Neroli

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Subtitled Thinking Music Part IV. Mid-price reissue of 1993 ambient masterpiece. As beautiful and sparse as anything produced to date, Eno sets a mood of quiet contemplation that, as he himself states in the liner notes, is a piece to 'reward attention, but not (be) so strict as to demand it.' One 58 minute track. Import only.

Tracks:

Neroli (Thinking Music Part lV)

Album Description

As beautiful and sparse as anything produced to date, Eno sets a mood of quiet contemplation that as he himself states, is a piece to "reward attention, but not (be) so strict as to demand it."

Includes newly expanded liner notes!

Customer Reviews:

another eno ambient masterpiece........2007-03-12

clocking in at just under fifty-eight minutes, this, like his masterpiece "thursday afternoon," is a single brian eno composition that explores the dreamworld of tones softly (very, very softly) drifting in a hushed soundscape. this is beautiful and sublime stuff, a perfect late night listen, great for relaxation, meditation, or as a sonic background to reading. the rough and tumble mechanics of daily life can use an anodyne like this. don't miss.

get to know yourself.......2006-12-18

This hour long single composition is not background or sleep music as other reviewers may lead you to believe. This is deep hypnotic ambient expressionism. Eno's composition expands your consciousness allowing your thoughts to wander a slow open circle around the prairie of your mind. A potent vehicle to surmount time and grasp inner patterns. This is a well phrased composition that despite its long track time does not dilute itself. Vertical slow musical strokes break allowing a relaxing void which together convert into a wholeness, a continum. The structure of this composition depends as much on the silence between notes as on the notes themselves. This is true "ambience".

The perfect musical accompaniment for meditation or napping.......2005-12-07

I am a great fan of Brian Eno's ambient and minimalist albums, and while this is not my favorite one (that distinction would probably go to either "The Pearl" or "Apollo"), I cannot think of one that is more relaxing. There is absolutely no variation in volume, style or rhythm...it is just one, hour-long track of some of the most minimalist music I've ever heard, with a sound so light and wispy that even when played at maximum volume, it is completely undistracting. As such, it is the perfect background music for any activity that requires complete relaxation or concentration. I've put this album on my stereo and set it for endless repeat while napping or reading, and it definitely adds a new dimension to the experience. I can feel my blood pressure dropping as soon as the first few notes are played. The only other track I can think of that approaches this one for such purposes is the "Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music" track on Spacemen 3's "Dreamweapon" album (another ambient classic).

Beauty in Repitition........2005-07-06

Brian Eno's ambient explorations have led in a number of directions-- much of his best work has consisted of two sympathetic themes of differing lengths looped with their volumes fluctuated to alter their interactions-- a minimal set of elements needed to create engaging music. "Neroli" takes this concept one step further-- on this recording, there is one musical phrase-- a single-note progression performed on a keyboard-- repeated over and over again, arhythmically and without consistent tempo.

What's truly remarkable is that something of this form could be so engaging when performed for nearly an hour.

The remaster sound is crisp and clean, although I had never heard the original, so I can't compare the quality of the two. The reissue does come with a brief essay about the piece, and the liner notes are nice enough.

It isn't quite as powerful as his best work, but it certainly is a good listen. I also think you sort of have to be ready to hear this-- if you don't have a background in ambient, minimalism, I'd suggest steering clear of this one until you've heard more of Eno's material.

Average customer rating:

get to know yourself
The Very Definition Of Ambient Music
Raise your hand when you hear the notes...
Glacial beauty
Neroli.

Neroli
Brian Eno
Manufacturer: Gyroscope
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000035CM
Release Date: 1993-08-03

Tracks:

Neroli (Thinking Music Part IV)

Album Description

Subtitled Thinking Music Part IV. Mid-price reissue of 1993 ambient masterpiece. As beautiful and sparse as anything produced to date, Eno sets a mood of quiet contemplation that, as he himself states in the liner notes, is a piece to 'reward attention, but not (be) so strict as to demand it.' One 58 minute track. Import only.

Customer Reviews:

get to know yourself.......2006-10-06

This is deep hypnotic ambient expressionism. Nothing can describe the journey you are about to take. Allow this random flowing composition to take you deep inside YOURSELF. A slow walk in a big open circle around the prairie of your mind. This is true "ambience". The structure of this long loose composition depends as much on the silence between notes as on the notes themselves.

