The First Day (David Sylvian and Robert Fripp album)

The First Day is the first of three collaborations between David Sylvian and Robert Fripp. It was released in July 1993 and was something of a departure from David Sylvian’s usual work. It’s a combination of Sylvian’s deep, thoughtful lyrics with funk, techno and hard hitting progressive rock music.

It was released in two versions. A regular jewel case CD (CDV 2712) and as a limited box-set with eight photo prints (CDVX 2712).

Track listing

Lyrics by David Sylvian, Music by Robert Fripp/Trey Gunn/David Sylvian, except where noted.

1. "God's Monkey" (Bottrill/Fripp/Gunn/Sylvian) - 4:58
2. "Jean the Birdman" - 4:09
3. "Firepower" - 10:25
4. "Brightness Falls" - 6:05
5. "20th Century Dreaming (A Shaman's Song)" - 11:50
6. "Darshan (The Road to Graceland)" (Bottrill/Fripp/Gunn/Sylvian) - 17:17
7. "Bringing Down the Light" (Fripp) - 8:31

Personnel and production

• David Sylvian – vocals, guitars, keyboard instruments, tapes
• Robert Fripp – guitar, frippertronics
• Trey Gunn – chapman stick, vocals
• Jerry Marotta – drums, percussion instruments
• Marc Anderson – percussion
• David Bottrill – treatments, sampled percussion, computer programming, engineer
• Ingrid Chavez – vocals

Additional personnel

• Richard Chadwick - recording co-ordination
• Natasha White - recording co-ordination assistant
• Dan McLoughlin , John Yates , Mark Glass , Trina Shoemaker - assistant engineers
• Catherine McRae - design co-ordination
• Kevin Westenberg - photography
• Dave Coppenhall, Vaughan Oliver - design
• John Sinks - technical and strategic Liaison

References