The Art Of Partners

David Sylvian recalls his fruitful ’80s team-up with Can’s Holger Czukay

- Michael Bonner

In early 1986, Holger Czukay invited his friend David Sylvian to visit him at Can Studios, Cologne, to record a vocal for what became Czukay’s album Rome Remains Rome. But, as it transpired, a rather different session took place. Aided by a pump organ, orchestral samples, a grand piano and more besides, the pair found themselves improvising an entirely new record – Plight & Premonition.

The sessions, Sylvian recalls, took place at night. The singer moved from instrument to instrument, looking for patterns to compliment the “ethereal sounds” Czukay piped into the room. “Then Holger announced, ‘That’s enough, David; move on to something else.’ It was then I realised that the analogue multitrack was on record. Until that moment I’d no idea this impromptu performance was being documented. Holger cut me short the moment he’d heard me begin to ‘compose’ a line. He’d only wanted the process, the uncertainty, the ambiguity of the searching out of ideas. And so the night went on.”