Before And After

Science

"...If you combined Roxy Music and Pink Floyd's instrumentals with vocals by a spaced-out Ringo Starr, you'd have Before And After Science. And oddly enough, it works..." Amazon reviewer R. Holt "oldrover"

Brian Eno Before And After Science

Brian Eno Before And After Science

I remember back that when I first heard Before And After Science in 1977 that I was disappointed. While I'd really enjoyed Eno's first two pop albums:

...as playful and always interesting, it was:

his third, Another Green World &
his work on the second half of David Bowie's monumental Low

...that had really made me feel that Eno had something genuinely distinctive to say. In particular, that words weren't the way for him to say it. Consequently, when Before And After Science arrived, I dismissed the "songs" and concentrated on the instrumentals, all of which are good...though not as good as Low.

Well, Time has proven that few other pieces of instrumental rock music were ever as dramatic or moving as side 2 of Low, so I thought that perhaps I should try to look back at Before And After Science.

Eno had assembled his stalwarts:

...and brought in some new collaborators

Jaki Liebzeit & Moebius from the German band, Can &
Roedelius from another german band, Cluster

...and created, well, a very listenable album.

You know, the funny thing about Eno's first four albums is that each has its fans, and they all tend to think that the one they like is the best thing he ever did. Me? I'm not that rabid, Eno's always interesting, often funny and...occasionally quietly and gently stoic. Appropriately enough, that's what Before And After Science is like.

Unfortunately, I'm not going to review it any more than that, simply because I've never been able to hear it objectively after Low. The quiet pieces are lovely...in fact, the three consecutive tracks:

Julie With...
Through Hollow Lands &
By This River (perhaps Eno's best vocal, ever)

Fan's time-lapse video of Brian Eno's By This River

...are superb, really mood-altering...wonderful stuff.

However, I'm not hearing the pop songs...stuck in time, they just don't register with me (other than the rocking Kings Lead Hat, an anagram of "Talking Heads", the band he was then producing).

It's the strangest thing and I hope you understand. Perhaps the Amazon reviewers can give you a better idea...because I can't. Hmmm.

Brian Eno: Before And After Science

"...Car music. Ride with this music. Or sit and burn candles. Or make spaghetti. Unlike his more backgroundy music this is music to move to as well. The thing is it is essential. You must have this album..." Amazon reviewer "sqshimer"

"...This is music that rewards repeated listening and which, nearly 30 years after its debut, still seems timely and interesting..." Amazon reviewer Mark Lipton "lipton53"