Channel Light Vessel Excellent Spirits 

Japan: June 21, 1996 on Polydor KK POCP-7152 with extra tracks 
Re-released on the For Life label 
Japanese edition contains two extra tracks

Produced by Bill Nelson and Channel Light Vessel 
Engineered by John W Spence 
Mixed by Bill Nelson & John W Spence 
Music and lyrics by Roger Eno, Bill Nelson, Kate St. John and Laraaji (and Mayumi Tachibana on Clear Controls Confirmed) 

1. The Invisible Spectator
   Bill Nelson: vocals, electric guitars, drums, loops and atmospheres 
   Roger Eno: keyboards and euphonium 
   Kate St John: vocals, oboe and sufi reeds 
   Laraaji:  zither 
   Ian Leese: bass guitar 
    
2. Footsteps
   Bill Nelson: floating piano, lonesome pine pedal steel guitar, skank organ, electric and acoustic guitars, percussion, rattle drums and atmospheres 
   Roger Eno: vocals and vocal harmonies, cloud organ, lickety loops 
   Kate St John: vocals, vocal harmonies, oboe 
   Larraji: kalimba and electric zither 
   Ian Leese: fretless bass guitar 
    
3. Haiku Detour (Bop Kyoto)
   Bill Nelson: piano, reverse guitar, bass synth, bagpipes from Venus 
   Roger Eno: elevator to nirvana synths, koto orchestra, stick banjo, vocal harmony, electric jaws harp and little wheels of joy 
   Kate St John: ikebana vocal, vocal harmonies 
   Laraaji: vocals, acoustic and electric zithers, rattle banjo, bass synth and klangfarben synth 
    
4. Birdie
   Bill Nelson: bible of dreams guitar and harmonics 
   Roger Eno: accordian and heavenly keys 
   Kate St John: voice and boulevard piano 
   Laraaji: acoustic guitar, bells and chimes 
    
5. Loose Connections
   Bill Nelson: vocals, electric guitar, loops, drums, beeps and bells 
   Roger Eno: madrigal keyboards, motown strings, electric bongoes and breaking banjales 
   Kate St John: piano, vocals and saxophone 
   Laraaji: vocals, travelling keyboard, reverse zithers and kalimba 
   Ian Leese: bass guitar 
    
6. Eternal Lightbulbs (For The Infinte Stars)
   Bill Nelson: voodoo jazz guitar, loops and percussion 
   Roger Eno: groove organ, walking bass and spookshow keyboards 
   Kate St John: saxophone signals 
   Laraaji: voices and whistle 
    
7. Slow Jig and Whirligig
   Bill Nelson: bible of dreams guitar, acoustic guitar and percussion 
   Roger Eno: electric piano, heavenly keys, bass guitar and falling stars 
   Kate St John: cor anglais 
   Laraaji: piano, chimes and zither 
    
8. Stone In Your Palm
   Bill Nelson: e-bow guitar, loops and percussion 
   Roger Eno: vocals, apollo synth, horn and brass 
   Kate St John: vocals and vibes 
   Laraaji: zithers and wind chimes 
    
9. Accordian Night
   Bill Nelson: acoustic and electric guitars, bass synth, loops, percussion and atmospheres 
   Roger Eno: accordian, piano, space-tango synth, mex-hex trumpet 
   Kate St John: spanish-ish oboe 
   Laraaji: m.c. vox, zithers 
   Ian Leese: bass guitar 
    
10. The Offering
    Bill Nelson: e-bow and ocean gongs 
    Roger Eno: piano and keyboards 
    Kate St John: cor anglais 
    Laraaji: zither 
     
11. Same Shape, Different Meaning
    Bill Nelson: grand piano, hoverpad, acoustic and electric guitar, sway bass, fretful bass guitar, drums and percussion 
    Roger Eno: gamelan orchestra, pulse bass and vibes 
    Kate St John: saxophone, oboe and space kitten vocals 
    Laraaji: zither and vox 
     
12. Everything Everywhere
    Bill Nelson: electric and acoustic guitars, hornpipe, loops, drums and atmospheres 
    Roger Eno: carnival trumpets, synthetic strings, kalimba keyboard, logs and space birds 
    Kate St John: vocals, continental organ, grooverider saxophone and virtual brass section 
    Laraaji: vocals, electric piano and kalimba 
    Ian Leese: bass guitar 
     
13. The Century That Dared To Dream
    Bill Nelson: vocals, hoverpad, electric guitar, slide guitar, loops, drums and percussion 
    Roger Eno: acoustic piano, vocal harmonies and ice keys 
    Kate St John: vocals, cor anglais and saxophone 
    Laraaji: zither 
    Ian Leese: bass guitar 
     
14. Decode Me Baby (2:01)
    Bill Nelson: essoldo guitars and percussion 
    Roger Eno: stylophone, trumpets, bass guitar and satellite signals 
    Kate St John: pink farfisa and saxophone 
    Laraaji: vox a-go-go 
    John Spence: additional drums 
     
15. Clear Controls Confirmed (1:46)
    Bill Nelson: e-bow, percussion and atmospheres 
    Roger Eno: ancient orchestra 
    Kate St John: oboe and alto saxophone 
    Laraaji: vox 
    Mayumi Tachibana: cello

Recorded at Fairview Studios, Hull, England 
Engineer: John W Spence; Mixed by Bill Nelson and John W Spence 
Produced by Bill Nelson and Channel Light Vessel 
Music and Lyrics by Roger Eno, Bill Nelson, Kate St John and Laraaji 
Published by Opal Music/Copyright Control 
Mastered at Transfermation, London 

Thanks to Richard Chadwick, Emi Nelson, Sid Griffin, Bee Eno, John W Spence and very special thanks to Mayumi Tachibana 
cd-construction, artwork and design : David Coppenhall/Z-one 
Bill Nelson is represented world-wide by Opium (Arts) Ltd 
Also by Channel Light Vessel : Automatic (ASCD19) 

Gyroscope's site on Channel Light Vessel 

Q Magazine
by Johnny Black 

At last, a reason for Bill Nelson. In the context of this eclectic gathering of musical adventurers, the all-too-prolific one is held nicely in check, so that the sporadic outbursts of his unmistakeable howling guitar enhance the songs rather than swamping them. The other Channel Light Vessel on this, their second sailing, are the multi-talented horn player/singer/composer Kate St. John of Dream Academy renown; composer, singer and celebrity sibling Roger Eno; plus ambient zitherist extraordinaire Laraaji. The happy blend of this odd quartet fairly scintillates, especially when Kate St. John and Roger Eno provide the musical impetus, with the others embellishing and embroidering the musical spaces around them. Quite, quite lovely. 

(four stars out of five)

go to the Bill Nelson web site