David Sylvian - Alchemy An Index Of Possibilities (1985)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 249 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (tiff) -> 174 Mb
This reissue of Alchemy is a thoughtful one- comprising the original 1985 tape-only release that saw tracks Preperation for a Journey & Steel Cathedrals released alongside the Words with the Shaman ep with the hard to find b-sides to 1989's Pop Song single (found on the deleted Weatherbox set). As a collection of Sylvian's instrumental work, it blends together very well- though anyone who didn't enjoy his other instrumental work (the Czuckay albums Flux&Mutability/Plight&Premonition, the last sides of Gone to Earth) may not be that enamoured.
The three-part Words With the Shaman-suite is particularly wonderful- Part1: Ancient Evening, Part 2: Incantation & Part 3: Awakening (Songs from the Tree Tops) find Sylvian and brother Jansen advancing on the Brilliant Trees collaboration with Holger Czuckay and Jon Hassell.
If played directly after listening to Hassell/Sylvian's co-written song Brilliant Trees, it makes complete sense. Words with the Shaman is as strong as Eno/Byrne's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts or Philip Glass' Powaqqatsi. Preperation for a Journey & Steel Cathedrals extend on this, but have been seen by many people as I know as extremly indulgent- personally I think they've dated well and are in need of reassessment. It's nice to hear a blend of ambient, world music and jazz coming together- could this be a post-Eno Filles De Kilimanjaro?.
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Tracklist:
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01 - Words With The Shaman - Part 1 Ancient Evening
02 - Words With The Shaman - Part 2 Incantation
03 - Words With The Shaman - Part 3 Awakening (Songs From The Treetops)
04 - Preparations For A Journey
05 - The Stigma Of Childhood (Kin)
06 - A Brief Conversation Ending In Divorce
07 - Steel Cathedrals
*2006 Virgin Remaster / EMI | 0946 363067 2 8
Personnel:
David Sylvian / keyboards, guitar, tapes, digital percussion
Steve Jansen / drums, percussion, additional keyboards
Jon Hassell / trumpet
Kenny Wheeler / flugelhorn
Holger Czukay / radio, dictaphone
Ryuichi Sakamoto / piano, strings
Robert Fripp / guitar, frippertronics
Masami Tsuchiya / guitar
Percy Jones / fretless bass
Enjoy and Sharing, Thanks!
