Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities

Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities is technically David Sylvian's second solo album, released in 1985 on cassette only, and produced by Sylvian and Nigel Walker. However, David Sylvian’s website davidsylvian.com states that Alchemy is an “intermediary album, made up of ... entirely separate projects,” and also that the next album Gone to Earth is “David Sylvian’s second solo album proper.” The reasons that Alchemy is an intermediary album rather than a solo album proper are (1) it was assimilated from separate projects (similar to the compilation album Approaching Silence), and (2) it was originally released on cassette only, in a limited edition. Additionally, subsequent versions released in 1989 and 2003 added tracks from more different projects, thus somewhat adding to the release not being a singular distinct album. It was reissued in its original form on CD in Japan in 1991.

Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities
Studio album by
David Sylvian
Released14 December 1985 (UK)
GenreElectronic, ambient, world music
Length36:41
LabelVirgin
ProducerDavid 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
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Mojo[2]
Pitchfork6.6/10[3]

History

The opening suite "Words with the Shaman" was simultaneously issued as a 12" EP, 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. The track “Preparations for a Journey” is from a Japanese autobiographical film of the same name, aired on Japanese television in February 1985. The film tracked Sylvian’s career to that time.

In 2003, the album was remastered and included two additional songs: "The Stigma of Childhood (Kin)", originally recorded for Gaby Agis's dance piece, Kin; and "A Brief Conversation Ending in Divorce". Both songs were originally released in 1989 on the Pop Song EP.

In February 2019, as part of a redesigned monochrome sleeved vinyl reissue batch of his 80s albums, Alchemy - An Index of Possibilities was released in a gatefold sleeve with an earlier b/w photograph of Sylvian instead of the original artwork. No new mastering was done for this; the 2003 remaster was used. This was its first official release of the complete album on vinyl, save for a quickly withdrawn Australian pressing in the 80s.

Track listing
Original cassette and Japanese CD pressings

All tracks are written by David Sylvian and Jon Hassell, except as noted.

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Words with the Shaman: Pt. 1 Ancient Evening"5:11
2."Words with the Shaman: Pt.2 Incantation"3:30
3."Words with the Shaman: Pt.3 Awakening – Songs from the Treetops" (Sylvian/Hassell/Steve Jansen)5:21
4."Preparations for a Journey" (Sylvian)3:40
Total length:17:42
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Steel Cathedrals (Soundtrack from the Short Film by D. Sylvian and Y. Yamaguchi)" (Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto)18:55
Total length:18:55
Weatherbox and 2003 CD pressings
No.TitleLength
1."Words with the Shaman: Pt. 1 Ancient Evening"5:11
2."Words with the Shaman: Pt.2 Incantation"3:30
3."Words with the Shaman: Pt.3 Awakening – Songs from the Treetops" (Sylvian/Hassell/Steve Jansen)5:21
4."Preparations for a Journey" (Sylvian; omitted from Weatherbox pressing)3:40
5."The Stigma Of Childhood (Kin)" (Sylvian)8:30
6."A Brief Conversation Ending in Divorce" (Sylvian)3:30
7."Steel Cathedrals (Soundtrack from the Short Film by D. Sylvian and Y. Yamaguchi)" (Sylvian/Ryuichi Sakamoto)18:55
Total length:48:37

Personnel

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

"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)

References
  1. "Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities – David Sylvian". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  2. Eccleston, Danny (April 2019). "Ghosts busters". Mojo (305): 100.
  3. Sodomsky, Sam (23 February 2019). "David Sylvian: Secrets of the Beehive / Brilliant Trees / Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities / Gone to Earth". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
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