Virginia Astley – Hope In A Darkened Heart

Wow this sounds wonderful. Crisp and organic pressing to match the beauty that is captured on this recording. The midrange really shines and highlights the outstanding work done by Ryuichi Sakamoto who was a master of creating otherworldly sounds which fit perfectly into Virginia’s voice here. Just a magnificent record in every way and with this version you can hear every little ethereal detail in brilliant quality.

An amazing album which combines ethereal vocals and digital musical landscapes. Virginia Astley's marital break up is completely visualized and laid bare here. Ryuichi Sakamoto's production and arrangements add layers and textures rarely found in music of such reflection and sadness.
Recommended.

Hope In A Darkened Heart is available as a digital download from Virginia's Bandcamp Page:
https://virginiaastley.bandcamp.com/album/hope-in-a-darkened-heart

Hopefully now that Virginia has reissued a limited CD run of her first album, the same will happen with Hope In A Darkened Heart though I imagine there will be major label/artist permission/royalty issues but it could kick WEA/Geffen or even Hayabusa Landings into reissue mode given it's been a decade since the last reissue and second-hand prices are high, plus I imagine a vinyl reissue would be very sought after as well.

Life affirming sounds that stop me dead in my tracks and make my heart and mind listen and feel at the same time

Stunning album, i was 17 when i first listened to this and i was blown away by her voice and the amazing atmosphere/arrangements of the songs.
There was nothing like it back then and still today it's quite unique, melancholy never sounded so good...
The whole album is beautiful but my personal favorites are "Some Small Hope" with Sylvian, "A Father", "So Like Dorian" and the instrumental "A Summer Long Since Passed", astonishing!

One of the most beautiful records ever released. It´s so sad that nearly nobody knows it. This perfect voice coming with this fine Music is great. I love it!

The credits on the back cover state that this was released in 1986.

Yes, this is Astley’s big label debut on Warner/Geffen, but this is no sellout. On the contrary, it’s as consistently intelligent, delicate and beautiful as anything she’s done, further enhanced by the distinctive and fitting contributions of Sakamoto and Sylvian.

So many memories! Every time i play this record i recall vivid moments of my life back in the days when this was released, i originally bought it on cassette, then through the years i bought it on CD and vinyl (even the Japanese pressings)
The dreamlike arrangements of Sakamoto are a perfect match for Astley's sweet vocals, all tracks are wonderful but "Some Small Hope", "So Like Dorian" and "A Summer Long Since Passed" have a special place in my heart...

One of my favorite albums of all time, a lovely distillation of pastoral '80s dreampop. Magnificently cinematic, lush but restrained, soft green dewy fields and the indirect feeling of small intimate moments in hushed conversations. Innocent on the surface, the sound, but themes of trouble, conflict, and sadness woven throughout as well. Joy tempered with pensive melancholy. It would make a lovely soundtrack and score for the right type of dramatic film, but then it would be forever associated and tied with a story and visuals...and this album deserves its freedom. It requires the mental and emotional space in which to echo. You'll like this if you like The Dream Academy.