Daily Jam - Baby's on Fire

Working through the brain fog, or trying to at least.  Here's some Brian Eno.  Listen to "Baby's on Fire" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - 1/1

I don't know if any of the music on Brian Eno's 1979 album "Ambient 1 (Music for Airports)" would be good to play in any actual airports, but it certainly is some calming and meditative stuff to start a workday to.  Here's the album opening "1/1," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Taking Tiger Mountain

I think my favorite Brian Eno album probably changes on an almost daily basis.  Today, my favorite is "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)."  Tomorrow it will be something else.  But let's listen to the wistful and playful "Taking Tiger Mountain," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - An Ending (Ascent)

Brian Eno’s “An Ending (Ascent),” from 1983’s Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks, is easily one of my favorite pieces of music of all time, probably top five even. It’s just so wonderfully moving, a haunting and beautiful instrumental that could score just about any moment in time, from bittersweet elation to quiet despair. It can bring tears just sounding as it does without any discernable context whatsoever, just the notes, the melody, the sound. And I love it for that. That feeling is about as close to god as I'm ever likely to feel.

I wish I could remember what my introduction to Brian Eno was. More than likely, the Trainspotting soundtrack’s use of “Deep Blue Day” is what sealed the deal for me, that song’s lush melody paired with the images of Ewan McGregor swimming in a toilet burned forever into my brain and psyche. But maybe it was Eno’s production work through the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s instead, seminal records from the likes of Talking Heads, U2, or David Bowie subliminally speaking the man’s musical majesty to me. It’s also possible it was his time in Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry’s long running project being one of the many bands I explored when I began diving head first into glam rock. Or maybe it was his 1978 album Ambient 1: Music for Airports, that record being one of immense fascination for me and some of my friends in high school, its minimalist approach to music the antithesis of any and everything else we were listening to at the time. One other instance that could have been my introduction to Eno was the exuberant cheerleading of the man’s work by this weird guy I went to high school with. I can’t remember his name, but he was tall and awkward and wore the same puffy, orange jacket every single day, even if it was 100 degrees outside. He constantly extolled the virtues of Brian Eno’s entire catalog, and I guess maybe I decided to believe him.

But whatever it was, Trainspotting or the weird guy in the orange jacket, I'm glad it happened. It led me to “An Ending (Ascent),” and for that I am eternally grateful, a debt that can never be repaid.

Daily Jam - Backwater

Let's listen to some Brian Eno today.  Here's "Backwater," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Prophecy Theme

I'm tired.  And i have a headache.  Here's some music from "Dune."  Listen to Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Roger Eno with "Prophecy Theme," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - The Belldog

Silently trudging through my day with some electronics from Eno, Moebius, and Roedelius.  Here's "The Belldog," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - 2HB

Every time i go back and listen to those first few Roxy Music albums, it's a revelation.  They're just so unbelievably good.  Anyway, here's a track from the band's debut.  Listen to "2HB" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Evening Star

Some mornings you just have to listen to Robert Fripp and Brian Eno do what they do.  Here's the title track from the duo's collaborative album "Evening Star," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Burning Airlines Give You So Much More

When i was in high school, there was this really strange guy that i met a few times through one of my friends.  His name is lost to me, but i do remember he always wore this big, puffy orange jacket...even when it was hot outside.  And he loved Brian Eno.  It was all he listened to.  All he talked about.  I didn't really pay much attention at the time, but maybe i should have.  Because a couple of years later, i actually sat down and dug into Eno's discography.  And that weird guy in high school was right.  Anyway, here's Eno with "Burning Airlines Give You So Much More," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - By This River

Here's a wonderfully calming Brian Eno song for your ears and souls.  Listen to "By This River" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - The Big Ship

It's Sunday morning.  And i'm going to make breakfast and listen to Brian Eno.  My funeral song.  "The Big Ship," our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Ladytron

I first heard Roxy Music in high school, maybe even before, the sounds of "Avalon" echoing to the end of the '80s and beyond.  I didn't pay too much attention until i was a teenager, having just discovered Brian Eno through this weirdo i knew back in school.  He wore the same puffy orange coat every single day...even in the summer...even in Texas.  So i checked out those early Roxy Music albums before Eno departed the band, and i wasn't ready.  College brought me into the Bryan Ferry's circle once again via Todd Haynes' "Velvet Goldmine" film, and this time around, i took to it like a fish in water.  Nothing else sounds like Roxy Music.  And nothing should.  Here's "Ladytron" from the band's debut, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Needle in the Camel's Eye

I love Brian Eno.  Shouldn't everybody?  Here's "Needle in the Camel's Eye" from his first solo record "Here Come the Warm Jets."  Your Daily Jam...

Abul Mogard reworks Penelope Trappes

Working with Brian Eno and others, Serbian experimental artist Abul Mogard just released a new album, "And We Are Passing Through Silently," in which he transforms and mixes the work of a handful of other artists into something completely different.  A highlight for me is the stretched and sprawling mix of Penelope Trappes' "Carry Me."  In Mogard's hands, the song becomes a slow crawling piece of droning ambience that stretches to the ends of the cosmos and back again.  Listen below and get the record here from Houndstooth.

Brian Eno with Kevin Shields - Only Once Away My Son

Legendary artist/producer Brian Eno recorded a new song with My Bloody Valentine main man Kevin Shields...and that's really all you need to know.  Listen to "Only Once Away My Son," and then maybe blur out of reality.  It's beautiful.  Much thanks to Adult Swim.

Psychic Temple

Long Beach jazz collective Psychic Temple covered Brian Eno's "Music for Airports 1/1" and turned it into this swirling, spacey dream.  It's amazing and as great a cover of Eno's work as you're ever likely to hear.  Oh, and Mike fucking Watt plays bass on the thing.  Listen below and get it here (vinyl is sold out though).

Brian Eno

The legendary Brian Eno has a new album out this Friday on Warp called "The Ship."  It's a beautiful mix of ambient moods and pop melodies, and it's probably some of the best work Eno has done in years.  Listen to the album's finale, the third section of the "Fickle Sun" suite, a cover of The Velvet Underground's "I'm Set Free."  It's gorgeous.  I'm so glad i got to hear this today.

Eno & Hyde

Brian Eno is a perennial favorite around here, so any upcoming project from the legendary artist is welcomed with open arms and a wide smile.  "Someday World" finds him collaborating with Underworld's Karl Hyde to craft an album of sweeping electronic pop.  Listen to "The Satellites" below and get the album from Warp.

New music from James Blake

I'm really digging new track "Digital Lion" from the moody, dubby James Blake.  Dark and sexy and featuring Brian Eno.  Listen below, and keep your eyeballs peeled for the upcoming "Overgrown" LP in the near future.