Ambient 1/Music For Airports

Ahhh ok I get it, this list is a joke. It all makes so much sense now because there is no way in hell a serious list of albums to listen to before you die would include an album of fucking ambient music. Who in their right mind heard this album and thought "oh yea! I gotta tell everybody about this masterpiece, everybody needs to hear this!"? Fuck Brian Eno and fuck this list. I'll see you tomorrow.

"I am trying to step away from the traditional concept of a musician who sits down to write a song with a specific message. Instead, I want to function as a sort of sonic landscape gardener. For me, the studio is the instrument itself, and my job is to plant various musical elements and textures, then step back to watch how they grow and interact organically with the environment." - Brian Eno, NME, 1981. This album was significant because it showed a fresh way of thinking about music, how it can function and how it can be made. Plenty of people have written long and boring think-pieces on the role of listener and environment in constructing the experience, and the links to John Cage and Lamont Young and Steve Reich and blah blah blah. I will leave the academic dissertation as an exercise for the reader. Is this the best example of ambient? Maybe not, but it defined the genre and is far better than most of the firehose of imitators that followed across the 1980s. Essential listening -- although you don't have to listen too hard -- just enjoy the sunlit garden.

It’s simple, I see Brian Eno, I give a 1.

I first came across Brian in the movie Dogs in Space, where the root rat hippy Gary kept playing the album Another Green World to help woo the woman he'd brought back home, it was a very funny recurring motif. After a bit of the discovery work you had to do back in the mid eighties I found that record and then ultimately found this. Now when Brian popped around to trim my hedges the other day he made the point that as he pops up everywhere Dimery could have saved us all a lot of time and bother and just listed this first as the first of the 1000 and then he'd have ticked off an entire genre. And we could have properly focussed on Brian appearing on everyone else's work. This is a beautiful record, it shimmers, it glides, it sails on by in the most delightful way. In my quieter moments I love to just have it on, helps you reset on life.

Great music to dissociate to

It feels weird to write a rave review of this; the whole package seems to be tempered against the idea of raving about things, period. This is music for achieving a place beyond raving or ranting or any of those other, more charismatic flavors of transcendent experience - for accepting that you are forever in a place of transition, that all things flow. No wonder it's hard for me to always stick with this (I suck at meditation too); no wonder I simultaneously recognize how much I need it. This is perfect at being what it intends to be, conjuring visions of placid travel and inner peace. It is not who I am but it is, perhaps, who I'd like to be more of.

If they actually played this in airports, I wonder if anyone would actually make it to a flight on time. I imagine everyone just staring out the windows or pacing endlessly through the terminals. Good stuff! Still not my favorite Eno though.

Is it music? I don’t know. Is it important? I don’t know. Is it somehow compelling and attention grabbing by not actually being there in the first place? Yes…? 1 keeper in 4 (25%) 25

Not music, not even for airports.

I really loved Brian enos sound and style on low and heroes and was hoping for more of the same here but this was just not it This album is extremely boring and isn’t very interesting The vocal arrangements in 2/1 was cool but that was the only really positive here I didn’t hate listening to this but I didn’t enjoy it 2/5

It's not often that you get to enjoy a genre starting/defining album for the first time, but this is what the 1001 journey is all about. Brian Eno coined the phrase "ambient music" to describe Ambient 1: Music for Airports, which was written as a polar opposite of the stressful hustle, bustle, and awful canned Muzak experience of air travel. The looped piano layered over wide open soundspaces is a soothing and almost transformative blend that feels fulfilling in ways that are hard to put into words. I could try but it would never do justice to hearing the compositions yourself. The closest description I've seen came from the famous critic Lester Bangs, who said the music has "a crystalline, sunlight-through-windowpane quality," and I totally agree. Another quote I rather enjoyed came from The Washington Post, saying "It taught an entire generation of musicians to consider music as a texture," which is a powerful statement. If you couldn't tell already, I loved the record and I think it's one of the best inclusions in the 1001 of the near 300 I've already reviewed so far.

This actually stresses me out

3.5* Don't doubt the legacy! Love the BOTW tones

I understand why it was included in the list. It was basically the first ever ambient music album. There'd be very few people that would put this on if they were in the mood to listen to something good. But, it has its place, and it does it well.

When I put this on, I thought, hmm... this is fine background music. But then over the weekend, while puttering around doing other things, I re-played it probably 4 times. Not a 5, but has to be at least a 4 if I kept going back to it voluntarily.

Un disco que oí muchas veces en mi juventud, y que hace años que no oigo. Me pongo a ello. Es uno de los CDs que conservo de esa época.

Not bad. Not quite great. Decidedly ok, but very soothing and relaxing. The entire album reminds me of the music in a guided meditation video.

Gorgeous and brilliant but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it gets a bit tedious.

The OG ambient background album

Nice but little substance.

So good, and ABSOLUTELY is Music for Airports. I've used it myself in many airports and find myself calmed around so many idiots. Excellent stuff.

