Some Cultural Input No. 3

input3, originally uploaded by John Barleycorn.

Todays input is three groundbreaking albums. First the re-release of the classic first album by White Noise "An electric storm". It's hard to describe it, some of the songs are close to trip-hop, others are scary cinematic soundscapes and then you have some catchy weird electronic pop tunes upon that. The thing is that the album was recorded in 1968-69 and released by Island records in 1969. Way ahead of its time.
Second is the classic Talking Heads album "Remain in Light". It was produced by Brian Eno and had some great guest musicians like Adrian Belew. Listen to the futuristic funk groove in songs like "Crosseyed and Painless" and "Houses in Motion". It's impossible to be still and the music feels very modern and cool. This album was released in 1980 but it could've been released today and still feel like a modern and original album. It's easy to hear where the Rapture found their inspiration.
Third, Brian Enos "Before and After Science" from 1977. The German influence is clear. Some of the tracks were recorded in Conny Planks studio outside Cologne and both Roedelius and Moebius from Cluster participates on the track "By this river". The song "Backwater" sounds a lot like Bowies "Heroes" (Eno produced both Heroes and Low the same year). Otherwise the album is a weird mix of Can like Kraut-Funk (Jaki Liebezeit plays drums on a track), proto-new wave and beautiful pop and ambient tracks. When you take a close look at what Brian Eno has made through the years... it's incredible. His albums with Roxy Music, his solo albums and all his great collaborations with artists like Nico, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo, U2, Cluster, Harmonia and so on. He totally rules!!!