Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

Sounds JULY 30, 1983 - by Dave Henderson

BRIAN ENO - APOLLO: ATMOSPHERES & SOUNDTRACKS

When I heard there was a new Eno LP on the way, I was hoping that the man's left field interpretation of synth-orientated pop, circa Warm Jets and Tiger Mountain would be taking on new dimensions following his various production chores and the Bush Of Ghosts set.

But Apollo, however good, tells us very little that's new about Eno. As the sleeve explains, it's the soundtracks to Al Reinert's film about the lunar expeditions and, as with all soundtrack albums, it lacks a little without the visuals.

Eno ambient soundscape is relaxing, harmless even and, as he desires, summons up images of moon landings and tin-foil suits. The sleeve reveals that he wanted to produce music that gave off images of the vastness of the planet, the solitude, the atmosphere that the astronauts must have felt; but for the record buying public, in contradiction, their only vision of this grandeur is through a 22" screen cut in with news bulletins, Fly Me To The Moon and the occasional advert.

Eno attempts to get away from the technological presentation which American broadcasts gave us by presenting an electronic, ethnic set of pieces focusing on the emotions of the isolated participants. It works to a degree but those emotions are so alien to the rest of civilisation.

The film itself sounds like it's a ringer for one of those highly professional programmes on deep sea fishes with shots of Jacques Cousteau swimming out of focus. The music would fit too, ideally crafted to hang around those deep sea coves and top quality camerawork.

In reality, Apollo is a reasonable listen but without the film it's limited in effect and with so many other people working in that ambient field, it's by no means exceptional.