SECRETS OF THE BEEHIVE

There are 2 musicians involved here who played on Mark Isham's Castalia, an album I consider to belong to my all-time top 20 records: Mark Isham himself and David Torn. There are actually some similarities between Castalia and Secrets of the beehive, although the record here is less jazzy and atmospheric. Torn still uses here his excellent typical instable guitar sound packed with abrupt tremolo shots and ethereal loops. Isham's typical trumpet is rather subdued and not very much used. Because of the presence of Isham and Torn, the album, like Castalia, is quite atmospheric, ethereal, enigmatic and mysterious. It is a really mellow album. Sylvian' lead vocals are mellow and reassuring. I like the floating melancholic and dreamy keyboards textures. The album has many beautiful acoustic guitar sounds. There are serious and nostalgic piano parts. There are delicate drums and warm & jazzy acoustic bass. The combination of acoustic bass and piano on "Mother and child" is absolutely wonderful! The whole is relaxing and never aggressive! All the tracks are equally very good.