Fripp and Eno return for another album of soothing electronic loops on side one, and dark electronic space music on side two.
Kronomyth 6.0: Discreet pussyfooting.
Robert Fripp and Brian Eno released a second album of ambient music, Evening Star, that reflected a further refinement of the musical textures set forth on No Pussyfooting. The most audible difference between this record and their last collaboration is the soothing rhythm of the tape loops used by Eno, an idea he would more fully explore on Discreet Music. These waves of sound set the tone for the five pieces presented here, with Fripp’s guitar wafting on the meditative calm rather than stirring it as before.
The opening “Wind on Water” (originally recorded live in Paris but with no “external” noise) is an object in musical meditation, with tiny tonal waves of sound that enhance the listener’s comprehension of the original Om. “Evening Star” is the album’s highlight, showing the soothing union possible between the two artists–in many ways, the same sort of matchmaking reappeared with Harold Budd on The Plateaux of Mirror. “Evensong” returns to the shiny sound of “Swastika Girls” in a much shorter and melodic context, and “Wind on Wind” is essentially a minor variation on the theme to “Discreet Music.” The side-long “An Index of Metals” is as eerie as the first side is intimate, shimmering in the remote regions of space like the contemporary music of Tangerine Dream but static.
Evening Star is more tightly conceived than their somewhat free-form first collaboration, benefiting from Eno’s budding ability to create short, effective ambient structures. In terms of scope and effectiveness, it gets the nod over No Pussyfooting (which nevertheless is notable for breaking new ground) and belongs with both artists’ better instrumental works.
Original LP Version
A1. Wind On Water (5:35)
A2. Evening Star (7:41)
A3. Evensong (2:47)
A4. Wind On Wind (Eno) (3:04)
B1. An Index of Metals (27:55)
All songs written by Fripp & Eno unless noted.
The Players
Brian Eno (loops and synthesizer), Robert Fripp (guitar). Produced by Eno and Fripp; engineered by Danny Bridges, Phil Chapman, Rhett Davies.
The Pictures
Cover painting by Peter Schmidt. Back cover photograph by Antonio Tiedra.
The Plastic
Released on elpee in December 1975 in the UK (Help/Island, HELP22), in June 1976 in the US (Antilles, AN-7018) and in 1976 in Japan (Polydor, MPF-1217).
- Re-issued on elpee in the UK (Polydor, 2343 094).
- Re-issued on elpee and cassette in the US (Editions EG, EGS/EGSC 103).
- Re-packaged with No Pussyfooting on 2-for-1 cassette in 1982 in the US (EG Records, EGDC 2).
- Re-issued on compact disc in the US (EG Records, EEGCD 3).
- Re-issued on compact disc in 1988 in Europe (Virgin, 787212).
- Re-issued on compact disc in the US (Caroline, 1560).
- Re-released on HiQuality compact disc on October 22, 2008 in Japan (WHD Entertainment, IECP-10153) and on K2 remastered compact disc in 2008 in Japan (WHD Entertainment, IECP-10270).
- Re-released on 200g vinyl elpee in 2014 in the UK (Opal, DGMLP2).
