Streamlining the muted, organic atmospheres of the previous
Gone to Earth to forge a more cohesive listening experience,
Secrets of the Beehive is arguably
David Sylvian's most accessible record, a delicate, jazz-inflected work boasting elegant string arrangements courtesy of
Ryuichi Sakamoto. Impeccably produced by
Steve Nye, the songs are stripped to their bare essentials, making judicious use of the synths, tape loops, and treated pianos which bring them to life;
Sylvian's evocative vocals are instead front and center, rendering standouts like "The Boy With the Gun" and the near-hit "Orpheus" -- both among the most conventional yet penetrating songs he's ever written -- with soothing strength and assurance. ~ Jason Ankeny