The Heavenly Music Corporation
I just finished reading the Brian Eno bio On Some Faraway Beach, which proved —as I suspected — that Mr. Eno was indeed the busiest dude alive in the 1970s. By far. From kickstarting glam with Roxy Music to his pioneering solo records to producing Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo and many more, he was all over the music world during that decade, innovating at every turn. And he still found time for a vigorous sex life, too! Suffice to say, if you need to feel like you’re a lazy sod, read On Some Faraway Beach. Two of Eno’s many 1970s highwater marks were his collaborations with guitarist Robert Fripp, No Pussyfooting and Evening Star — blissed out albums of guitar and tape loops that sound as fresh today as the day they were recorded. Fripp and Eno played just a few live gigs — one of which we’ve got for your listening pleasure here today. Recorded in 1974 in Paris, this show is often bootlegged under the name Air Structures. The duo ably create the immersive soundscapes of No Pussyfooting and Evening Star (then unreleased) in a live setting. The recording quality is pretty good — the only annoying thing here is the announcer who keeps interrupting to remind the audience that smoking is not permitted — a losing battle if ever there was one.
This historic recording documents an extremely rare and classic performance of a mysterious collaborative tour from two of the most creative and fascinating figures in rock. It is one of the most rewarding live recordings this writer has ever heard. For any fan of ‘No Pussyfooting’ or ‘Evening Star’, this live recording is of epic significance and thanks to the efforts of Alex Mundy, is now also comparable in audio quality, by synchronizing the most complete and best (by a mile) available live bootleg recording with Eno's stage tapes recently discovered. This tour also represents a turning point for both artists, about to enter new frontiers professionally and personally: Eno as an ambient music pioneer and Fripp’s re-emergence as a “small, mobile, intelligent unit”.
I just finished reading the Brian Eno bio On Some Faraway Beach, which proved —as I suspected — that Mr. Eno was indeed the busiest dude alive in the 1970s. By far. From kickstarting glam with Roxy Music to his pioneering solo records to producing Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo and many more, he was all over the music world during that decade, innovating at every turn. And he still found time for a vigorous sex life, too! Suffice to say, if you need to feel like you’re a lazy sod, read On Some Faraway Beach. Two of Eno’s many 1970s highwater marks were his collaborations with guitarist Robert Fripp, No Pussyfooting and Evening Star — blissed out albums of guitar and tape loops that sound as fresh today as the day they were recorded. Fripp and Eno played just a few live gigs — one of which we’ve got for your listening pleasure here today. Recorded in 1974 in Paris, this show is often bootlegged under the name Air Structures. The duo ably create the immersive soundscapes of No Pussyfooting and Evening Star (then unreleased) in a live setting. The recording quality is pretty good — the only annoying thing here is the announcer who keeps interrupting to remind the audience that smoking is not permitted — a losing battle if ever there was one.
This historic recording documents an extremely rare and classic performance of a mysterious collaborative tour from two of the most creative and fascinating figures in rock. It is one of the most rewarding live recordings this writer has ever heard. For any fan of ‘No Pussyfooting’ or ‘Evening Star’, this live recording is of epic significance and thanks to the efforts of Alex Mundy, is now also comparable in audio quality, by synchronizing the most complete and best (by a mile) available live bootleg recording with Eno's stage tapes recently discovered. This tour also represents a turning point for both artists, about to enter new frontiers professionally and personally: Eno as an ambient music pioneer and Fripp’s re-emergence as a “small, mobile, intelligent unit”.
