Manafon was recorded over a three-year period in Vienna, Tokyo and London.[8] Of the recording process, Sylvian said:
"There was nothing written when we went into the studio – this was very much free improvisation. So, the selection of the group of musicians for each improvisation was paramount. I recognized on the day which pieces could work for me. The process was that I took the material away and then wrote and recorded the vocal line over in a couple of hours. So I couldn't analyze my contribution and that in a way was my form of improvisation – and I enjoyed the rapidity of response."[9]
"I take the sessions and work on them at a later time. I attempt to 'improvise' lyrics and melodies as I go, writing and recording all in a matter of hours. The basic tracks themselves undergo little or no editing as such. The structure pretty much remains as given from the original sessions. I might add an introduction or overdub other elements onto the original take. Here's a couple of examples: "Senseless Violence": Recorded in Vienna with Rowe/Polwechsel/Fennesz. I added guitar parts then layered Tilbury's piano into the track then added the vocal and an introduction. "Greatest Living Englishman: Initial take" suggested acoustic guitar overdubs which I requested of Otomo and Tetuzi on the spot. I later cut and pasted some interesting turntable activity from an alternate take onto this track. I also added an introduction by cutting and pasting elements from an earlier take. Tilbury was added to the coda. Melody and vocals added. "Rabbit Skinner": no editing. Added acoustic guitar myself then vocals."[10]
Lyrical inspiration
For the recording of Manafon, Sylvian was also inspired by the Welsh poet R. S. Thomas: lyrics often reflect the main themes written by the poet and the title of the album refers indeed to a Welsh namesake village (in north Powys) in which Thomas lived for a while.[11]
"Manafon is indeed a village in Wales, a village in which Thomas lived for sometime and served as rector to the parish. In this small village, Thomas had trouble filling the pews of a Sunday but in a sense it was something of an idyllic spot in which to raise a child (a strict, taciturn and somewhat indifferent parent), master his profession and write his poetry. So, the physically real village became for me a metaphor for the poetic imagination.", said Sylvian.[9]
The 7th track refers to Emily Dickinson,[12] whose poems Sylvian would later use: "A Certain Slant Of Light"[13] and "I Should not Dare (for N.O)"[14] would be part of Died in the Wool in 2010, while "I Measure Every Grief I Meet" would appear on a 2024 recording read by Sylvian.[15]
Track listing
All tracks are written by David Sylvian.
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Small Metal Gods"
5:49
2.
"The Rabbit Skinner"
4:41
3.
"Random Acts of Senseless Violence"
7:06
4.
"The Greatest Living Englishman"
10:55
5.
"125 Spheres"
0:29
6.
"Snow White in Appalachia"
6:35
7.
"Emily Dickinson"
6:25
8.
"The Department of Dead Letters"
2:25
9.
"Manafon"
5:23
Total length:
49:48
Vinyl and Japanese CD bonus track
No.
Title
Length
10.
"Random Acts of Senseless Violence" (Remixed by Dai Fujikura)
6:24
Total length:
56:12
A limited edition boxed set came with a DVD of the album in 5.1 Surround Sound, and a feature-length making-of documentary, Amplified Gesture.
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