Ambient 4: On Land

Brian Eno

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 2004)
• Original Release Date: April 1982
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B0002PZVHK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,246 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Released in 1982, On Land is Eno's most mature, perfect ambient work. Combining low, rumbling synths with eerie banging and clanking and the occasional wild-animal chirp or grumble, this recording places the listener alone, in the midst of a massive piece of sonic landscaping. And Eno has left no detail to chance. In fact, the work is so complete that when Eno suggests a windswept plain, the listener gets a chill. When trumpeter Jon Hassell bays with a softly disturbing imitation of a wounded beast, the first instinct is to scan the horizon for its glinting eyes. So subtle, intuitive, and well paced is this recording that as it slips quietly from the speakers and into every corner of the listening room, it transforms the space into a gently pulsing sound environment that seems strangely out of time and away from everything. It's a place you'll be drawn to time and time again. An ageless masterwork. --S. Duda

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Less than music - and more., December 11, 2004

By	spiral_mind (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Imagine sitting on a beachside deck some warm evening with a microphone capturing all the noise of the environment: waves washing up, crickets chirping, gulls singing, the neighbors maybe becoming audible when their talking gets loud enough. Maybe some kid is driving down the next block with his stereo rattling the pavement. Maybe somebody's dog is barking far enough away that if you weren't listening closely you wouldn't even notice it. On Land is an exploration of this kind of idea in sound, but intended to re-create places far away or only imagined. Sound strange? In the world of Brian Eno I'd expect nothing less.

Basically it's an album exploring the idea of music or sound that gives a feeling of a certain place. It also perfectly accomplishes his objective with ambient music, which is that it should be "as ignorable as it is interesting." Turn it up and it can bring all kinds of alien landscapes to life in your mind; turn it down and it colors the room subliminally, barely noticeably. Where the previous three in the Ambient series were subdued and trancelike through repetition, this one is evolving all the time and never repeats itself.

And with that, On Land is probably the hardest of all Eno discs to describe. It would be one thing if it was simply made with treated notes or tape loops, as with Discreet Music or the previous Ambient albums. It would be one thing if he was using minimal melodies meant to be ignored. On Land is all and none of those. It uses musical elements but isn't music; it's minimalist but not simple or repetitive. It's pure atmosphere. Forms don't exist. If you're wondering what moods you may find here, just look at the titles. "Tal Coat" is somehow electronic-sounding but purely organic. "Shadow" is a vague lurking moment of doubt. "A Clearing" is a four-minute synth haze radiating pure tranquility. It's not all soothing, but if it's left at a low audible level the dark moments won't really be disturbing.

Comparing this disc to any other ambient music is always an apples/oranges prospect, but I think the difference makes this the most pure and timeless Eno album out there. At the very least it sounds like nothing else I've ever heard, except maybe the sounds of nature itself.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of his best "ambient" albums, November 3, 2004

By	Barry P. Saranchuk (Moosic, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was made to be played on a 3 speaker system...so if you have a "wide stereo" or "music expansion" button on your player push it and you will not believe all the hidden sound that appears throughout this dark and beautiful CD!

One of the best(ie;most interesting)ambient releases by Eno.A lot of variation here between songs,and the tracks don't go on "forever". As one other review says here,it is not always a pleasant ,"new age" ambience...but some dark visions are nice for a change too.

A great place to start for those interested in Eno's version of "ambient"...if you like this,then get Eno's "Music For Films" too(or try and find the "Eno and Cluster" CDs).More cool stuff!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, radical music, September 12, 2005

By	L. S. Slaughter "silvanus" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Imagine perhaps that Eno has penetrated the consciousness of lazy reptiles who lay about and chew on psychedelic mushrooms and he was somehow able to translate their experience into 'music'. This is one incredible, unique work of art. I don't play it a lot, but when I do, I always remember why I love it. Great for creating alone at night around 4 AM.