ProgRock Records (2008)
Encapsulating their 10th anniversary as Sylvan, "Leaving Backstage" glides ambitiously through a sprawling 149 minute live show, centering their fifth studio album "Posthumous Silence" in its entirety for disc one following a 9 song greatest hits presentation from albums one - four as well as 2007’s "Presets". These Germans have been pouring their hearts into progressive rock for much longer, as keyboardist Volker Sohl and drummer Matthias Harder met as schoolmates in Hamburg during 1991 while vocalist Marco Gluhmann joined the band still known as Chamaleon in 1995. Renamed Sylvan in 1998 after Sylvanus, the god of woods and forests, they would go through a series of bassists and guitarists before settling in on the current lineup with bassist Sebastian Harnack and guitarist Jan Petersen. The recording takes place at Kampnagel in their hometown of Hamburg, Germany in front of a faithful, ardent crowd on September 1st, 2007 - and for my first exposure to this act I must say they certainly display character, conviction and sensitivity with their brand of atmospheric, pensive music.
The first CD spans the 15 track "Posthumous Silence" concept record, an engaging story of a father reading his apparently dead daughter’s diary, where she shares her desperate journey through life. This also serves as the focal point of the DVD concert presentation - so I thoroughly investigated both the aural and visual components from work to home and back. The album flows from Pink Floyd-like keyboard and guitar layers of serenity in certain tracks like "Eternity Ends" or "Bequest Of Tears" through to heavier, much more vocal driven emotional terrain such as "In Chains" or "The Colors Chained" where you feel an appreciation for acts like Genesis and Marillion just as much as newer artists like Coldplay or Porcupine Tree. The crowd sways with the ebb and flow of tempos, clapping in unison with the faster tracks but also adding texture with multi-colored glow sticks in the softer, ballad moments. Sylvan use video projection imagery and an imaginative light show to allow everyone to place the songs almost as if you were taking in a movie or play- proving their worthiness and experience in separating the studio process from an entertaining live gig.
The second disc continues in dynamic fashion - closing with their 18:54 epic signature song "Artificial Paradise". Guests on the album include a trio of female background singers, a cellist as well as additional guitar play from Guido Bungenstock - but the stars are the quintet of Sylvan, very comfortable and engaging for a long running progressive outfit. Sebastian spirals around the five string bass, keeping tabs with Matthias’ groove oriented meets jazz fusion percussive approach. Jan and Guido prefer injecting waves of open chords and minimalist heavy distortion, creating a building tension with step by step ascension in terms of the arrangements. Marco pours lyrics with bursts of speed and caressing care, not necessarily mimicking a particular vocalist of note yet reverently taking his cues from Fish, Peter Gabriel and even Freddy Mercury.
Bonus features on the DVD include studio footage, interviews with the band, outtakes and "Artificial Paradise" from the same show - a solid 95+ minutes just on that material alone. You can’t get a more complete peek into Sylvan as a newcomer or long time follower if you tried. Well worth your time and money - now I have to scour the net for more Sylvan…
www.sylvan.de
www.progrockrecords.com
Composed by Matt Coe