Description
Secrets of the Beehive is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Sylvian. The album was originally released on 19 October 1987.
Sylvian spent the first couple of months of 1987 making demo tapes of songs that would draw on the subtler sides of jazz, folk and orchestral music. Recorded in just 2.5 months Secrets Of The Beehive appeared in October 1987 to universally positive reviews. The emphasis was on the lyrical content more than on the previous albums. Because the material came so easily and had a certain strength in its simplicity, it didn’t require enhancing in terms of studio atmospherics and effects. Sylvian began recording the basic tracks at Chateau Miraval in the South of France because of its exotic location. David Torn, Danny Thompson, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Danny Cummings came down and built up the tracks one by one. In time they would be joined at the studio by Phil Palmer and Steve Jansen. The orchestral overdubs were recorded midway through the album, at Angel Studios and at Air in London. Sakamoto had scored the majority of the songs, except "Orpheus" and "Let the Happiness In", were scored by arranger Brian Gascoigne. Mark Isham also recorded his parts at Angel and Air Studios. Then it was off to Wisseloord at Hilversum in the Netherlands to finish the overdubs and do the vocals. Final additions and mixing were done early summer 1987 at the Wool Hall in Bath with Steve Nye.
