Category Archives: brian eno

Eno is enough

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I pride myself on listening to a wide variety of music. I’m also a solid asset to have on your trivia team if music or lyrics are the categories. Still, I have to admit that I’ve missed or glossed over many artists, some of them legends. This is the case with Brian Eno.

Yes, I’ve heard of Roxy Music, and I know about his many collaborations with artists I do know and love. I just never took the time out to listen to any of his work. I’m sure I’ve heard some of it. Maybe I’ve heard a lot and never knew. In the end I have to hang my head in shame and admit there’s a living music legend I not hip to. Until now.

I’m going to pause here to bring up a point. Being unfamiliar with an artist can actually be a benefit when you write for a music blog. I’m about to talk about a new album with no existing context or preconceived notions based on previous works by the artist. That may be good or bad, but it makes me feel pure and innocent in some way.

Brian Eno’s newest recording, Drums Between The Bells, hits stores Monday, July 4th. Some of you will be camping then, or are already camping instead of reading this, and I don’t blame you. We’ll all have to get back to the grind at some point, though, and this album might be a nice segue. It’s atmospheric and dreamy, but there are moments of harshness and experimentation that keep it from floating off into space. Poet Rick Holland wrote all the lyrics, though they are presented (mostly in spoken-word style over the musical background) by a number of guest vocalists. To keep this post shorter and give you more time to light things on fire, I’ll just post a couple tracks I like. It’s up to you to listen to the rest.

Click to play Brian Eno – Pour It Out

Click to play Brian Eno – A Title

Ok, just a couple points I feel I should add. Disc 1 of the album includes the vocals; disc 2 is the same songs in instrumental form. There is some cute wordplay between the two, such as the track “Dow,” which becomes “Nikkei” on the second disc. If you have a large stock portfolio you’re laughing your head off right now.

I also want to bring up that musically this reminds me A LOT of post-rock bands like Sigur Ros or Pacific UV. With the exception of a few more frenetic tracks, this would fit in perfectly with your collection if you are a fan of that genre or shoegaze. It would also be great background listening when you just need to relax a bit. It’s absolutely gorgeous at times, and always a good listen.

I hope you all enjoy your holiday, even if it’s just a long weekend at home.

No Protection

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There are some days I like to kick back and listen to a certain song over and over and over again. This is one of those songs. Massive Attack used the vocal talents of Everything But The Girl‘s Tracey Thorn for their second album, and the title track of Protection became something of a sensation. The music video was something of a wonder, also, as Michel Gondry took on the role of turning the song into a video masterpiece of its own.

Click to Play Massive Attack – Protection

That being said, you would think that it would be tough to outdo the original. In most cases, I would agree with every one of you. One of the two remixes I’ve been digging non-stop for fifteen years, now. I had to place an order for the Massive Attack VS Mad Professor CD, and seeing as how Arkansas wasn’t really noted for their diversity in music, I was considered something of an oddity for having this disc. A guy I met while at college in Arkansas actually placed the order for me, and he was one of the few that really fed into my passion for music while I was in school there. The Mad Professor mix of “Protection” is nothing short of breathtaking in every way, shape, and form. This has been played to death, and is one of the rare songs I can listen to and just never tire of.

Click to Play Massive Attack – Radiation Ruling the Nation (Protection)

The other remix is by ambient and electronic legend Brian Eno. I discovered this remix only recently, but there is a real harkening to his Music for Airports days in this remix. It’s astounding in its own right, and I strongly suggest taking a listen.

Click to Play Massive Attack – Protection (The Eno Mix)

Regardless of what version you prefer, you won’t get an argument from me about which one is tops, as I consider all three to be mind-blowing. Enjoy these!

We really are quite small when you think about it

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This is not going to be your average post from me. Now, some of you may have read this blog for a while and know I bounce all over the place with the music I post. This is one that really I don’t have a lot of words for, as it expresses a lot of beauty. This song I’m posting today was used in the now classic “Cosmos” series by Carl Sagan by Vangelis. I’ve gotten my nerd on lately and have been watching it and this song in particular just smacked of all the old synth legends of the 1970’s, including Brian Eno, Giorgio Moroder, and Jean-Jacques Perrey. I’ve taken the liberty of including the full-length original of Vangelis’ “Heaven and Hell (Part 1)” as well as just the part entitled “Movement 3” that is just one of four parts to this raucous legend. Beware! This isn’t your typical song! However, this piece is just sheer brilliance, and I’ve also posted a little video I saw online that included this that used parts from the “Cosmos” series.

Seriously, a brilliant song that pretty much transcends time. Enjoy it.


Download Vangelis – Heaven and Hell (Part 1) (Movement 3)


Download Vangelis – Heaven and Hell (Part 1)

Yep. Go buy it.