Another Green World

The sounds and textures have clear shades of Bowies Low but this is not an ambient recording. It is clear that the sound and textures are being experimented with and used as an instrument.There is a broad sound stage with good channel separation and balance. The balance is “played” to reinforce the sounds which an element of intentional distortion.The bass guitar is clear and defined as is the bass drum sound. There are clear echoes and strange reverberations on some of the drum sounds which balance the rich other worldly synths.This is a very clear recording which allows the vocals to shine. This is a learning recording i.e. it is clear that Eno was refining his mastery of studio techniques and sounds. Whilst the tracks are not complex they sound complex and this adds to the charm of the recording.New(ish) sounds such as digital decay are experimented with and the foundations of the Berlin school are clear as are the sounds that would influence other artists. Overall this recording shows how a relatively simple recording can sound complex and atmospheric.I have not set out to write reviews of the music content as “beauty is in the ears of the listener”. These reviews are about the quality (or not) of the recorded sound. To read about how the reviews are done please see my profile.

An absolute gem of an album. Really experimental in places, really beautiful in others. Some great input from some excellent musicians, the most stand outs being Percy Jones and Robert Fripp. I love Enos post Roxy albums and this is no exception.

"Another Green World" was Brian Eno's third album as a solo artist. It marks a change in his musical output, one in which he began to move away from the glam rock and art pop sound of Roxy Music, towards inventive experimentation, later known as ambient music. This development is particularly noticeable in the nine instrumental tracks on the album. The production notes in the cd booklet are further evidences of the eccentric attitude of this musical mastermind, with lead guitar referred to as "restrained", "choppy organ," "spasmodic percussion," and, my favorite, "uncertain piano."To a casual or disinterested listener, Eno's singing voice and music can sound out of tune and weird. But those of us who adore David Bowie's classic "Heroes", released in the same year, can only be pleasantly surprised at the imagination and ingenuity of Eno in his own right. The record opens with "Sky Saw," a dystopian song with a bassline and guitar riff that reminds me of "Blackout" and "Joe the Lion" (from Bowie's "Heroes"). This is followed by a brief intermission, the minimalist piece "Over Fire Island." The surreal pop song "St. Elmo's Fire" is cute and melodious. "In Dark Trees," another instrumental piece, is a precursor to the dark ambient genre. "The Big Ship" takes us on a droning journey through a rhythmic fantasy landscape. The slightly repetitive yet charming love song "I'll Come Running" is next. The title track, "Another Green World," which ends the first side or first half of the album, is ephemeral and otherworldly. It is the second half of the album which I find the strongest, beginning with the dreamy and hallucinogenic rhumba "SombreReptiles," which segues into the quirky and brief "Little Fishes." "Golden Hours" is the album's masterpiece, a nonsensical and evocative number featuring a fantastic guitar solo by avnatgarde guitarist Robert Fripp. The aptly titled "Becalmed" sounds like a sunset, and the following "Zawinul/Lava" sounds like a sunrise. "Everything Merges With the Night" is a pretty ode, light and airy, with lingering poetic guitar sounds. The closing number "Spirits Drifting" is moody and ghostly. Overall, a magical listening experience, with a unique sound that's rare in today's advanced music world.

Here we see Brians third solo album and it is an absolute classic. Tracks include Sky Saw, St Elmo's Fire, Another Green World (the theme tune from BBC's programme Arena) and Sombre Reptiles. The list of guest musicians for this album include Phil Collins, John Cale, Robert Fripp, Percy Jones and Paul Rudolph. In my opinion his best solo album, but maybe that's just me.

Bought for track 6.bbc TV arena theme very nostalgic for me. Have been aware of Brian eno of course and now recently own two of his cds. Highly recommended.

Some good songs some bad

Eno at his innovative and bizarre best. But not for everyone!

love this CD, having a great time re-discovering Brian Eno