"Lilac" on High Life is another high point along the same lines
those Eno/Hyde records are interesting b/c Hyde has done very little as a solo artist. I don't hear any Underworld at all in those albums.
― frogbs, Thursday, 26 March 2020 14:24 (four years ago) link
Eno is an underrated lyricist, possibly because so much of his stuff is surreal and/or seemingly random. But then you hit something like "Spider & I" and it's just so concise and evocative:
Spider and i sit watching the skyOn a world without soundWe knit a web to catch one tiny flyFor our world without soundWe sleep in the morningsWe dream of a ship that sails awayA thousand miles away.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 26 March 2020 14:27 (four years ago) link
always loved this part of "Kings Lead Hat"
Splish splash I was raking in the cashthe biology of purpose keeps my nose above the surface BUHHHHHH
― frogbs, Thursday, 26 March 2020 14:55 (four years ago) link
Agreed – his lyrics on Before and After Science are an esp. good juxtaposition of the surreal and evocative.
Reflection is amazing, one of my absolute favorites of his
Finding Shore is really good
since 2000, my favorite things have been the Eno/Schwalm 2001 shows,
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 26 March 2020 15:38 (four years ago) link
one of my favorite ever lyricists ~
but if you study the logistics and heuristics of the mystics you will find that their minds rarely move in a lineso it's much more realistic to abandon such ballistics and resign to be trapped on a leaf in the vine
!!!
― reggie (qualmsley), Thursday, 26 March 2020 15:39 (four years ago) link
Even gibberish like "Miss Shapiro:"
All the peasants in the squaresAt their tables and their chairsSet to salvage certain numbersFrom the wonder of the tundraAnd the muses in the gloomCounting needles in their roomsOn the carpet in the cornerIn a kind of secret slumberWhile the in formation rainSlashed the dirty window pane to the square.
Smoky broads and smoky windows in the squareCome come charmer come on over for the dayDisappearing cocoa forests flash and dieFortunes crumble all demolished in the bay.
Over forty pointed peopleIn the perfect pointed steepleLooked to see the lucky numberYes the wonder of the tundraHad come up to fame and fortuneSinging his tune, my tune, your tuneWooing daughters of the giftedOn the carpets of the courtroomsWhile the tickets were expensiveThe show was quite relentless in the square.
Smoky broads and smoky windows in the squareCome come charmer come on over for the dayDisappearing cocoa forests flash and dieFortunes crumble all demolished in the bay
Dalai llama lama puss pussStella marls missa nobisMiss a dinner Miss ShapiroShampoos pot-pot pinkies pamperedMovement hampered like at christmasHa-ha isn't life a circusRound in circles like the archersAlways stiff or always starchyYes it's happening and it's fatteningAnd it's all that we can get into the show.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 26 March 2020 15:55 (four years ago) link
― frogbs, Thursday, March 26, 2020 bookmarkflaglink
"Lilac" in particular is the high point of both Eno/Hyde albums, in my opinion. That might be my favorite Eno thing of the last 20 years.
Trying to get into this new Eno/Eno album. Weirdly I like it on headphones at night, but when I listen to it during the day while working, it feels too retro, kinda hokey to me.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Thursday, 26 March 2020 19:20 (four years ago) link
I think I would not have liked it even ten years ago; Eno’s taste for midi glock, celeste & string synths can get treacly for me. Could not do that new Apollo album, and there are definitely a few tracks on this I left off the playlist, but it saves the best for the end
I’ve probably just made the decision to like it, but it has something to do with the fact that Eno’s midi tastes are now recognizably his as a person, that when he applies them to what are unmistakably his brother’s piano lines, which I find sentimental but not manipulative, then it becomes a record that only these two could have made. having Apollo / Voices / MFF3 in the bloodstream since they came out helps. Or maybe my nervous system is just shredded this week and music like this and Mozart are all I can take, even most Monteverdi is too aggressive for me right now
― Milton Parker, Thursday, 26 March 2020 19:44 (four years ago) link
There's no question this record hits the spot right now (I would recommend you give the second disc of Apollo another shot however -- if you aren't comparing it to APOLLO, it's actually quite good on its own terms).
I think a big piece of why the new record works is that Brian's MIDI tastes have also gotten more processed and shaded as he's moved from hardware to softsynths. Thinking back to Nerve Net's "Pierre in Mist," where he dinks around on an M1 ROMpler sax sound ... or the entire sound palette on The Drop 5 years later ... those records sound like what they were: MIDI presets he treated with this Eventide H3000 signal processor. No matter how many swirling pitch-shifted reverb tails he would smother them in, it was still a MIDI conga, or tamborine or a piano.
