Brian Eno – Before And After Science LP

Brian Eno – Before And After Science

Standard 1LP editions of the early Eno catalogue, cut at Abbey Road Studios at 33RPM & all pressed to 180-gram black heavyweight vinyl + download card.

With experimentalism, conceptual art theory and use of the accidental as a foundation, these albums broke through the boundaries of popular music at the time. Elements of prog/psych/art rock, avant garde and 50s rock ‘n’ roll were combined with an array of cultural and philosophical ideas to create fresh sounding music, that was both visionary and captivating. Alongside George Martin and The Beatles’ work on Sgt. Pepper’s, Eno is arguably the other most pre-eminent practitioner of ‘studio as instrument’ ever. His unconventional recording techniques have resulted in a canon of work that places him alongside other iconic producers like Brian Wilson, Lee Scratch Perry and Phil Spector. As these albums progress chronologically, a nascent form of music begins to emerge. The ideas we hear in this early work continue to reveal themselves in Eno’s later ambient and electronic experiments.

Produced by Eno and Rhett Davies, over 100 tracks were written for 1977’s Before and After Science with only 10 making the album’s final cut. The musical styles featured range from energetic and jagged to more languid and ethereal. The album marks Eno’s last foray into rock music in the ‘70s as a solo artist, with all his remaining records of the decade showcasing more of his ambient music, which was hinted at on the second half of Before and after Science. Unlike Eno’s previous albums, which were recorded in a very short time, Before and after Science was two years in the making. During this two-year period, Eno was busy working on his solo ambient albums Music for Films and Discreet Music, as well as Bowie’s Heroes and Low.

On Before and after Science Eno worked with Fred Frith, Jaki Liebezeit of Can, Cluster, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Andy Fraser of Free, Percy Jones, Phil Collins, Robert Fripp, Paul Rudolph of Hawkwind, Bill MacCormick from Matching Mole / Quiet Sun , Phil Manzanera and Robert Wyatt who went under the pseudonym of Shirley Williams.

Tracklist:
A1 No One Receiving
A2 Backwater
A3 Kurt's Rejoinder
A4 Energy Fools The Magician
A5 King's Lead Hat

B1 Here He Comes
B2 Julie With...
B3 By This River
B4 Through Hollow Lands (For Harold Budd)
B5 Spider And I

Label: Virgin EMI Records
Released: 1977/2017