Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

International Musician And Recording World DECEMBER 1978 - by David Lawrenson

BRIAN ENO: MUSIC FOR FILMS

Brian Eno first came to prominence as the ideas man behind Roxy Music, after which he returned to his original interests in experimental sound and recording techniques. Recently, he has returned to the limelight through his collaboration with David Bowie on the Low and "Heroes" albums, and his production work for Talking Heads and Devo.

This new album, as the title suggests, is a collection of instrumental pieces which have been used in various films, television and theatre productions. Its content is something like the instrumental passages on Bowie's recent albums, rather than the more experimental side of Eno's work issued on his own label the aptly-titled Obscure Records.

Each individual piece is inconsequential, but they do combine over the whole album to create a haunting and reflective atmosphere. Possibly the most successful item is From The Same Hill in which a strikingly recorded acoustic guitar slices through lush Mellotrons.

For an artist who is usually associated with the so-called avant garde, the basic construction of Music For Films is conventional. The melodies remain unexplored and there is virtually no thematic development except on the three part Sparrowfall. This would only be expected if the pieces were written as functional background for other productions, but in fact they were written prior to their incorporation in other settings.

Nevertheless, the simplicity, brevity and attractiveness of these little pieces make this Eno's most accessible album to date and as such might serve as a useful introduction to more experimental instrumentation and recording techniques for those who are just discovering that there is more to modern music than discos and guitar solos.