Music For Airports

Music For Airports, 1-1 (17:25)

Stuck in the uninspired music being played in the train and subway stations, I too felt Brian Eno's frustration when he was stuck at Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany in the 70's. When Eno spent several hours at the airport, annoyed by the background noises and poorly chosen music, he decided to write a piece of music for the airports. I only wish all airports and stations play this album.

The album is part of the series of ambient music that Eno pioneered. The term "ambient" here is very different from the ambient electronic in the 90's. His ambient music is usually slow and repetitive, without any distinguished melody or progression. His music is designed to hang in the room like a painting, you barely notice it and yet it fills the room.

Eno collected or created pieces of music and, by using the tape machine, stitched and looped the pieces to compose an absorbing experience. The result is fascinating. The simplicity is what keeps the music still valid and modern today. Take the first piece of Music for Airpots (1-1) for example, it is a meditating piece that eases your mind, like a good old massage on the brain. It has been the music that puts me to sleep in many nights for many years.

Living in one of the busiest city of the world now, I say every public space should play Eno's ambient music. A little poetic reward after a day of errands perhaps? Why one would pick a can of worn out classical pieces over his music is beyond my understanding. Music for Airports means to me like a cup of tea or a piece of sushi - there's something very oriental and serene about it. It'd be great if we can slow down for a bit and enjoy the cease of time in a public space, at least once in while in the busiest town of the world.

T.