TheGregWitul's Full Review: Discreet Music by Brian Eno
It is January of 1975, and you are Brian Eno. Having been in an automobile accident you are left confined to a hospital bed for some time. One afternoon your friend Judy Nylon visits you in the hospital. Judy has a record of 18th century harp music to play while you rest. Judy sets the record off and is on her way. You soon notice that the amplifier was set at an extremely low level, and that one channel of the stereo has failed completely. Since you are unable to get up, the record still plays on almost inaudibly. What would you do? I would scream for some attention, and get the record player fixed. For Brian Eno, this situation presented a new way of hearing music- as part of the ambience of the environment just as it were like everything surrounding you, all part of this singular ambience.
Very simply said, Brian Eno created Ambient music. This is the album that began Eno's exploration into the musical ambience of our world.
Some of you may remember Brian Eno as a member of Roxy Music. Some of you may have liked his collaborations with David Bowie and his producing of U2. Some of you may enjoy his solo work. Where 'Another Green World' further explored these ambient, almost alien like sound scapes, 'Discreet Music' is the beginning of ambience itself.
The notes that accompany the album show the operational diagram of how the music was recorded. Eno started off with a synthesizer with a digital recall system. The signal path went through a graphic equalizer that went through a echo unit that would transfer to a tape recorder that would delay some of the signal path transfer lines and then return them to the output stored on a master tape. Four tracks comprise the album.
They are:
"Discreet Music" - which clocks in at 30 minutes and 35 seconds. This is really the only true ambient music as the other three tracks are variations on The Canon in D major by Johann Pachelbel. This is a beautiful track which is very relaxing and calm. Eno suggested that this album be played very quietly, even to the extent that it frequently falls below the threshold of audibility. A good track to fall asleep to.
"Fullness Of Wind" (9 minutes and 57 seconds)
"French Catalogues" (5 minutes and 18 seconds)
"Brutal Ardour" (8 minutes and 17 seconds)
These three tracks are classical pieces which are also very peaceful and relaxing.
This album was the beginning of ambience done by Eno. This album is a must have as it is very interesting, relaxing and a real musical work, one which will clear your head and open up your mind. I was lucky to find this in the used section of a record store. Hopefully you will have the chance to experience Brian Eno's "Discreet Music"
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