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Brian Eno's Music |
Last updated 1996
Brian Eno has been actively musically since the early 70's with the pop rock group Roxy Music (he played on the first two records). However, he started doing really interesting things once he went solo. His two 1975 records "Another Green World" and "Discrete Music" have since proven to be ground breaking, especially for the field of Ambient music.
Ambient Music
Eno says that he invented what he calls "ambient music" by accident (see the liner notes to "Discrete Music" for details of this story). And as a result of his accidental discovery, he decieded to create a record of ambient music which he titled Discrete Music. The first side of this record is just wonderful (though the second side is uninteresting). Although Eno continued his work in "pop" music in two later records (Before and After Science and Wrong Side Up which I talk about further on), most of his work since 1975 has been in the field of ambient or experimental music.
The significant records of his ambient works are:
- Ambient One: Music for Airports. I find this record a bit dull. Dull is to some degree the operating condition of an ambient record, but there are degrees of dullness, and Ambient One falls near the end of my personal scale of dullness. Still, this record (unlike Discrete Music) reached a big audience. Many people really listened to this music and understood what Eno was trying to accomplish.
- Ambient Two: The Plateaux of Mirror, with Herald Budd on piano. Now this is my personal favorite. I have nothing but good memories when this music played in my life. It is just beautiful music to listen to. Herald Budd has continued to create ambient music on his own.
- Ambient Four: On Land. A deep, rich record that is less like music and more like sound sculpture. Eno mentions in his liner notes for this record that he didn't throw anything out when recording this work, some sounds and performances got "buried" in the mix while others stayed on the "top" of the music. This record is truly fascinating to listen to and it rewards careful listening.
- Apollo. A collaborative work with Brian's younger brother Roger Eno and the (now famous) Canadian music producer: Daniel Lanios. This record was inspired by the description of a documentary film about the Apollo missions. Years after the record was released, the director, Al Reinhert, finally finished the film and it was released throughout the US. I think the music is perfect for the topic of the Moon expeditions. It is one of my favorite Eno recordings. (Reinhert was nominated for an academy award for the documentary, and in 1995 for the screenplay of Apollo 13, but lost both times.)
Eno's Pop Music
Eno's pop music is characterized by very odd lyrics (that hint at meaning more than they actually say) and wonderful performances by his musical helpers.- Another Green World. This is a truly great record. Very inventive with many moods. There is some stillness and some noise. There is some great guitar by Robert Fripp and wonderful bass guitar by several talented bass players.
- Before and After Science. Contains Eno's best lyrics, though the song title "King's Lead Hat" is an anagram for "Talking Heads" a band that Eno was hoping to record with, but failed to connect with in time for this record. Eno later worked on three records with the Talking Heads, helping them create their master piece "Remain In Light". Before and After Science was designed to work as a vinyl LP, the two sides of the record are quite different. As a CD, it doesn't work in the same way.
- Wrong Way Up with John Cale. Although some of Cale's songs on this record don't hold up to Eno's work, the best of Eno's songs here are as good as any that he has ever done, and that is saying something. I personally wish Eno would do more work in this field of music, but Eno will do only what he wants to do.
Lesser Works
There are other web sites with complete discography's and I see no reason to duplicate their efforts. However, Eno did have a hand in making a number of worthwhile records, most with other people. In some cases he seems to have had little impact, in some cases he seems to have been a major creative force.- Ambient Three: Day of Radiance. This record is largely the work of Larraji who plays the hammered dulcimer. This is a lovely record but there isn't much "depth" to the music, at least not compared with something like "On Land".
- Cluster and Eno. Cluster is a German duo (Rodelius and Mobious) who created several records in the 70's. Some of them are quite good. Cluster's music was very similar to that of Kraftwerk (but not as much focus on dance beats) and early Tangerine Dream. I recommend Sowiesoso, Cluster, Gross Wasser, Cluster and Eno, and After the Heat. Unfortunately these records are nearly impossible to find these days (in CD format).
- Forth World Music with Jon Hassel. Hassel is a former jazz musician who became interested in the world of music beyond that of the American tradition. His signature sound is that of his distorted trumpet that sounds like an alien wind more than it does any normal instrument. If you don't mind the trumpet sound (and I quite like it for this record at least) this is a very interesting record that is quite beautiful in places. Hassel went on the create a number of similar sounding records, but without Eno, I did not find them quite as entertaining.
- Music for Films Vol. One. There are some wonderful pieces on here, as well as some quite dull things. As is typical for "film music" this music has little "depth".
Eno's Recent Work
Sad to say, Eno's recent musical work has been quite poor. Neural Net is basically unpleasant to listen to. Thursday Afternoon is a waste of time. It is so dull, I would rather listen to nothing than listen to this record.
Still, other people have taken up where Eno left off. The field of Ambient (or space music) is vital and growing right now. Some of the leaders in this area (that I like) are: Steve Roach, Robert Rich, and Aphex Twin.
Next artist: Steve Tibbets
Page by Colin Glassey <cglassey@teleologic.com>
