I suppose the glib answer to the Op’s question “What next for John?” is “whatever he likes”. Although he’s never quite received the commercial rewards he’s deserved, even if John never played another note he’d leave behind a wonderful body of work and at his age, he has nothing more to prove.
That said, if it was up to me, I reckon The Maths project has run its course and that each of the 3 albums has been that little bit more self indulgent and less inspired than the previous. Like many others I’d love John to do a proper solo album of proper songs, which are more about the words, melodies and arrangements than the rather tired sounding analogue synth doodling. Not only would I get Robin Simon back on board, perhaps Duncan Bridgeman and Joe Dworniak from the old Garden days could be persuaded to contribute? They’re both still making music 30 years on.
http://www.joedworniak.com/joedworniak.com/Home.htmlhttp://ditlo.com/2013/08/30/duncan-bridgeman/I reckon there’s also plenty more mileage in the Belbury Circle collaboration and will be intrigued to see what John gets up to with Jori Hulkkonen next, after the magnificent European Splendour project.
From a purely selfish point of view, I’d like to see some of the more obscure unreleased material see the light of say (the “Identification Of A Woman” soundtrack, the short-lived Blitz project, more Cathedral Oceans), though I do accept Rob’s pint that just because recordings exist it doesn’t mean we have a right to hear them if John doesn’t think them up to standard.
And finally an ambient collaboration with Eno and a greatest hits tour featuring a full band!
