HAROLD BUDD & BRIAN ENO: AMBIENT 2 - THE PLATEAUX OF MIRROR

On the second title in the Ambient series Eno is joined by pianist Harold Budd. The material here is more composed and elegant than some past work like Discreet Music but I'm not certain it's necessarily more effective than that title. It is most certainly enjoyable, relaxing minimalist music. It consists primarily of the slow, brooding, distant piano work of Harold Budd and the treatments of Brian Eno. Whatever Eno is doing to the piano has the effect of softening up the sound-there is no edge-it sounds like a thick damp quilt has been placed over each speaker. And it works, it's a wonderful sound. This is instrumental music than could be useful in many ways. I used to use this album for meditation proving to me it is useful in letting go of thoughts. But it could also be used as "music for thinking" because it seems to aid concentration as much as it aids relaxation. Thus you could say the music works as background music or as active listening music. It certainly provides fertile ground for mental imagery and encourages reminiscence. Slow and far away, dreamy and ever so soft piano notes will literally slow your heart rate and make your eyes turn glassy..in a good way! My favorite track is probably "Not Yet Remembered" which stands above the rest by injecting some wordless vocals to augment the piano and give the track a more developed feel. For some folks the ambient Eno albums will make them pull their hair out in boredom, for this is music that makes Popol Vuh seem like headbanging fare. It requires a listener looking for a contemplative experience, willing to be as patient as Eno is. For those listeners this would be highly recommended, especially to those who love to lay in the dark with the headphones and float away. This will provide the necessary transport to all places unknown. 3 ½ stars.

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