I mean, yeah, I could certainly imagine this playing in an airport i guess. Favorite song: 1/1

I can really tell the influence this had on Minecraft music. This is fine background music, which I guess is what it's supposed to be. Something I might put on while working or studying, but not something I'll ever get excited about.

The last two letters in Brian’s last name are all you need to “no”

Too ambient

Again? Second album in 3 days from Eno. Let’s branch out and away from these English guys. This was preparing but why in the world is it in this list. No way it deserves to be here.

I'm not a big Brian Eno/ambient music fan, but this was better than I expected.

Rather redundant and something I would not choose to listen to if I was stuck in an airport,

A little boring for me. It is good as background noise and I can see it could be good for sleeping music.

2.5/5 The third song sort of made me think of the score from Halo 3 ODST.

Number: 284 Familiarity: Aware (2) Rating: 3 Before: ======= I'm pretty familiar with his first 2 albums. This one not so much, in fact, if anything I probably only skimmed through this one. After : ======= Interesting, I'm glad I had the opportunity to hear this. I think it is an excellent candidate for this list but it's not something I really care to listen to again unless I find myself in a situation wherein I need to fill the space with a music like sound but don't want it to be music exactly.

now this is what i'm talking about!!!! if you are a random person looking at my random page on this random 1001 album website you might be rolling your eyes over how much i enjoy ambient. sue me!!!!!!!! can i not enjoy the small moments in life? i prefer gentle music like this to accompany those moments rather than complete silence. there is a place for this music! in my heart!!!!! and when i am enjoying another tender moment, and i hear these songs, i also feel all the other memories i had with them. and i think it is so special! must give it a 4 to leave room for the extraordinary albums tho, and i am only just now hearing these 4 songs.... but they will enter my ambient rotation for sure

I like a bit of ambient music, but it's usually never more than something to put on while working. Eno however, manages something special. One of the first ambient works is also one of the best. When listened to more closely, it has a genuine sense of melancholy. Music for Airports is not just background music but something moving.

Not much to say or think about this one and thats by design. Was nice for emails, im sure it would go mostly unnoticed in a public space.

Difícil avaliar algo assim

Incredible

Now I see why everyone loves this one, this is actually really calming. I'm definitely going to be listening to this one again. Great piano. Maybe ambient music isn't so boring after all. :3

At the start of the album i felt like it to be a very simple boring1 rhythm but after 5 minutes it completly threw me to a weird abnormal dimension ive never been to.

me mato

good background music

This has solved my "what do I listen to at the airport" problem

This was a cool early Saturday morning listen. It is very relaxing, but not sure how it was once of the top 1001 albums ever. Still I enjoyed listening to something I probably would not have listened to otherwise. 5/10 Top song... They are all kind of the same.

Один из моих любимейших эмбиант альбомов. Основоположник жанра. Идеальная музыка для расслабления

A few thoughts from today's listen: 1. For 1978 this was very cool, and not much like it (if any) at the time. 2. At this point in time, ambient is everywhere and it all sounds about the same to me. AKA just like this record. I could have been at my massage therapist office or a yoga studio, or a bookstore and heard something just like it. 3. Not the ideal music for my morning drive to work. I don't mind instrumental songs for my commute, but this wasn't calming me as I thought it might. 4. This is an impossible album to rate. I could give it anything from a 2 to a 4. It'll likely be a 3.

plum plum plum aaaaaaahhhhhhh I mean, it might be cool and groundbreaking for its time and place, but damn, I'm not a 1978 airport!

It’s rare that an album realizes its mission statement as fully as this one. Just as Eno desired, it is “interesting but ignorable.” Very pleasant and calming. I don’t know if I could call it a favorite just by its nature, but I’ll likely play it again in the future while working.

I like Brian Eno but not this one per se

I feel like I could stop listening to this give it a 2 & move on

Relaxing ambient at its origin

Interesting

Excellent ambient, classic.

Гарний ембієнт альбом.

Класика.

It's good for background noise. I might use this for when I'm working on my schoolwork but other than that I don't think I'll reach for it. And honestly I'm not sure why this is on the 1001 albums list.

An odd listen. Brian Eno can be avant garde & progressive with his compositions and this is no exception. If you are expecting Roxy Music you won't be happy. Imagine a mellower version of ambient/drone gods Sunn O)))

I'm not a fan of this kind of experimental electronica. It feels like the soundtrack to the space exhibit at one of the museums, but is not something I can imagine listening to voluntarily on its own. That's a fundamental box to tick for me if I'm going to like something so I'll leave this one for those who appreciate this particular niche.

Relaxing and useful in different capacities, but I need to listen to it in an airport to give a proper review.

Really nice conceptual album. Hard, given the title, to not picture wandering through various airports. Definitely helped me get the laundry folded. That has to count for something right?

You know what airports are? Fucking boring. You know what this album is? Fucking boring.

Enjoyable listen. I can see how it was influential. But not really dynamic enough to be exciting. Just pleasant background music.

Exactly what the title says.

