Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities
Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities is the second solo studio album by David Sylvian, first released in December 1985 on cassette only as a limited edition. Alchemy is an intermediary album, released between his first solo album Brilliant Trees and his next solo album Gone to Earth, made up of two entirely separate projects recorded 1984 and 1985. It was re-issued in its original form on CD in Japan in 1991. Additionally, subsequent versions were released. First 1989 in the boxset Weatherbox, and a remastered version 2003, which added tracks from more different projects, thus somewhat adding to the release not being a singular distinct album. History The opening suite "Words with the Shaman" was simultaneously issued as a 12" EP, while "Steel Cathedrals" was used in a short film by Sylvian and Yasayuki Yamaguchi, shot in Tokyo, Japan, and released on VHS. The soundtrack features the voice of Jean Cocteau. The track “Preparations for a Journey” is from a Japanese autobiographical film of the same name, aired on Japanese television in February 1985. The film tracked Sylvian's career to that time. In 2003, the album was remastered and included two additional songs: "The Stigma of Childhood (Kin)", originally recorded