Brian Eno
The Drop

LA RECENSIONE

 In Eno We Trust 

When dissonance goes hand in hand with minimalism and modal experimentalism, something wonderful and timeless like this "The Drop" by that untamed craftsman, discoverer of new sonic territories and true forerunner of current scenarios in unsuspected times named Brian Eno is bound to emerge. Much has already been said about this talent scout - musician - producer - sound engineer - musicologist - theorist - writer and scholar.
This album represents a further exploration closely tied to his field of action, blending together the fundamental electronic structures with hypnotic trance loops, akin to Oriental-style compositions due to the extended use of tonal ranges (and not the usual 7 Western notes) and the obsessive use of minor tones even in the structuring of solo interventions (a research almost parallel to that of his old companion Robert Fripp with his King Crimson first and League of Gentlemen later).
17 compositions leveraging a skillful use of basic electronic samples to weave through tortuous sonic embroideries "like heat-seeking missiles constantly changing direction trying to hit the target" (as Eno himself said at the album presentation).
Melodies that are seemingly simple yet capable of creating an autonomous recognizable sound structure from the first notes, akin to pieces of an absolutely original whole that, even in compositions with greater sonic tension ("Belgian Drop" or "Mc Organ"), where the rhythm is more sustained and disorienting, a coherent and (in some respects unsettling) design of sound fabric clearly emerges, at times dark and decadent ("Black Drop" or "Boom Cubist").
In short, here there is no "music for airports" or "lunar music," nor relaxing and disenchanted dreamlike airs. We are faced with twisting and dark scenarios, atmospheres with gloomy veins with little room for sunlight, yet they have the great merit of delighting us with new unusual landscapes, not very reassuring indeed, but tremendously irresistible making this album another milestone in the discography of this contemporary genius who has given so much but who will still have much more to give us with future productions.
A “deviant” but absolutely essential album, the ideal soundtrack for gloomy November days where nothing seems to go right and nothing ever seems to resolve one way or another.