ALCHEMY - AN INDEX OF POSSIBILITIES

A delightful instrumental album which must have confused many Sylvian fans back in '85.

Without doubt it's the most overlooked of his recordings. This one trickles with Indonesian sweat as he continues directly from the last track on 'Brilliant Trees' from the previous year. Jon Hassell's flugelhorn sounds inspired, wrapping itself around Eastern vocals along with Steve Jansen's ethnic drum thumping.

For those who wished they could have heard a continuation of 'Brilliant Trees' - this is the one. It almost sounds like it should have been part of a double album.

'Steel Cathedrals' - the big 18min side two track is basically a forerunner to his work with Holger Czakay in '87. Only here it sounds far more Eastern and minimal. An Excellent but sadly overlooked recording.