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.
multimedia
Brian Eno Lyrics
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These cave walls dance to the sounds
An aboriginal pound the earth is dust
Dust dust
Dust stomped by the soles
Soles shake a pace a lizard over rocks
Over rocks until sound pictures mix
And in synch the sticks click
Raise ghostly emblems
In a man's resemblance his face paint
Shapes and the mumbled sing from holes
The groan of pipes through rock the wind
Hmm hhmm hmmn human rhythm sings
Here click and dust and paint perfume
The air in coloured specks and rare as hills
Consume the chimes and rhymes now crashing in
In the lyrics of Brian Eno's song "Multimedia," the opening line "Slap fire paint song" suggests the creation of art through various mediums. It implies a raw and instinctual approach towards artistic expression, where fire, slapping sounds, and paint mix together to form something powerful and rhythmic.
The next line, "These cave walls dance to the sounds," indicates that the art created in this way brings life and movement to the surrounding environment, transforming the cave walls into dynamic entities that respond to the sounds produced. This image alludes to the ancient practice of cave painting, where early humans used sound and movement to bring their art to life.
The phrase "An aboriginal pound the earth is dust" carries several layers of meaning. It could refer to the physical act of pounding the earth, creating clouds of dust as a result, akin to a primal dance or ritual. Additionally, it might symbolize the connection between indigenous cultures and the earth, emphasizing their deep bond with nature and the importance of traditional practices.
The repetition of the word "Dust" in the following line repeats the previous imagery but also adds a sense of impermanence, as if the created art and its impact on the environment is fleeting like dust particles in the air.
The subsequent lines focus on the rhythmic aspect of the art form. The soles of feet shake a lizard-like pace over rocks, suggesting a mesmerizing and constant movement. The mixing of "sound pictures" creates a synesthetic experience, blurring the line between different senses and forming a cohesive whole.
We then enter a more specific exploration of a cultural context. The "sticks click" refers to the traditional use of sticks and ochre pigments in Indigenous Australian art, where rhythmic clicking sounds are made while painting. The ochre seams, which are natural pigments, symbolize the connection to the earth and ancestral traditions.
This imagery leads to the mention of a man adorned with face paint, resembling the emblems and paintings found on cave walls. The sound of his mumbled singing emerging from natural holes in the rocks carries a mystical quality, as if reaching back into ancient times.
The mention of "the groan of pipes through rock" and the wind suggests the harmony between human-made sounds, natural elements, and the environment. The human rhythm intertwines with the sounds of nature, creating a seamless and all-encompassing musical experience.
Finally, the lyrics tie together the various elements introduced throughout the song. The clicking of sticks, swirling dust, vibrant paint, and the rhythm of the human voice all merge to perfume the air with their colorful and rare presence. The chimes and rhymes crash together, suggesting a clash of ideas, cultures, and artistic expressions coming together to form something new and powerful.
Overall, "Multimedia" reflects on the ancient practices of art creation, the symbiotic relationship between humans and the natural world, and the power of sound and rhythm to transcend boundaries and connect people across time and cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
Slap fire paint song
This is a vibrant and energetic song that utilizes various elements like slapping, fire, and painting.
These cave walls dance to the sounds
The walls of the cave seem to move and animate in response to the music being played.
An aboriginal pound the earth is dust
An indigenous person pounds the earth, causing dust to rise and fill the surroundings.
Dust dust Dust stomped by the soles
With each stomp of the soles, more dust is raised, creating a dusty environment.
Soles shake a pace a lizard over rocks
As the soles of the feet shake and move, they mimic the movements of a lizard traversing over rocky terrain.
Over rocks until sound pictures mix
Continuing over the rocks, the combination of sound and visual elements starts to blend together.
And in synch the sticks click
The sticks being used to create sound align perfectly and produce a clicking sound.
Picked ochre seams through dust and embers
Traces of ochre color, symbolic of the earth, are picked up from the dust and scattered embers.
Raise ghostly emblems
These scattered traces of color give rise to ghostly symbols and representations.
In a man's resemblance his face paint
Through the use of face paint, a man's appearance begins to resemble the symbolic images being created.
Shapes and the mumbled sing from holes
Various shapes emerge, along with mumbling sounds coming from unseen openings.
The groan of pipes through rock the wind
The sound of pipes creates a groaning sensation that resonates through the rocks in response to the wind.
Hmm hhmm hmmn human rhythm sings
The sound of human rhythm, represented by vocalizations, is expressed through these hums and creates a melodic song.
Here click and dust and paint perfume
In this environment, the combination of clicking sounds, dust, and the aroma of paint creates a sensory experience.
The air in coloured specks and rare as hills
The air is filled with tiny specks of color that are as visually striking and unique as hills in the landscape.
Consume the chimes and rhymes now crashing in
The music, accompanied by the chimes and poetic verses, engulfs and overwhelms the listener with its crashing impact.
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