Born in Suffolk, Eno studied painting and experimental music at the art school of Ipswich Civic College in the mid 1960s, and then at Winchester School of Art. He joined glam rock group Roxy Music as synthesiser player in 1971. After recording two albums with Roxy Music, he departed in 1973 to record a number of solo albums, coining the term "ambient music" to describe his work on releases such as Another Green World (1975), Discreet Music (1975), and Music for Airports (1978). He also collaborated with artists such as Robert Fripp, Cluster, Harold Budd, David Bowie on his "Berlin Trilogy", and David Byrne, and produced albums by artists including John Cale, Jon Hassell, Laraaji, Talking Heads and Devo, and the no wave compilation No New York (1978).
Eno has continued to record solo albums and work with artists including U2, Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, Slowdive, Coldplay, James Blake, and Damon Albarn. Dating back to his time as a student, he has also worked in media including sound installations and his mid-70s co-development of Oblique Strategies, a deck of cards featuring cryptic aphorisms intended to spur creative thinking. From the 1970s onwards, Eno's installations have included the sails of the Sydney Opera House in 2009 and the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank in 2016. An advocate of a range of humanitarian causes, Eno writes on a variety of subjects and is a founding member of the Long Now Foundation. In 2019, Eno was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Roxy Music.
Eno is frequently referred to as one of popular music's most influential artists. Producer and film composer Jon Brion has said: "I think he's the most influential artist since the Beatles." Critic Jason Ankeny at AllMusic argues that Eno "forever altered the ways in which music is approached, composed, performed, and perceived, and everything from punk to techno to new age bears his unmistakable influence." Eno has spread his techniques and theories primarily through his production; his distinctive style informed a number of projects in which he has been involved, including Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy" (helping to popularize minimalism) and the albums he produced for Talking Heads (incorporating, on Eno's advice, African music and polyrhythms), Devo, and other groups. Eno's first collaboration with David Byrne, 1981's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, pioneered sampling techniques that would prove to be influential in hip-hop, and broke ground by incorporating world music into popular Western music forms. Eno and Peter Schmidt's Oblique Strategies have been used by many bands, and Eno's production style has proven influential in several general respects: "his recording techniques have helped change the way that modern musicians;– particularly electronic musicians;– view the studio. No longer is it just a passive medium through which they communicate their ideas but itself a new instrument with seemingly endless possibilities."
Whilst inspired by the ideas of minimalist composers including John Cage, Terry Riley and Erik Satie, Eno coined the term ambient music to describe his own work and defined the term. The Ambient Music Guide states that he has brought from "relative obscurity into the popular consciousness" fundamental ideas about ambient music, including "the idea of modern music as subtle atmosphere, as chill-out, as impressionistic, as something that creates space for quiet reflection or relaxation." His groundbreaking work in electronic music has been said to have brought widespread attention to and innovations in the role of electronic technology in recording. Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright said he "often eulogised" Eno's abilities.
Eno's "unconventional studio predilections", in common with those of Peter Gabriel, were an influence on the recording of "In the Air Tonight", the single which launched the solo career of Eno's former drummer Phil Collins. Collins said he "learned a lot" from working with Eno. Both Half Man Half Biscuit (in the song "Eno Collaboration" on the EP of the same name) and MGMT have written songs about Eno. LCD Soundsystem has frequently cited Eno as a key influence. The Icelandic singer Björk also credited Eno as a major influence.
Mora sti Fotia (Babies on Fire), one of the most influential Greek rock bands, was named after Eno's song "Baby's on Fire".
In 2011, Belgian academics from the Royal Museum for Central Africa named a species of Afrotropical spider Pseudocorinna brianeno in his honour.
Fractal Zoom
Brian Eno Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There
Reply
Toil
No need to go on
Do I need to go on?
Lie
Endure
Recline
In a separate time
On a different plane
The lyrics to Brian Eno's song Fractal Zoom are open to interpretation, but there are some themes that stand out. The first verse seems to suggest a sense of exhaustion or weariness - the singer is moving slowly, perhaps struggling with a task or feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities. The repetition of "no need to go on" implies a sense of resignation, as if the singer is questioning whether they have the strength to continue.
In the second verse, the tone shifts slightly - there are more peaceful, meditative images, such as reclining and existing on a separate plane from the rest of the world. The song's title, Fractal Zoom, suggests a pattern of ever-decreasing or ever-increasing detail, which could reflect the singer's shifting perspective. Perhaps they are moving back and forth between a sense of chaos and a sense of calm, or attempting to zoom in on the details of their life in order to find a new perspective.
Overall, Fractal Zoom is a song that seems to explore the cyclical nature of life and the possibility of finding peace or clarity within that cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
Slow
Take your time and don't rush
There
Existence is present
Reply
Respond to the world
Toil
Work hard and persevere
No need to go on
There's no need to keep doing things the same way
Do I need to go on?
Do I need to keep doing things the same way?
Lie
Be still and calm
Endure
Stay strong and persistent
Recline
Take a rest and relax
In a separate time
In a different period or era
On a different plane
In a different dimension or level
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trappist07
Extraordinarily propulsive and utterly beguiling from start to finish. A complete masterpiece.
@BridgetCameron
One of my favourite albums of all time! Thanks Brian Eno! :) <3
@karmineka
One of his best talent tracks..........
@ablehalle22
Mr.Eno is a true genius. Respect.
@skipmendler
If II had a radio talk show this would be my opening theme
@maxshea1829
Would be good for an Art Bell Coast to Coast kind of show!
@tomwest8146
Well.....? Lol
@madmaxine4185
Yeah, all 6 minutes of it!
@KarlHainer
I never tire of this magical track
@barrycoad2080
the entire album is great - as usual Eno