ENO – Another Green World (1975-1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A universally acknowledged masterpiece, Another Green World represents a departure from song structure and toward a more ethereal, minimalistic approach to sound. Despite the stripped-down arrangements, the album's sumptuous tone quality reflects Eno's growing virtuosity at handling the recording studio as an instrument in itself (à la Brian Wilson). There are a few pop songs scattered here and there ("St. Elmo's Fire," "I'll Come Running," "Golden Hours"), but most of the album consists of deliberately paced instrumentals that, while often closer to ambient music than pop, are both melodic and rhythmic; many, like "Sky Saw," "In Dark Trees," and "Little Fishes," are highly imagistic, like paintings done in sound that actually resemble their titles. Lyrics are infrequent, but when they do pop up, they follow the free-associative style of albums past; this time, though, the humor seems less bizarre than gently whimsical and addled, fitting perfectly into the dreamlike mood of the rest of the album. Most of Another Green World is like experiencing a soothing, dream-filled slumber while awake, and even if some of the pieces have dark or threatening qualities, the moments of unease are temporary, like a passing nightmare whose feeling lingers briefly upon waking but whose content is forgotten. Unlike some of his later, full-fledged ambient work, Eno's gift for melodicism and tight focus here keep the entirety of the album in the forefront of the listener's consciousness, making it the perfect introduction to his achievements even for those who find ambient music difficult to enjoy.  Steve Huey

Tracklist :

1. Sky Saw  – 3:25

Phil Collins – drums

Percy Jones – fretless bass

Paul Rudolph – anchor bass

Rod Melvin – rhodes piano

John Cale – viola section

Eno - snake guitar, digital guitar

2. Over Fire Island – 1:49

Phil Collins – drums

Percy Jones – fretless bass

Brian Eno – vocals, synthesizer, guitars, tapes

3. St. Elmo's Fire – 3:02

Robert Fripp – wimshurst guitar

Brian Eno – organ, piano, yamaha bass pedals, synthetic percussion, desert guitars

4. In Dark Trees  – 2:29

Brian Eno – guitars, synthesizer, electric percussion and treated rhythm generator

5. The Big Ship – 3:01

Brian Eno – synthesizer, synthetic percussion and treated rhythm generator

6. I'll Come Running  – 3:48

Robert Fripp – restrained lead guitar

Paul Rudolph – bass, snare drums, bass guitar, assistant castanet guitars

Rod Melvin – lead piano

Brian Eno – vocals, castanet guitars, chord piano, synthesizer, synthetic percussion

7. Another Green World – 1:38

Brian Eno – desert guitars, farfisa organ, piano

8. Sombre Reptiles  – 2:26

Brian Eno – Hammond organ, guitars, synthetic and Peruvian percussion, electric elements and unnatural sounds

9. Little Fishes  – 1:30

Brian Eno – prepared piano, farfisa organ

10. Golden Hours – 4:01

Robert Fripp – Wimborne guitar

John Cale – viola

Brian Eno – choppy organs, spasmodic percussion, club guitars, uncertain piano

11. Becalmed  – 3:56

Brian Eno – Leslie piano, synthesizer

12. Zawinul/Lava  – 3:00

Phil Collins – percussion

Percy Jones – fretless bass

Paul Rudolph – guitar

Rod Melvin – rhodes piano

Brian Eno – grand piano, synthesizer, organ and tape

13. Everything Merges with the Night  – 3:59

Brian Turrington – bass guitar, pianos

Brian Eno – guitar

14. Spirits Drifting – 2:36

Brian Eno – bass guitar, organ, synthesizer