CD Review: Apollo Atmospheres and Soundtracks by Brian Eno

Apollo Atmospheres & Soundtracks
by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois (Compact Disc 782.14 Eno)

This is a fascinating collection of 12 tracks that experimental music composer Brian Eno created for a television documentary “Apollo”, which used actual footage from the various Apollo moon missions to try to give viewers a sense of what it was like to journey to the moon. Using synthesizers, electronically modified instrumentation, and unusual sound effects, Eno (with his brother Roger Eno and guitarist/producer Daniel Lanois) creates a unique and intriguing aural snapshot. Tracks range from dark and vaguely disturbing (“Matta” and “Signals”) to mind-expanding, comforting, and mood-lifting.

The presence of some “country” musical influences, in Lanois’ steel guitar twangs in a few tracks reflects the fact that the astronauts, given the opportunity to bring music with them on their missions, almost uniformly chose to bring along country music. Several of the tracks on this 1983 album drift into classical music territory as well.

This music is great to listen to in a darkened room, or on your iPod or phone or car’s audio system at night while gazing up at the field of stars overhead. An odd but highly enjoyable album!

[NOTE: This was remastered and re-released after 2000, with an entire second disc of additional tracks added. The library only has the original single-disc 12-track release.]

[ official Apollo page on the official Brian Eno web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

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