Customer Reviews

Cool August Moon: From the Music of Brian Eno

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Eno fans are sure to be disappointed with this schmaltzification of Eno's early work. I enjoyed Stalteri's piano interpretations of Philip Glass works (of course, Glass's work is amenable to schmaltzification, being somewhat schmaltzy already) and was looking forward to what he would do with Eno. Unfortunately what he does is take classic Eno pieces and transform them (non-magically) into Broadway show tunes. Imagine Liberace interpreting Eno with a small classical ensemble and you get the picture. Too bad! Cool August Moon, like bang on a can's Music for Airports, approaches Eno's work from the wrong way up (and down): his work is not about writing everything out and performing it "perfectly" (as classical musicians do) but about creating structures that incorporate freedom and personal, idiosyncratic expression. As such it is everything that classical music is not. In fact in many senses Eno's work is a repudiation of Western "Art Music." So it's no surprise when someone classically trained like Stalteri attempts to interpret it: he can only mimic the form, missing the content entirely. One thing would have made this ablum extraordinary, though: if Eno had produced it!

I am very much enjoying this music. Yes, it is a little rough in places, and sometimes that helps and sometimes it distracts. I also omitted three tracks from my copy for smoother listening. I can understand a listener dismissing it on first listen, but if you are a fan of Brian Eno's early records, such as "Before and After Science" and "Music for Films," and if you enjoy the peaceful work of Harold Budd and Roger Eno, this album will reward an open mind. Mr. Stalteri adds something different in his piano arrangements, something that has a Satie-like classical intelligence, but retains Eno's unique melodic vision, inventiveness, and inquisitive quirkiness. If it were only an imitation played on piano, it would not work on its own terms. Part of the fun is listening how Eno's electronic-based compositions are translated here. There are also touches of electric bass, strings, and drums, and with some pieces, I wish I could hear an electric guitar part where it was in the original. In fact, it seems that if the whole album could be tightened-up a little and a few more instruments added, it would really be right-on, but then it would be a different album, and I'm happy with this one.

As a devoted fan of Brian Eno "he who's shoes I am unworthy to...", etc), I have to say that this is the worst rendering of Brian's music I've ever heard, with the added bonus that Brian actually played it.

Pass...