The sounds he uses today are all generated from and processed in his computer -- and while that's not everyone's cup of tea, for Eno the result is far more integrated. A track like "Wintergreen" starts off sounding like an electric piano but then shades of an acoustic piano sound joins in a few minutes in and ... well, it sounds great. (I've never been convinced, FWIW, that he was the master of the DX-7 we're told he was ... most of his sound design for that is bell sounds which are by far the easiest sounds to create).
I would also agree that Roger's melodic sensibility (like Tom Rogerson's or Harold Budd's for that matter) really jibes nicely with these sounds. None of those records are mawkish.
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 26 March 2020 20:34 (four years ago) link
those are two good posts, i welcome more eno(s) process talk. i have nothing to contribute since i've been using the new record as attempted toddler-lulling music (without much success) in these trying times
― adam, Friday, 27 March 2020 14:36 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k66nGplNRmQ
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 27 March 2020 14:38 (four years ago) link
Haven't dug into the making of this one yet, but the Tom Rogerson album was pretty High Concept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bnYGfa90dc
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 27 March 2020 14:41 (four years ago) link
(xp) I've got one of those albums, maybe I should listen to it myself.
― Bridge Over Thorley Waters (Tom D.), Friday, 27 March 2020 14:41 (four years ago) link
Looks like A Year With Swollen Appendices is getting a 25th anniversary (gah) reissue:https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/brian-eno-book-extractFun little essay in there about how things are different today.
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 12 November 2020 12:43 (three years ago) link
Gah indeed... Nice though, pre-ordered!
― A Scampo Darkly (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 12 November 2020 13:09 (three years ago) link
During a recent house move, I found two copies of this. One completely knackered and held together with tape, the other pretty beat up, the binding really wasn't very good. I re-read and enjoyed it and would like to read another one, although not 2020 preferably.
― Maresn3st, Thursday, 12 November 2020 13:44 (three years ago) link
I have my old copy, is there anything new here but the intro (that's reproduced in that GQ link)?
Anyway, this is a really pleasant revive because I was going to bump this about 12 hours ago. I was talking with one of my kids about something, and next thing I know I'm streaming "An Ending (Ascent)." Then I dig up a repost of that unofficial "extended" version, an hour long version of the track. But as I listened I skimmed over the (recent) comments in all their earnest, honest, ridiculous glory and almost immediately got a little weepy. It's amazing the power certain piece of music can have, and what they mean to people. Stuff like:
I wish this world was a better place. I live here in Colorado and everyone hates each other here. I never see anything good anymore. This song just reminds me everything is going to be ok
This hits differently at night under the stars😔 life seems to slow down and you sit there and think how life is taken for granted every day, I wish I could go back to my child hood 😔😔 and see all my friends and family
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWsTPNMYiuU
Predictably the reactions to the original and "original" extended versions posted are just as sad and profound and appreciative and ott. One comment is simply "I miss my mum."
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 12 November 2020 14:06 (three years ago) link
what happened to slocki's sad youtube thread?
thought this revive would be about the Film Music compilation set to be released.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 12 November 2020 16:32 (three years ago) link
I have his PDFs somewhere compiling them.
― dan selzer, Thursday, 12 November 2020 17:26 (three years ago) link
Roger and Brian Eno Announce New Album Mixing Colours🕸Missed this. Roger and Brian have their first joint album out on Deutsche Grammophon, March 20. First track is up:📹
― Naive Teen Idol, Sunday, 6 December 2020 13:48 (three years ago) link
Funny, I've been relistening to this album today and it's even lovelier and more mysterious than I recalled. Made me very proud when my daughter came downstairs, listen to a second of the music, then asked me if it was Brian Eno!
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 26 January 2021 21:58 (three years ago) link
Josh, by this evidence, you are a father who’s doing it right.
― Guys don’t @ me because I tazed my own balls alright? (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 27 January 2021 02:00 (three years ago) link
This is a few years ago, and yes I know I glued Eno's synth on the wrong way, don't know how I made that mistake.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g8l9lma5crnx9bp/IMG_4442.TRIM.MOV?dl=0
Opal is almost 4 now and more inclined to listen to the Frozen soundtrack, but this was a proud parenting moment for me.
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 27 January 2021 06:10 (three years ago) link
Opal? Is her middle name Editions EG?
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 27 January 2021 11:49 (three years ago) link
It’s Judith. The Opal is actually a Syd Barrett reference despite the different spelling.
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 27 January 2021 12:57 (three years ago) link
Dan, I was thinking of your post as soon as Josh posted his. I must be doing something wrong with my girls because they mostly think I’m a dork for playing this stuff.
― Naive Teen Idol, Wednesday, 27 January 2021 13:24 (three years ago) link
NTI, you are also a father who’s doing it right. Keep the faith.
― Guys don’t @ me because I tazed my own balls alright? (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 27 January 2021 13:40 (three years ago) link
Lol, to be fair, my older daughter is 16! She's learned that Eno can be good for studying.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 27 January 2021 14:10 (three years ago) link
I did not come here for “my daughter” content :-/
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Wednesday, 27 January 2021 23:54 (three years ago) link
Just be glad Eno's not dead!
