ANOTHER GREEN WORLD

I listened to Brian Eno albums a couple of years back and considered them average from a progressive rock mind's view. After having listened to Berlin-era of Bowie's albums and Fripp output, my interest arose again and for a good reason.

Eno created a highly original row of progressive electronic albums that are very different from a classic progressive rock album. Unusual music approaches, minimalism, different chords with even some dissonance, no showing off with extended soloing, you need to be open to digest Eno. Well, I love his analogue synthesizers so it's easier for me.

Most tracks are not melodic and focus on textures or rhythm section - just listen to the first two tracks with Collins on drums. There's no concept, tracks seem to be randomly selected and ordered. Among accessible highlights belong "St. Elmo's fire" with some poppy tendencies due to vocals, melody and keyboards. Guitar by Fripp is astonishing even overkilling the lightness of the song.

"In dark trees" is indeed dark, pulsating, mechanical and can be classified as one of post-rock pioneers thanks to keyboards and guitar.

"The big ship" has beautiful synth sound and harmonies, it's uplifting but still soothing. "Golden hours" is another sung and quite accessible track.

"Becalmed" and "Zawinul/Lava" are two snowy instrumentals and hint at later Berlin period with Bowie. "Spirits drifting" is a nice goodbye track without being very sophisticated.

Overall, I like this album and it is certainly a very influential one. But let's also admit, that there is less complexity and substance than on most prog-rock albums of that era. As a result, after a couple of listenings, the listener might be willing for more.