Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

Mojo JULY 2011 - by Mike Barnes

BRIAN ENO - 1971-1977: THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH

In-depth examination of the creative catalyst's Golden Age.

The six years covered here saw an extraordinary upwelling of creative activity from the self-styled non-musician, whose roots were in cybernetics, the chance methods used by composers like John Cage, rock'n'roll and doo-wop. The number of landmark releases Eno was involved with in this period is extraordinary: Roxy Music's first two albums; David Bowie's Low and "Heroes"; his four audacious vocal solo albums; and massively significant works such as Music For Airports. Despite all the theories, Eno produced approachable music that belied a romantic love of melody and often carried a sense of melancholy. The journalists and musicians interviewed - including collaborators Percy Jones and Brian Turrington, and Eno biographer David Sheppard - convey the excitement of the period, even though some of the music deliberately lacked that quality. Meanwhile, guitarist Lloyd Watson had the misfortune to share a room with Eno when his group supported Roxy Music and recalls sleepless nights due to his roommate's libidinous antics with fans.