Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

Igloo SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 - by Jus Forrest

CLUSTER & ENO

Cluster came into being in 1968 and would go from strength to strength following their association with English musician Brian Eno.

This collaborative album delves back to the archives of 1977; the work originally being released on Sky at this time. Possibly one of the most significant landmarks to reference the explosion of German electronic music, the recording sessions took place with the notable virtuoso Conny Plank at his studio in Cologne. The American Gyroscope label would later reissue Cluster & Eno on CD in 1996, before a further reissue emerged from the San Francisco based Water label in 2005.

Brian Eno is of course is renown for his distinctive flair for all things ambient, however the work also features Asmus Tiechens on synths as well as Can bassist Holer Czukay. It's an enigmatic melting pot of ornately crafted instrumentals, equating to a concept album which defines a striking example of electronic music staking out the territory on which future followers would grow their crops.

Ho Renomo and Schone Hande are free spirited tracks with some understated additions of simple, yet hugely effective instrumentation, introducing an abstract intellect. Mit Simaen sees dark shadows become encapsulated in light while dancing across the walls - each key movement is defined with a piano line played on the higher register. The motions become distinctly engaged with Selange which proves itself as the perfect coda to Mit Simaen.

In the main, the work flows without restriction, meandering in the most carefree manner and evolving gently before picking up pace prior to One - a striking centre piece. One exposes some dense undergrowth - foliage that PIL must have surely caught scent of when writing Death Disco. While the majority of compositions remain gentle and serene this takes bold steps, spreading its psychedelic eastern fragrance with sounds crafted by sitar, tabla and tamboura. An extended portion of sensual and tribal atmospherics. Fur Luise returns to more traditional roots with its own distinctive atmosphere created by a naked piano ostinato. It's an empty place in which to exorcise dark embedded thoughts - the perfect resolve to this pensive dream piece.

On the whole, this work is a must for anyone who wishes to catch sight of where it all began.

Cluster & Eno is out now on Sky