Brian Eno In Concert – Royal Albert Hall – October 30, 2023
Taking a wide left turn this morning with a performance, recorded days ago, featuring the inimitable Brian Eno in concert at Royal Albert Hall on October 30, 2023.
To say Brian Eno has been a guiding light in the area of new music would be an understatement. Ever since his first collaborations with Roxy Music, to his duties as Producer, to his ever evolving and thoroughly captivating solo works, Brian Eno has been one of those guiding lights as far as New Music is concerned. His work as a solo artist have been milestones in the field of ambient and electronic music. To say that Brian Eno has been an explorer of new trails is something of an understatement. His work has ranked along with such innovators as Harry Partch, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Luc Ferrari, John Cage and the list goes on.
But his work in the genre of Progressive Rock is legendary – both as a performer and producer.
So when I ran across this Royal Albert Hall concert, recorded just days ago, it seemed like an imperative that I run it via the Soundbooth, so that people who may have never heard of Brian Eno before, or only heard a few things, can have the opportunity to be introduced to a truly masterful artist and hear firsthand what the big deal is all about, and why you should be aware.
Brian Eno will continue to be a major influence on new music – he has already demonstrated the possibilities are endless if you just push the envelope even a fraction of an inch.
There has been a lot of pessimism about the future of Popular Music these last few years. Most have given up on the mainstream. It’s become a place of hollow duplication and artistic loss.
Brian Eno has been a shining example of what music is capable of when you are still curious by it. The curiosity is alive and well in the less visible parts of the musical spectrum. It’s still adventuresome, awe inspiring and life affirming — that’s what music is all about anyway.
Stay open – stay willing – stay curious.
Press Play and dive in.
