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I've said before that I consider SYR6 to be among the very best improvised music I've heard, although I'm never sure if that should be 'semi-improvised' since the band had a visual narrative to guide them. It certainly feels somewhat structured on occaision, perhaps that is why. The thing as a whole has a kind of simple depth to it ('still currents run deep' and all that) that has an almost spiritual, meditative aspect to it. Perhaps 'devotional' is a better word. Either way, I consider this quality to be the thing that makes it an exceptional part of the SY canon. It is the ability to do something like this, as a kind of adjunct to their usual work, that makes me really love this band.
I play it on a regular basis; I think it is a fascinating recording and I would love to hear the band talk at length about it or to see detailed notes in the discography section.
(for me, in modern musical terms SYR6 finds a natural accompaniment in David Sylvian's 'Approaching Silence. The latter is composed, and uses electronica and dialogue, but nevertheless the texture of the two pieces is engagingly similar)
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