Is Eno a genius, a blatherskite or con artist? I suppose he could be all 3. 2.5

absolute absolute perfection,. It's one of the absolute top albums that I've listened to over the last 20 years. nothing. Come close. For pure delicious wonderful ambience and yes, I actually do listen to it in airports and on planes, but also when you need stillness this evokes an indescribable calm. excellent. Feels, 5+

You get exactly what you expect from this album and its title. Better than most current "focus" features on smartphone apps. Not sure it should be on this list tho

ambient is not really my bag but i can hear the brilliance in this. when the mood strikes, this would be the album i reach for.

Quite bland/bad

8.4/10

this is an absolute banger for getting baby to sleep

Long time favorite. Just beautiful.

More like background music for a nature film with a gentle spring rain.

sem nenhum julgamento de qualidade, mas não dá não 17 minutos disso e eu me mato

As an individual who regularly listens to music throughout their day while working, this was a nice new welcome to my addition for daily listening. Non invasive or distractive, it worked well for the start of my day. Definitely surprised this was included in the list, however, I appreciated it.

`it is absolutely not what I listen to music for, but it is also undeniably significantly relaxing and, if you are going to do background music then this is excellent ambient music. My relationship with music is very much active listening, but I'll allow it. It's a pleasantly odd experience; I can as much picture it during a study session as during a massage or utter solitude. It has almost no substance to cling onto, and I admire how much it dedicates itself to that; by the goals of the album, it's a complete success. And, crucially, musically good for what it is; it doesn't annoy in the way muzak does to me generally. Totally not what I expected out of a 1001 albums list, and for that reason delightful. Slightly to my astonishment, I'm going to give it five stars.

7/10

Relaxing

Is it good? Is it bad? I don’t know

I get somewhat the importance of this record to the ambient genre, but honestly this is a snooze fest. Sure, this is perfectly fine to listen to while waiting for your flight but that’s not why I listen to music.

relaxing

Dudelmusik zum Weghören

very repetitive

I prefer foreground music

Gorgeous. Slightly haunting, but beautiful. Brian Eno tapped into something special when he explored ambient music. The space between the notes is just as important, if not more important, than the notes themselves.

Oh yeah

Schifo

Ironically, there is something about this album that really stresses me out. Instead of being calmed down I start thinking about the purpose of life and the future death of everyone I care about and myself. I'd rather listen to something that distracts me from those thoughts. I can imagine it being a very influential piece, but for my own unease, I can't give it any higher than 2.

Calming. Not recommended for work background noise.

An interesting concept. I was thoroughly relaxed after listening.

Yoga music

Music for Bauhaus housing developments. Ground-breaking and beautiful, even if it's the sort of music you hear in spas.

Started to listen to this and then realized that I already heard it in an elevator. Didn't like it there.

I am a well documented Brian Eno hater. His production style is so lame and he ruined the Bowie albums he's part of. I can also admit that this didn't suck. For its purpose, I can imagine that this could be very useful and soothing. Maybe he should just stick to this.

Song 1: I’d love this if I were an airport Songs 2-4: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Believe it or not it made my time at the airport much more pleasant than ever.

For airports, maybe still, but more like music for yoga moms & untroubled adolescents venting their 'troubles' in a spa on the Asian continent: White Lotus, in other words. That's what ambient has become, tho not what it is, or what it could be. In '78, this probably hit hard & tranquil, authentically in the vein of Philip Glass, tho achieving new modes as well. & I still enjoy its gifts & energy - its eloquent peacefulness - but I struggle to listen to it w/o hearing a precious tonality that's too opulent to be memorable. I mean, it does astonish to the degree that it succeeds in putting me in a calm mood - I'm more at ease having heard it. But Here Come the Warm Jets, Another Green World, Before and After Science, those records make me feel alive.

I will not be fooled into giving this more than a 2.

I found this album in CD format in a pile of used CDs in Austin (maybe the Tower Records on Guadalupe?) back in 1993 or 1994. It's been a staple for me ever since and I 100% agree with Pitchfork that it's the greatest ambient record ever released. No new age crap, no fucking Indian flutes. Just Eno, a piano, some voices, and endless tape loops. It makes me think of Erik Satie's Gymnopidae, of afternoons spent lying in meadows in New Mexico, and of evenings rocking sleeping babies in chairs. It's a wonderful thing.

I listened to this in an airport and on a plane. That might have tipped it to a 3 despite my ambivalence toward ambient music. I’ve listened to a lot of Brian Eno but none of his ambient stuff, so i was happy to have a reason.

Accurately titled. This reaches my personal ceiling for this kind of thing.

3/5 - Brian Eno is a genius operating on a higher plane than my ears live on. Put in historical context, this belongs on the list, even if it isn't something to actively listen to. Still, an excellent album to work to while it's in the background. Or possibly board a PanAm or TWA flight to.

Wouldn't seek this out, but it really defined ambient music and is great for meditation and yoga. Also, this absolutely inspired R.E.M. during the making of Up (See Airportman).