David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive (1987)

Dan:

David Sylvian's solo career easily surpassed anything he did in his former group, Japan. Secrets of the Beehive was his third full album before his two collaborations with Holger Czukay, of Can fame. The earlier Brilliant Trees (1984) is similar to Secrets of the Beehive, while Gone to Earth (1986) adds Robert Fripp and leans in the direction of ambient music with vocals on only half the tunes. 

Beehive is a wonderful album, completely composed and arranged by Sylvian. It's moodier than Japan's 1980 album, Gentlemen Take Polaroids (reviewed earlier), and sparser in terms of instrumentation. I enjoy the variety of guitarists used (David Torn, Phil Palmer, and Sylvian himself), the trumpet of Mark Isham, Steve Jansen (Sylvian's brother) on percussion, and most of all the incredible bass of the legendary Danny Thompson. Listen to the opening bars of "The Boy With the Gun," and you will surely agree. Throughout, the spatial arrangements allow each instrument to be heard clearly, and their interaction behind the soft vocals is quite moving.

Beyond the 1980s, it's hard to get a firm grasp on Sylvian's recording projects. The bleak and mostly improvised Rain Tree Crow (1991) had a following, but it felt directionless to me. (Coming from the jazz world, I have pretty high standards for free improvisation). I've not heard either of his 1999 releases: Approaching Silence (designed to be heard during a visual art exhibition) or Dead Bees on a Cake. I avoided a later project with Derek Bailey (Blemish, 2003) and everything else since The First Day, his mostly successful 1993 collaboration with Robert Fripp. Ryuichi Sakamoto has also collaborated with Sylvian on a variety of projects, continuing their first encounter on Gentlemen Take Polaroids. The projects are scattered in various places like much of Sylvian's discography. 

I think we're lucky that Sylvian focused on making albums with Japan and as a solo artist between 1980 and 1989. Secrets of the Beehive, Brilliant Trees, and Gone to Earth are all understated (by rock standards) but full of thoughtful songs and expert playing. I consider them to be minor masterpieces. 

Steve:

Gone to Earth may be my clear favorite Sylvian recording, but Secrets of the Beehive is nearly as impressive, albeit with a very different focus. Sylvian's albums are all fairly mellow on average, but Beehive is even more understated and spare than normal for him. However, he has made excellent choices of collaborators - particularly in David Torn and Danny Thompson - who consistently paint their unique sounds around the soft, flowing songs and provide no end of excitement even when their paintbrush strokes are barely a whisper in the mix.  

Secrets of the Beehive has aged incredibly well too. Were I hearing it for the first time today, I would be surprised to learn it was released in 1987, a time when even the most sophisticated pop artists in their most organic moods produced albums with a recognizably 1980s sheen, for better or worse. Pianos, acoustic guitars, upright bass, brushed drums and a bucketload of ambience all contributed to a very natural, easy-on-the-ears album that's perfect for late night chilling out.