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.
pour it out
Brian Eno Lyrics
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Immaginate, drop needles like pines
Into clear pools
Where molecules are arranged
Just loose enough to let dreams through
It is weird release to imagine the minuscule
Where deep-sea mollusks can glow
And hemoglobin modules exist as
Twenty million modules
Beautiful as rocks among atomic
Seas where else?
In between kidney shaped blunt cells
Imagine your wildest imaginings
Then zoom out to macro
Subway hit's the sky and New York hurtles by
New York hurtles by
From the top of this high rise
People as small as the pigment in your eyes
And gaps in between them like marching seems
Like ends in streams
Loose enough to let dreams through
Can we climb higher? New York up to sky
The world hurtles by the world hurtles by
And countries as small as the
Pigment in your eyes the world hurtles by
The world hurtles by can we climb higher?
The lyrics of Brian Eno's song "Pour it Out" convey a sense of imaginative exploration and perspective-shifting. The opening lines, "Pour it out in new ways, Immaginate, drop needles like pines," suggest a desire to express oneself creatively and to think outside the box. The imagery of dropping needles into clear pools creates a visual representation of delicate and precise actions.
The following lines, "Where molecules are arranged, Just loose enough to let dreams through," suggest a fascination with the intricacies of the physical world and the belief that certain arrangements can facilitate the manifestation of dreams. It implies that there is a delicate balance between structure and openness that allows for the realization of one's aspirations.
The lyrics then take a fascinating turn towards the microscopic level, stating, "It is weird release to imagine the minuscule, Where deep-sea mollusks can glow, Orange in teardrops, And hemoglobin modules exist as, Twenty million modules." Here, Eno encourages the listener to contemplate the wonders of the small-scale world, where seemingly unremarkable organisms like deep-sea mollusks can have captivating qualities. It also highlights the complexity of the human body, specifically referring to the modules of hemoglobin, emphasizing that even our most fundamental components are composed of intricate structures.
Eno goes on to urge the exploration of vast scales, singing, "Beautiful as rocks among atomic seas where else? In between kidney shaped blunt cells, Imagine your wildest imaginings, Then zoom out to macro." Here he prompts the listener to imagine untamed thoughts and desires, and then shift their perspective to the broader scope of the world. The imagery of "rock-like" elements in atomic oceans suggests the presence of stability and beauty amidst the immense and chaotic nature of existence.
In the final verses, Eno portrays a sense of awe and insignificance in the face of the grandeur of New York City. "Subway hits the sky and New York hurtles by," depicts the fast-paced and overwhelming nature of the city, while also highlighting the enormity of its structures compared to the smallness of human beings. The repetition of the phrase "New York hurtles by" emphasizes the transitory and ever-evolving nature of the world.
In the last part, Eno extends the reflection to encompass the entire world, remarking, "And countries as small as the Pigment in your eyes the world hurtles by, The world hurtles by, can we climb higher?" This suggests that even countries, with all their complexities and cultural diversities, can appear tiny and fleeting from a broader perspective. Eno leaves the question open as to whether we can expand our viewpoint further, inviting the listener to contemplate their capacity for personal growth and understanding of the world.
In summary, Brian Eno's "Pour it Out" is a lyrically rich composition that invites listeners to explore different scales of perception and embrace imaginative thinking. Through vivid imagery and poetic language, Eno encourages a shift in perspective, acknowledging the beauty in both the minutiae and grandeur of the world, while leaving room for self-reflection and a longing for further expansion of one's understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour it out in new ways
Express yourself creatively and unconventionally
Immaginate, drop needles like pines
Imagine and innovate, introducing new ideas and concepts
Into clear pools
Into spaces of clarity and openness
Where molecules are arranged
Where everything is organized and structured
Just loose enough to let dreams through
With just the right amount of flexibility to allow imagination and dreams to flourish
It is weird release to imagine the minuscule
Finding delight in imagining the tiny and insignificant
Where deep-sea mollusks can glow
Where even the unseen can possess beauty and radiance
Orange in teardrops
Radiating vibrant colors in small droplets
And hemoglobin modules exist as twenty million modules
Understanding the complexity of human existence, with each component functioning in harmony
Beautiful as rocks among atomic seas where else?
Appreciating the beauty and significance of existence, even in the midst of vastness
In between kidney shaped blunt cells
Within the smallest parts of our bodies lies immense potential and possibility
Imagine your wildest imaginings
Let your imagination run free and envision the most extraordinary possibilities
Then zoom out to macro
Expand your perspective to see the bigger picture
Subway hits the sky and New York hurtles by
Capturing the fast-paced, bustling nature of New York City
From the top of this high rise
Observing from a vantage point high above
People as small as the pigment in your eyes
Recognizing the insignificance of individual humans in the grand scheme of things
And gaps in between them like marching seems
Noticing the spaces and divisions between individuals, like seams in a march
Like ends in streams
Similar to points of conclusion or transitions in a flowing river
Loose enough to let dreams through
With enough openness and flexibility to allow dreams and aspirations to thrive
Can we climb higher? New York up to sky
Questioning if it's possible to reach even greater heights and transcend limitations
The world hurtles by the world hurtles by
The world keeps moving and advancing rapidly
And countries as small as the pigment in your eyes
Realizing the smallness of nations and borders in comparison to the vastness of the world
The world hurtles by the world hurtles by can we climb higher?
Despite the fast pace of the world, pondering if there are still opportunities for growth and progress
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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