David Sylvian – Secrets of the Beehive – My Favourite Album

David Who?
Why is something I've never even heard of your favourite album? you might be wondering. Well that's a good question and I'll try my best to explain myself, but how about I start off by telling you something about David Sylvian, if you haven't come across him at all.
Like many who have gone before, David Sylvian went solo after the break up of his band, in his case the group Japan, and the split took place in 1982. The group was classed as 'new wave' and were associated with the New Romantics, though the band never thought of themselves like that.
They started out all long hair and make-up, an alternative glam rock outfit, but their style progressed, through electronic new wave dance, into an atmospheric, slower and more sparse sound that was poignant and stirring, and I became a fan.
I've written before about Duran Duran and New Romantics, but this was a sidestep to that for me, and I was fascinated, so I started to follow them and after a short while loved them, so I was a little surprised and upset when they split up - I'd only just discovered them really!
When lead singer David Sylvian started his solo work I wanted to know more and his first album Brilliant Trees released in 1984 was not a disappointment to me or the critical music media.
Other albums and collaborations followed and so did I, but it was in 1987 when Secrets of the Beehive came out that I discovered what became my favourite album and my all-time favourite song.
Why is something I've never even heard of your favourite album? you might be wondering. Well that's a good question and I'll try my best to explain myself, but how about I start off by telling you something about David Sylvian, if you haven't come across him at all.
Like many who have gone before, David Sylvian went solo after the break up of his band, in his case the group Japan, and the split took place in 1982. The group was classed as 'new wave' and were associated with the New Romantics, though the band never thought of themselves like that.
They started out all long hair and make-up, an alternative glam rock outfit, but their style progressed, through electronic new wave dance, into an atmospheric, slower and more sparse sound that was poignant and stirring, and I became a fan.
I've written before about Duran Duran and New Romantics, but this was a sidestep to that for me, and I was fascinated, so I started to follow them and after a short while loved them, so I was a little surprised and upset when they split up - I'd only just discovered them really!
When lead singer David Sylvian started his solo work I wanted to know more and his first album Brilliant Trees released in 1984 was not a disappointment to me or the critical music media.
Other albums and collaborations followed and so did I, but it was in 1987 when Secrets of the Beehive came out that I discovered what became my favourite album and my all-time favourite song.
The Secrets of this Particular Beehive
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So why do I love this album? It's actually a little tricky to put my finger on if I'm honest. The CD I have has ten tracks, nine of which were new to this release. Firstly I should say that it's not a 'happy, happy, happy' album, instead it's full of beautifully atmospheric songs, with sweeping orchestration, poetic lyrics and David Sylvian's beautiful voice.
It starts out with September which is only just over a minute long, which is different to start off with and it strikes a chord with its acoustic nature of piano and then strings. The Boy with the Gun follows, which is perhaps a little more traditional for Sylvian, and it tells the story the title hints at. Again there is sweeping orchestration in the background but it's balanced against a wonderful double bass and a rhythmical tune of guitar and keyboards. Track three is Maria which is more towards the avant-garde, creating an atmospheric sound and environment. |
Orpheus
Then we come to Orpheus. This has become my all-time favourite song - ever, period. And I guess I now have to try and explain why. It opens gently and builds gradually with the use of piano, drums, horn, strings and double bass and then David Sylvian opens his mouth, and with his gorgeous voice the song just sweeps you along. I find myself swaying without meaning to... Somehow a picture is painted for me, with the music as well as the lyrics playing their parts; it's just poetry in song. There's beauty in it for me everywhere, from Mark Isham's flugelhorn to the orchestral arrangement that moves it along - it gives me a knot in my stomach with how much I love it - it's so hard to explain, but so magnificent and I never tire of it.
I won't ramble on about the rest of this amazing album - I'll let you discover some of it for yourself. However, I must just say that all the songs on this CD are brilliant. Some people may consider parts of it a bit strange, there are samples from tapes on The Devil's Own, wonderful Spanish-sounding acoustic guitars on When Poets Dreamed of Angels, amazing horns on Let the Happiness In, and a slightly odd, randomish jazzy section in Mother and Child that a few will not like, but overall I cannot rate this album highly enough.
If you want to try something different, if you love deep and luscious vocals, if you want to hear instruments perhaps used in a slightly unusual way and want to experience poetry in music then Secrets of the Beehive is for you - it certainly is for me.
I won't ramble on about the rest of this amazing album - I'll let you discover some of it for yourself. However, I must just say that all the songs on this CD are brilliant. Some people may consider parts of it a bit strange, there are samples from tapes on The Devil's Own, wonderful Spanish-sounding acoustic guitars on When Poets Dreamed of Angels, amazing horns on Let the Happiness In, and a slightly odd, randomish jazzy section in Mother and Child that a few will not like, but overall I cannot rate this album highly enough.
If you want to try something different, if you love deep and luscious vocals, if you want to hear instruments perhaps used in a slightly unusual way and want to experience poetry in music then Secrets of the Beehive is for you - it certainly is for me.