BRILLIANT TREES

I bought this album immediately upon its release back in 1985 or so, after reading a nice review in a local music magazine. Although not an "easy" work for the first listen, I was quickly emerged into the magic Sylvian's world of exotic rhytms, ambient sounds, melodic bass, acoustic and sophisticated arrangements and above all, the warm/cold Sylvians singing, often similar to Bowie or Ferry's. The collaborators include his old-time JAPAN members, R. Barbieri and S. Jansen, ex-CAN Holger Czukay, renouned producer/composer R. Sakamoto and amazing sound of trumpet of the avangarde-jazz player Jon Hassell, among others. This is an eclectic mix of jazz, pop, funk, avangarde, ethnic rhytms and ambient electronics, mingling the early ROXY MUSIC, mid-seventies Eno/Bowie artwork, sophistication of Gabriel solo or later TALK TALK post-rock aestetics. A true masterpiece that was highly neglected due to its non-commercial and non-pop attitude, much closer to "serious" music as a form of pure art but very different from classical or symphonic music. A unique work that must be planted in any self-respecting music collection, cultivated and let it grow slowly until it reach a fruitful enjoyment.

N.B. "Words With Shaman" is included in many CD re-issues and, while not an integral part of the album itself, it is good if you like ambient music and especially Jon Hassell's trumpet. This review refers only to the original 7-tracks album.