Tickets for a Prayer Wheel

Description

Tickets for a Prayer Wheel is a CD-EP by the American alternative pop band Sixpence None the Richer, released on R.E.X. Music in October 1995. The mini-album is composed of two versions of the song “Within a Room Somewhere,” six previously unreleased tracks that include two instrumentals, and the dance mix (with an intro) of the song “Love, Salvation, the Fear of Death.” Both “Within” and “Love…” previously appeared in different versions on the band’s 1995-release This Beautiful Mess. Among the new tracks is a cover of “Carry You”, a song written and recorded by Leslie Phillips and T Bone Burnett on Phillips’ 1987-release The Turning.

A bit of a stop gap after ‘This Beautiful Mess‘, this is more of a mini-album than an EP and value for money with nine tracks (if you include the hidden stuff). You get a couple of edits of «In A Room Somewhere» and then two songs which didn’t make the final cut for their last album. Both «Healer» and «Dresses» chug along in jangly, poppy Sixpence fashion with Leigh Bingham’s vulnerable and pure vocals continuing to delight. Then there are two cover versions, «Love Letters In The Sand» has a sweet charm but it’s Leslie Phillips’ «Carry You» which is the most touching song on the EP with its simple arrangement and acoustic feel. That feel is continued in the gentle touching instrumental «Alisha’s First Step» which features some beautiful cello playing from Matt Slocum. Another instrumental «Solomon The Mystic» is a live work out allowing you to hear Slocum’s guitar playing at its spontaneous and atmospheric best. Hidden at the end of all this is a surprising techno version of «Love, Salvation And The Fear Of Death». But then that’s Sixpence, seemingly always able to surprise and delight. This limited edition mini album is a welcome filler before the next main event. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, June 1997]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/tickets-for-a-prayer-wheel/335698651)

CD tracklist:

01. Within A Room Somewhere (Radio Edit) – 4:02
02. Within A Room Somewhere (Demo) – 6:29
03. Healer – 3:41
04. Dresses – 3:34
05. Love Letters In The Sand – 3:01
06. Carry You – 6:53
07. Alisha’s First Steps – 3:33
08. Solomon The Mystic – 6:19
09. Love, Salvation, The Fear Of Death (Dance Mix Intro) – 0:43
10.1 Love, Salvation, The Fear Of Death (Dance Mix) – 3:48
10.2 Untitled – 2:05

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by R.E.X. Music (9 and 10 are hidden tracks).