Music Arcades: David Sylvian: Alchemy - An Index of Possibilities

I can argue both sides of this — because there are times when the re-issue of some previously hard-to-find recording makes me very happy indeed — but it also feels to me that if something is marketed as a "limited edition" then it should be a limited edition, and that's that. Alchemy was initially released in 1985 on cassette only with individually numbered inlay cards. Mine is number 13362, so the edition wasn't that limited. But it's since come out on vinyl and several CD issues. Swizz. Kind of.

I loved it in 1985: I thought it was the best thing Sylvian had done. A quarter of a century on, I think it still may be. It's hard to say what's so great about it, but it possibly relates to the way the music walks the line between ambient and non-ambient — I see I've already repeated myself about this (1, 2), so I won't say it again.

Great line up of musicians playing on this. Some (John Hassell, Robert Fripp, Holger Czukay) can't help bring their signature sound to the proceedings. But others (Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Brian Eno's old sidekick, Percy Jones) are more self-effacing — to these ears, at least.

Anyway, it's out there now: you can take your pick of three free streaming services below, all of which will serve you up the full (in fact, expanded) album with just two clicks. Despite my slight sense of injustice, I recommend you do.