Mark Isham - Mark Isham (1990)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Mark Isham - Castalia (1988)
Mark Isham - Tibet (1989)

More artful, ambient jazz from trumpeter Mark Isham. Some songs -- particularly the ones featuring the simmering vocals of Tanita Takiram -- lean heavier into adult-contempo, and land in similarly evocative, nocturnal territory as The Blue Nile, circa Hats. Also features the glistening, fluid guitar stylings of David Torn.

Track listing:
1. Honeymoon Nights
2. I Will Never Know
3. Marionette
4. An Eye on the World
5. Blue Moon
6. Ashes and Diamonds
7. Toward the Infinite White
8. Songs of the Flying Fish
9. Turkish Delight

To forget for a moment

If you like this, listen to:

Manfred Schoof & Rainer Brüninghaus -
Shadows & Smiles (1989)

John Taylor, Norma Winston,
& Kenny Wheeler - Azimuth (1977)

Mark Isham - Tibet (1989)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Mark Isham - Castalia (1988)

Gorgeous, meditative sounds from US musician Mark Isham. A lush cloud of synths, electric and acoustic guitars, French horn, flute, and other music elements, the variety of which makes for a dynamic, consistently engaging, quietly stunning listen.

Five tracks, titled "Part I" through "Part V"

Toward the infinite white

If you like this, you should hear:

Jan Garbarek - All Those
Born with Wings (1986)

Michael Shrieve & Steve Roach -
The Leaving Time (1988)

David Torn - Cloud About Mercury (1987)

Related:
Mark Isham - Castalia (1988)
Michael Shrieve - Stiletto (1989)

One of my top-ten ECM records, easy. Pulsing synths, exotic instrumentation, soaring guitars, tribal percussion, and other things that the old me would have hated, but present-day me goes apeshit for. Speaking of me, I'm going camping, so bye.

Track listing:
1. Suyafhu Skin... Snapping the Hollow Reed
2. The Mercury Grid
3. Three Minutes of Pure Entertainment
4. Previous Man
5. Network of Sparks, a) The Delicate Code
6. Network of Sparks, b) Egg Learns to Walk... Suyafhu Seal

Warrior horsemen of the spirit thundering over hills of doubt to a place of hope

Mark Isham - Castalia (1988)

Atmospheric jazz fusion led by trumpeter and synth-enthusiast Mark Isham, with the help of a bunch of contributing musicians, including guitarist David Torn and Mick Karn, bassist for Japan. Pillowy production and some gorgeous, ambient/new age pieces, such as personal favorite "In the Warmth of Your Night".

Track listing:
1. The Grand Parade
2. Tales from the Maiden
3. In the Warmth of Your Night
4. My Wife with Champagne Shoulders
5. A Meeting with the Parabolist
6. A Dream of Three Acrobats
7. The Gracious Core

Sweet circle