A dream in the sky

English musician Brian Eno has released a new extended edition of Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks, an album initially released in 1983. The release comes as a reminder of how breathtaking Eno’s work truly is.

The first half of the extended record features some of Eno’s untouchable masterpieces. Whether it is “Under the Stars” or “An Ending (Ascent)” the tracks are vibrant and cinematic in the watery textures and mesmerizing patterns they explore.

The following two songs are tasteful in the melodic genre Eno has mastered: ambient country. “Silver Morning” is a collaborative effort between Eno on the keyboards and Daniel Lanois on guitar (soaked in pedal effects and twang). It almost feels like a country song that has lost its way into the dream world. “Deep Blue Day” follows with the drugged out guitar now intertwined with a Suzuki keyboard. The tonality Eno creates is out of this world, entirely produced for the space documentary the music was meant to accompany. Still, it sounds like a song playing on the radio during a summer’s fading night; it’s melancholic, nostalgic and brilliant all at once.

The second half of the record showcases an extended instrumental side, separately named For All Mankind. Eno, along with Lanois and Roger Eno, throws even more complex melodies and structure in this side of the record and elegantly complements the entire project. For All Mankind opens with “The End Of A Thin Cord,” where a warping, loose-stringed soundscape paints the picture for full piano notes to mark their happy notations. A new element emerges in the track as soft percussion accompanies the lovely tune. “Capsule” follows with guitar and trembling synthesizers that hit on every beat. It’s remarkable how Eno can create such stylish music that is so different on each composition.

One of Eno’s standout skills is the pace he provides within every song. “Like I Was A Spectator” is calming and spiritual in the slow rising of every note. The sounds each take their time in administering their emotions, and you feel nothing but whole after each listen. “Clear Desert Night” again has such a relaxing fade into ambient synthesizers high in frequency and character.

The new extended edition of Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks is a real gem as it propels listeners further into Eno’s unmatchable world of sound and ensures that you understand why his music has become a mainstay in cinematography. He, no doubt, has gifted his listeners with an extension of his celestial soundscape crafted in style and passion.