DISCREET MUSIC

Oh, yes, I remember listening to this one in its entirety. Considering the fact that this album has only four tracks that are very repetitive, I can't really say much about it. What I can say is that I find it extremely difficult to listen to the half-hour-long title track in one sitting or standing or walking. There is nothing obvious about it except for the melodies. It does not incite any kind of mood in my head. This is such a shallow torture.

However, when it comes to the second side of the album, things get very interesting. Eno takes on the legendary Canon in D major by Johannes Pachelbel in three turns with slightly different results. The first variation is my personal favorite, driven with a dense and rich orchestral sound that can be pretty moving but definitely touching. The second variation is also very decent. The instruments sound very good, which signifies the outstanding quality of the production job done by Brian. It also gives away the idea that Eno has an ear for good classical melodies. The third and last variation on the canon certainly overstays its welcome, but it also sounds decent. Why? I can still become enamored with the sound of the strings. Also, the harmonic progressions sound odd but my brain doesn't mind it. This is not a very cognitive kind of music. Its focus seems to be the quality of texture, not normal melodies or normal chord progressions. Now, even though these last three tracks on the record are a bit too long for me, I can simply put up with that, but not without the thought "OK, wrap it up". Also, I don't really mind it if they don't sound quite like the canon itself.

Overall, this album is a bit difficult to rate when I know that the first track can mentally hurt me a little bit, if not kill me. However, I have to acknowledge the power of the arrangements of the canon, and I want to do that. "Discreet Music" is not essential to prog rock, but it is good regardless.

Stamp: "I like it."