Alchemy - An Index Of Possibilities

REISSUE. Before embarking on his next solo album, Sylvian revisited his interest in the visual arts, first with a limited edition book of polaroid collages titled Perspectives, then in a documentary video loosely based on an exhibition of the photographs which took place in Tokyo. The soundtrack for this video, Preparation For A Journey, featured performances by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Masami Tsuchiya and Steve Jansen, along with traditional pieces by the now popular Bulgarian women's choir. Back in London Sylvian re-worked part of the soundtrack with Holger Czukay, Robert Fripp and Kenny Wheeler under the new title Steel Cathedrals. This was released at the end of 1985 as part of an E.P. which also included a new instrumental piece, recorded with Jon Hassell, Words With The Shaman. "After Brilliant Trees I really wanted to further explore the relationship with Jon Hassell and Holger Czukay developing themes which surfaced during the recording of that album" Sylvian explains,"as everything I do tends to contain the seeds for the next project."