The Very Definition Of Ambient Music.......2006-04-27

Put your headphones on and enjoy the ride. This is ambient in its purest, most minimal form and I love it. Notes drift and fade, phrases slowly repeat. The perfect CD for relaxation and meditation. And though this could be perceived as a negative quality, in my book the fact that "Neroli" can help those that suffer from insomnia is a bonus! If you enjoy this CD,check out "Thursday Afternoon", another full CD-length piece (though not as minimal) from 1985. This review is for the version of "Neroli" originally issued in 1993 with minimal liner notes. Other artists you may want to explore are Harold Budd and John Cage as well as Michael Nyman's classic "Decay Music".

Raise your hand when you hear the notes..........2005-09-16

...this is the simple instruction given before a standard hearing test. It's also the first thing that I thought of when hearing Neroli. This is over an hour of an arpeggiation played out in random note "droplets" over the backdrop of a droning root note. And that's all it is.
You never really know when the notes are going to fall into the mix, and when they do, there is an almost Pavlovian reflex that makes your brain go "THERE'S ANOTHER NOTE..raise a hand".
Music theorists will tell you Neroli is a brilliant study of Phrigian whatsidoodle...
And music theorists always miss the point. Music that truly means something is produced from the heart and soul of the artist, not from some academic model or classic theory. Neroli isn't just boring, it's pretentious. It almost taunts you in its self-importance. It makes you feel guilty that you don't "Get it"..like you aren't sophisticated enough to understand its genius. Sheesh.
While I disagree that this is intended as some sort of joke on Ambiant music purists, I would have to argue with those who say it's brilliant. There is simply nothing genius about it.
The same album could be produced with a computerized sound randomizer and a keyboard that is missing all but 5 of its keys...just key in the notes and let the program run until the tape runs out.
I almost wonder if maybe it was indeed made that way.

Glacial beauty.......2005-01-06

For many listeners, even Eno fans, this disc may be difficult to get into. I bought Neroli in 1999 & I'll confess it sat on my shelf mostly for the first couple months. But after giving the disc repeated listens I find this is one of Eno's most rewarding pieces ever.

This disc is made up of only one track lasting roughly an hour, on a synthesizer (which sounds like a sort of odd processed piano). The opening melody is actually performed (within the first 60 seconds or so), after which the synthesizer breaks up this performance into different segments -- this is basically a digital equivalent of what Eno did with tape loops in the 70's & 80's). Each note is like a small piece turning in a vast, slow moving mobile, with endless variations. It's an odd, constant hovering sensation, with minute textures hiding in the reverb. It reminds me a lot of Morton Feldman's late "pattern pieces" like his "Piano & String Quartet" or "Palais de Mari."

It's unfortunate & also surprising that there are some reviewers that didn't care for this piece. The "obstacles" to many listeners seem to be the sheer size of the piece & its very static character (even more static than most of Eno's work). I cetainly would not recommend this to someone who has only recently become interested in Eno's ambient work-- "On Land" is a better place to start (which is, of course, also an excellent Eno album!).

Neroli........2004-03-18

"Neroli" is the 1993 release from vetran producer and ambient music pioneer, Brian Eno. Throughout his lengthy career, Eno has always strived to create music that is opposite of what is popular or current. Many of his solo recordings such as "Discreet Music", "Music For Airports", "On Land" as well as his groundbreaking work with David Bowie and King Crimson's Robert Fripp have become blueprints for what is now called 'new age' music.
"Neroli" continues with the ambient experiments which Brian began to innovate in the early '70s. The disc follows the same pattern as his 1985 work "Thursday Afternoon" in that it consists of a single uninterupted hour-long piece of music. Unlike "Thursday Afternoon" as well as his previous instrumental work, "Neroli" can best be described as ambient minimalism stripped down to its barest elements. The piece was performed on the lower register of one keyboard and was composed in the Phrygian Mode which gives it a mysterious etherial quality. Throughout its hour-long running time, the piece never shifts in mood nor is anything else added to the sound to give it some form of climax. It creates its mood at the very beginning and stays there for the entire duration without any change in key or pitch.
This is not a CD that one may blast in their stereo while cruising down the highway. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Eno's composed "Neroli" as a piece of background music and this is precisely what it is. It's an unintruding piece which is quite beautiful when heard with the right set of ears. Sure, it may be boring to some. But boring can be beautiful too.

Tracks:

Neroli: Thinking of Music, Pt. 4

Album Description

Customer Reviews:

get to know yourself.......2006-10-06

The Very Definition Of Ambient Music.......2006-04-27

Raise your hand when you hear the notes..........2005-09-16

Glacial beauty.......2005-01-06

Neroli........2004-03-18

Tracks:

Neroli: Thinking of Music, Pt. 4

Customer Reviews:

Neroli........2004-03-18

Small footnote: If you enjoy "Neroli", check out Brian Eno's other disc-long piece "Thursday Afternoon". These two pieces make a matching pair.

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