October 15, 1998
Brian Eno may be best known for his production work - he has worked with U2, Roxy Music, David Bowie, John Cale and particularly Talking Heads - but his solo work has proven to be even more influential. A strange, cerebral, enigmatic figure, Eno's groundbreaking work with electronics is just now receiving the attention it deserves. Unlike fellow pioneers Kraftwerk, Eno incorporated analog instruments into his treated soundscapes, experimenting with ambient sound, aural wallpaper, and even off-kilter pop structures.
The latter is what makes Another Green World so distinctive. Innovative yet accessible, this album is a masterpiece of evocative sounds ("Over Fire Island"), breezy melodies ("I'll Come Running") and mystical, moving textures ("The Big Ship"). As the title suggests, this album shows Eno using world music rhythms and warm digital flourishes to build his lush compositions. Another Green World implies - and delivers - a fascinating world only slightly different than our own, with silicon as omnipresent as carbon in its structure.
Although the album works best as an organic whole, the standout track is clearly "St. Elmo's Fire". Recently resurrected on the joint EP "Fires" by Stereolab and Ui, two modern bands whose fusion of digital and analog sounds is heavily influenced by Eno, "St. Elmo's Fire" is a minor-key tour-de-force of haunting human melody, hypnotic piano and warm electronic harmonies. St. Elmo's Fire is also a perfect metaphor for Eno's work - a welcoming halo of electricity guiding the listener through a dark storm of sound.
Though recorded in 1975, Another Green World feels entirely contemporary, illustrating how far ahead of its time this work was. Darkly beautiful and challenging, Another Green World demands and richly rewards repeated listens.
- Jared O'Connor
Mystical, moving textures