Eno • Hyde
High Life

I return once again to my roots and present to you the second chapter of the collaboration between Brian Eno and Karl Hyde (Underworld).

Months ago, I proposed their debut album "Someday World", released in May 2014, a colorful record that, after mixing them in a blender, offered a blend of sounds that had characterized (and still do) the long careers of these figures, but not only that. I loved it from the first listen, as my review can demonstrate.
The ideas developed and the "leftovers" (so to speak, of course) during the recording of the first album were numerous, so, thanks to the strong connection and inspiration between the two, they decided to prepare a second album immediately... thus "High Life" was born, released at the end of June 2014.

"High Life" shows another side of the Eno • Hyde duo, hence the approach to music is completely different from the previous one: fewer tracks, longer, more experimental, and more spontaneous. In "Someday World", as many have pointed out, songs in "song format" were presented, in the traditional sense of the term.
Yet again, they manage to come across as fresher than ever.

That megalodon titled "Return" has the honor of starting it all. A track of exactly 9 minutes that, with its slow progression, makes us get familiar with its mood, increasingly filling the atmosphere as the minutes pass: we are talking about a top-notch Art Rock, in my opinion, where Hyde's hyper-effected guitars reign supreme in conjunction with Eno's warm voice.
The curious thing about this track is certainly the riff which, in theory, should be a Chuck Berry-style riff remixed/modified, which, between the slowness and effects, is almost unrecognizable. Now that you know, it will be easier to recognize.
Unfortunately, the slow pace won't always benefit the listener, as in the case of "Time To Waste It". A track with an exotic flavor, with rhythms that can only remind one of Reggae and Ska, accompanied this time by a female vocal. The novelty and foray into new sounds are to be appreciated, though I might have preferred it to last 3 minutes instead of 8.

Following the trail of new and exotic flavors, here comes the (only) single "DBF": it is the first instrumental track, with a vibe that reeks of Africa and Talking Heads. It's no coincidence I've read some theories suggesting the acronym "DBF" could stand for "David Byrne Funk"... it would make perfect sense!
Apart from Talking Heads and Africa, personally it reminds me of some sounds already heard in Eno's "Before And After Science", in tracks like "No One Receiving" and "Kurt's Rejoinder".
The other instrumental is "Moulded Life", where Hyde's influences dominate more, bringing more aggression and more Electronic.

I'll spend the last lines talking about the most emotional and profound tracks of the album, namely "Lilac" and "Cells & Bells".
"Lilac" is without a doubt the highlight of the entire sonic journey: the guitars return to release fantastic melodies in their simplicity, and Eno once again warms the spirits with his voice, accompanied in turn by choirs, all while the ensemble moves sinuously among electronic beats. Nine and a half minutes that you wish would never end.
The concluding "Cells & Bells" with a vocal duet between the two artists over paradisiacal synth flooring, bringing Ambient into play for the first time.

I sincerely hope they continue, as soon as possible, to churn out new productions.