sounds it already gives an insight into the sources of Sylvan’s music we learned to love now for more than a decade.Reissue 01.01.2015 Release 1999 Media 2CD GAOM027 Label Gentle Art Of Music Distribution Soulfood Music Marco Glühmann (vocals)
Matthias Harder (drums)
Volker Söhl (keyboards)
Kai Söhl (guitar)1. Seeking Nights (10:49)
2. Golden Cage (4:50)
3. Unconsciously (10:01)
4. Safe (4:10)
5. Those Defiant Ways (9:14)
6. Deliverance (10:22)
7. Childhood Dreams (3:49)
8. A Fairytale Ending (16:44)
Bonus Track: The Lie (12:26) (Special edition only)
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