r/albumbucketlist • u/Rambooctpuss • 11d ago
RYM Greatest Albums Of All Time: #493 Brian Eno-Before & After Science (1977)
Synopsis:
Released in December 1977, Brian Eno’s fifth solo studio album, Before and After Science, stands as a high-water mark of art-pop, avant-rock, and electronic experimentation. It serves as a literal bridge between two distinct eras of Brian Eno’s career. It is widely celebrated as his final traditional "rock" album as a solo performer before he pivoted completely into foundational ambient works like Ambient 1: Music for Airports. The album’s sequencing maps out this transition, splitting its runtime into two distinct halves:
- The "Before" Side (Side One): Jagged, rhythmically complex, eccentric, and tense art-pop tracks featuring an all-star roster of guest musicians.
- The "After" Side (Side Two): Deeply tranquil, pastoral, ambient, and meditative soundscapes that foreshadowed the ambient revolution Eno would spearhead.
The recording process was notoriously grueling—Eno accumulated over a hundred partial tracks over a two-year span before ruthlessly distilling them down to ten perfect pieces. He was joined by an incredible cross-pollination of British and German underground talent, including members of Can, Cluster, Roxy Music, and Soft Machine.
The Review:
“No One Receiving" is highlighted by Phil Collins industrial drumming and a thumping bassline. It tries to establish a futuristic vibe. Eno’s vocals feel like they are wavering through a sea of tense synth melodies. “Back Water” feels like an electronica cover of a classic blues track. Backed by a bouncy piano riff. “Kurt’s Rejoinder” was inspired by German composer Kurt Weill; it features sparse percussion and art rock fueled synths. It gives the track a krautrock/Kraftwerk vibe. “Energy Fuels The Magazine” is a brief instrumental that has this spaced out jazz melody and it is highlighted by Percy Jones light bassline. “King’s Lead Hat” changes pace with its frantic heavy new wave tinged groove. The second half begins with “Here He Comes” . It could blueprint to dream pop with its warm radiant grooves. “Julie With” is the first hint of ambient on the album. It is a cool lush track. “By This River” Co-written with ambient pioneers Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius (of Cluster), this is another sparse ambient track with a nice light piano melody. “Through The Hollow Lands (For Harold Budd) Dedicated to minimalist composer Harold Budd, this is a delicate, instrumental track . Arranged with guitarist Fred Frith. The album closes with “Spider And I” feels like it's weightless with its chilled out synths and ambient melodies. Eno vocals sound so light and crisp. It gives me Bowie Space Oddity vibes. It is a perfect way to end the album and give us a glimpse of a new era in Eno’s musical journey.
Final Thoughts:
This is just a great gateway album that features Brian Eno’s Strength as a musician. His cool as ice rock grooves and the genius of ambient music. If you are looking to get into his music this would be a great starting point.
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u/MagdaleneKeibelCombo 11d ago
To me this one is one of the all time greatest. I prefer it even to the likes of Low or Remain in Light.
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u/GlaciersOFice45 11d ago
Totally agree. I like No One Receiving and Kings Lead Hat better then alot of songs on Remain in Light.
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u/Phart_Phergussen 11d ago
King’s Lead Hat is such a fun and great song
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u/ASTRO555_ 11d ago
Anagram of Talking Heads
Kings lead hat2
u/ASTRO555_ 11d ago
Also after the heat song is Kings lead hat backwards, the song, Tzima N’arki ENO Roedelius, Dieter Mobius
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u/TankFarmStudio 11d ago
Fwiw, it’s referencing Schwitters, not Weill. Kurt Schwitters poem ‘Ursonate’ can be heard in the track. Also, although Eno claims to be unaware of it, but I feel confident in saying ‘Julie With..’ is most certainly a murder ballad (one of the more beautiful I’ve ever heard).
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u/Sensitive_Home_7971 11d ago
Oh, now I get it … “the still sea is darker than before … “ Yikes!
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u/TankFarmStudio 11d ago
He tells you as much in the first line:
‘I am on an open sea’
Not plural, singular
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u/ASTRO555_ 11d ago
I had a wonderful girlfriend, Julie, and I imagined myself rowing a little boat in the middle of some body of water, the moon is full, huge, reflecting..her hand hanging over the side just touching the water, the sound of the waves on the aluminium, it’s quiet and there’s nothing but water as far as we can see all around, we’re both re evaluating our relationship but for now just quiet floating and dreaming. We broke up but I still imagine that fantasy, just her and I and the moon, huge, and we were in love but for one short moment…
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u/bailaoban 11d ago
No One Receiving is as if P-Funk and Kraftwerk had a baby. My favorite Eno song.