|

Brian Eno (The Early Years)

Brian Eno
Brian Eno’s music often defines categorization, particularly his early years.

Oftentimes we talk about musicians as being revolutionary. Rarely do you hear the term evolutionary, as in an artist that is beyond categorization, one that is always evolving. For Brian Eno, the term “evolutionary” certainly applies.

 

The Early Years

In the early 1970s, Eno became a founding member of Roxy Music, with whom he perfected his notable sound by incorporating synthesizers and tape recorders into the mixes. Little did we know then how many more directions he would take this sound. Somewhat surprisingly at the time, he quit during Roxy Music’s second album, reportedly growing bored of life as a rock star. 

His solo career plunged him into the realm of art pop and featured the notable albums Here Come the Warm Jets (1973), Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)Another Green World , and Before and After Science

Eno’s early career is remembered for his electronic work as well, having literally come up with the term “ambient music.” The first of Eno’s renowned ambient albums is 1975’s Discreet Music, followed up by the landmark Music For Airports, a song of which is featured below.

The end of Eno’s “early years” actually began a new phase – legendary collaborations with David Bowie and also with the Talking Heads. Hear examples of those pairings in The Music 101 playlist.

Truly, Eno was (and still is) in search of the next, always at the edge of the cutting edge.