Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

Mojo DECEMBER 2009 - by David Sheppard

U2: THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE

Expectation-confounding, semi-ambient upgrade remastered.

Eyebrows were raised - not least Island chief Chris Blackwell's - when U2 and Brian Eno decamped to County Meath's Slane Castle in spring 1984 to cut a successor to the clamourous, hit-spawning War. Aided by knob-twiddling subaltern Daniel Lanois, Eno's ethereal touch turned U2's righteous post-punk bombast inside out, lending Pride (In The Name Of Love) and the title track a translucent quality - glowing anew here thanks to crisp remastering. Nothing can rescue a pervading cardboard drum sound or save a floundering Bono on Elvis Presley And America, however. One of several editions of this anniversary release (vinyl and DVD versions are available) boasts a CD of B-sides, live tracks and two outtakes: the Bowie-esque Disappearing Act and instrumental Yoshino Blossom, neither of which would have given Blackwell sleepless nights.