Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities

Alchemy - An Index of Possibilities
Studio album by David Sylvian
Released	14 December 1985 (UK)
Genre	Electronic, ambient, world music
Length	36:41
Label	Virgin
Producer	David Sylvian and Nigel Walker
David Sylvian chronology
Brilliant Trees (1984) Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities (1985) Gone to Earth (1986)
Alternative cover
Original cassette cover art

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities is David Sylvian's second solo album, released in 1985 on cassette only and produced by Sylvian and Nigel Walker. It was reissued in its original form on CD in Japan in 1991.

History

The opening suite "Words with the Shaman" was simultaneously issued as a 12" single, while "Steel Cathedrals" was used in a short film by Sylvian and Yasayuki Yamaguchi, shot in Tokyo, Japan, and released on VHS. The soundtrack features the voice of Jean Cocteau.

In 2003, the album was remastered and included two additional songs: "The Stigma of Childhood (Kin)", originally recorded for the theatre play Kin; and "A Brief Conversation Ending in Divorce". Both songs were originally released on the EP Pop Song.

Track listing

All compositions by David Sylvian and Jon Hassell except where noted.

UK Cassette/Japanese CD

Side A

"Words with the Shaman"

1. "Pt.1 Ancient Evening" – 5:11
2. "Pt.2 Incantation" – 3:30
3. "Pt.3 Awakening – Songs from the Treetops" (Sylvian/Hassell/Steve Jansen) – 5:21

4. "Preparations for a Journey" (Sylvian) – 3:40

Side B

1. "Steel Cathedrals" (Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto) – 18:55

Remastered UK CD

"Words with the Shaman"

1. "Pt.1 Ancient Evening" – 5:11
2. "Pt.2 Incantation" – 3:30
3. "Pt.3 Awakening – Songs from the Treetops" (Sylvian/Hassell/Steve Jansen) – 5:21

4. "Preparations for a Journey" (Sylvian) – 3:40
5. "The Stigma Of Childhood (Kin)" (Sylvian) – 8:30
6. "A Brief Conversation Ending In Divorce" (Sylvian) – 3:30
7. "Steel Cathedrals" (Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto) – 18:55

Personnel

"Words with the Shaman": (Produced by David Sylvian and Nigel Walker)

• David Sylvian – Keyboards, guitars, tapes
• Steve Jansen – Drums, percussion, additional keyboards
• Jon Hassell – Trumpet
• Holger Czukay – Radio, dictaphone
• Percy Jones – Fretless bass

"Preparations.." and "The Stigma....": (Produced by David Sylvian)

• Performed by David Sylvian

"A Brief Conversation...": (Produced by David Sylvian and Steve Nye)

• David Sylvian – Guitars, synthesisers, keyboard programming
• John Taylor – Piano
• Stuart Bruce – Computer programming

"Steel Cathedrals": (Produced by David Sylvian)

• David Sylvian – Keyboards, tapes, digital percussion
• Ryuichi Sakamoto – Piano, strings
• Steve Jansen – Percussion
• Kenny Wheeler – Flugelhorn
• Robert Fripp – Guitar
• Holger Czukay – Dictaphone
• Masami Tsuchiya – "Guitar abstractions"

References

External links

• Steel Cathedrals part one – Part one of the video for "Steel Cathedrals".
• Steel Cathedrals part two – Part two of the video for "Steel Cathedrals".