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 28 January 2021 01:09 (three years ago) link
Fit as a fiddle that guy.
― Waterloo Subset (Tom D.), Thursday, 28 January 2021 01:14 (three years ago) link
minute 13:22 of the Unforgettable Fire documentary, during the recording of Pride
edge: i didn't feel like we peaked, necessarily.
eno: you want to go out there and peak, then?
classic
― Zach_TBD (Karl Malone), Friday, 26 February 2021 00:35 (three years ago) link
Heard someone suggest that True Thrush by Dan Deacon was a tribute to Eno’s vocal albums and now I can’t stop hearing it
― frogbs, Friday, 26 February 2021 01:36 (three years ago) link
XP - Eno is gold all the way through that documentary, telling the little girl outside during the eclipse that his name is Quincy Jones.
― a mix between Daft Punk and Daft Punk with the swagger of Daft Punk (Maresn3st), Friday, 26 February 2021 09:42 (three years ago) link
Anyone read his new book? It's in my Amazon cart but I've yet to pull the trigger
― Paul Ponzi, Friday, 26 February 2021 12:54 (three years ago) link
I read it back when it first came out. Well worth your time, if only for his weird digressions (like, iirc, tasting his own urine out of curiosity, or, not unrelated, supposedly sneaking a vial of his urine to a Ducahmp exhibit to spray on his "Fountain," reasoning that Duchamp would have wanted that).
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 26 February 2021 13:56 (three years ago) link
Brian Eno said WHAT?!? pic.twitter.com/5ik69poEzR— ClickHole (@ClickHole) March 12, 2021
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 13 March 2021 15:24 (three years ago) link
lol, I've been listening to the expanded reissue of Mixing Colours for a month or so now, and all this time I've been assuming it was initially recorded like 30 years ago... imagine my surprise when I looked at the liner notes and saw it's originally from 2020!
This is one of the finest examples of an ambient recording that can phase shift between inconsequential and arresting... like an optical illusion, sometimes you can compel this to happen with mysterious concentration, other times it seems beyond your grasp. I love it!
― so tonight that I might ramona quimby (f. hazel), Monday, 29 March 2021 15:07 (three years ago) link
Huh:
Brian Eno is pleased to share with you the launch of his new station, The Lighthouse, out now on Sonos Radio HD, which features decades of unreleased music from his extensive archive. The Lighthouse will serve as a living collection where Eno will premiere both past and new musical projects directly to fans across the world, giving listeners rare insight into an illustrious career spanning more than 50 years of creating, producing and redefining music.
The renowned musician will premiere 300 tracks on the new station, including unreleased, old and new work
https://www.mixcloud.com/sonos/program-1-introducing-the-lighthouse-from-brian-eno/
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 June 2021 16:04 (two years ago) link
Would prefer this as a gigantic SoundCloud dump tbh, but intriguing!
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 9 June 2021 16:15 (two years ago) link
I think he said that right now the earliest track is from 1990, which is slightly less interesting, because it probably just means tons of generative stuff, but who knows.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 June 2021 16:17 (two years ago) link
his generative music is good
― eisimpleir (crüt), Wednesday, 9 June 2021 16:58 (two years ago) link
I agree, but it's generative, so he could have his own station playing a song that is constantly changing forever if he wanted to.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 June 2021 17:18 (two years ago) link
Brian Eno from the lighthouse Brian Eno from the lighthouse From the lighthouse With Brian EnoFrom the lighthouse With Brian Arno
― The 💨 that shook the barlow (wins), Wednesday, 9 June 2021 17:33 (two years ago) link
Yes, Arno, that is what I meant to type thx phone
― The 💨 that shook the barlow (wins), Wednesday, 9 June 2021 17:35 (two years ago) link
I thought this revive was for the great new Eno interview on Rick Rubin's podcast.
― dinnerboat, Wednesday, 9 June 2021 18:47 (two years ago) link
Wow, that exists? Cool.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 June 2021 19:17 (two years ago) link
I thought it was for two of his best regarded collaborators—Budd and now Hassell—going inside six months.
― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 29 June 2021 13:24 (two years ago) link
I've never seen this, it's a good adjunct to the re-release of the '95 diary, lot's of footage in his studio while working on Force Marker (that got used in the Heat soundtrack)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3wxEo9FU0w
― Maresn3st, Wednesday, 7 July 2021 14:21 (two years ago) link
Not sure if this is the best place to post, but we've lost another collaborator - Djivan Gasparyan died on Tuesday. I got his two All Saints released as part of Warp's AS reissue series a few years back and they are truly gorgeous. Gutting to lose so many of the All Saints / Opal set in such a short space of time :(
― bamboohouses, Thursday, 8 July 2021 11:08 (two years ago) link