release date: Dec. 14, 1985
format: digital (2006 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: David Sylvian, Nigel Walker, Steve Nye
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK
Tracklist: "Words With the Shaman" (tracks 1-3): 1. "Part 1: Ancient Evening" - 2. "Part 2: Incantation" - 3. "Part 3: Awakening (Songs From the Treetops)" - 4. "Preparations for a Journey" - 5. "The Stigma of Childhood (Kin)" - 6. "A Brief Conversation Ending in Divorce" - 7. "Steel Cathedrals"
Studio album by David Sylvian originally released as a 5-track ep consisting of the 3-track ep Words With the Shaman (Dec. 5, 1985) as the first three tracks with the addition of two new compositions, tracks #4 and 7. Sylvian and Nigel Walker produced the first three tracks, and Sylvian alone produced the two new songs (tracks #4 and ¤7). The original 5-track ep had a running time at just under 37 mins, whereas the 2003 remaster was expanded with another two additional compositions, track #5 (pro. by Sylvian) and track #6 (pro. by Sylvian and Steve Nye), which raised the running time to more than 48 mins. The remastered bonus tracks edition is the only version I know of. Words With the Shaman is music written by Sylvian and (trumpeter) Jon Hassell (track #3 also with Steve Jansen). Tracks #4-6 are written by Sylvian alone, and #7 is co-written by Ryuichi Sakamoto with whom Sylvian released their first collaboration single "Bamboo Houses" in 1982 and later he contributed on Sakamoto's acclaimed soundtrack album Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) by adding lead vocals to "Forbidden Colours". The two newest compositions (#5 and #6) are clearly of a more experimental and ambient art pop style compared to the other tracks, but the whole album really functions fine as a whole and feature a number of prominent artists. Aside from Sylvian's brother Steve Jansen on drums and percussion, Holger Czukay handles radio and dictaphone. and Jon Hassell adds trumpet to Sylvian's keyboards and guitars. On "Steel Cathedrals", Ryuichi Sakamoto plays piano and strings, Kenny Wheeler flugelhorn, and Robert Fripp guitar. All tracks are instrumental and it's not difficult to understand the reason to reissue the album in 2003 as it was probably intended as a mere experimental release in '85 just after Sylvian's solo debut, which signalled something else. The style is evidently diverse from the two albums it splits. Secrets of the Beehive (1986) was a great album but also more in a natural progression from the debut, whereas this more resembles his later works and side-projects.
All in all a highly original and interesting listen.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]
