DEAD BEES ON A CAKE

Sylvian's major comeback record is a revelation. After sliding almost into obscurity with increasingly frustrating collaborations with robert fripp and with more and more sparse ambient music (almost to the point of having no sound at all aside from hums and drones) Sylvian once again embraced 'the song' as an art form and, aided by some superb sidekicks (Tom Waits' guitar player Marc Ribot contributes some amazing guitar playing as does Bill Frisell), Sylvian hits form in jaw-dropping style. From the meandering Rhodes driven I Surrender, to the lazy groove of Wanderlust, to the sweet sadness of the final track Darkest Dreaming (a really beautiful song) Dead Bees is a triumph. As a rider to the star-rating I've assigned to this record, I wouldn't class it as 'progressive rock' in the accepted sense of '70s prog. This is forward thinking music using retro sounds, it's a stunning record but not overtly prog. It's more post-rock but still wonderful.