Exposé Online banner

Roger Eno — The Flatlands
(Hannibal HNCD 1518, 1998/2006, CD)

by Michael Draine, Published 1999-04-01

The Flatlands Cover art

In a 1990 Wire magazine interview, Brian Eno described a work in progress involving the performance of his synthesizer compositions by the Kreisler Orchestra. This intriguing idea never bore fruit, but here, Eno’s younger sibling Roger has crafted a suite of 18 miniatures for chamber orchestra that fulfills much of the promise of that unheard undertaking. Some pieces offer the players options for collective improvisation, imparting a refreshing spontaneity to the performance. The 11 players gracefully navigate the gentle swells of Eno’s simple melodies, with the extemporaneous passages virtually indistinguishable from the closely-composed sections. Roger Eno’s compositions have an open, unresolved character that sets his work apart from the classical tradition. While the composer never plumbs the profound emotional depths of such 90s neoclassical landmarks as David Darling’s “Dark Wood” or Gavin Bryars’ “The Last Days,” “The Flatlands” cultivates melancholy and loss into luxuriant beauty. By far surpassing Roger Eno’s earlier chamber efforts such as “Between Tides,” “The Flatlands” is the strongest work to date by a composer previously distinguished primarily by his family connections. The only flaw with The Flatlands is the lack of a strong closing track; the suite doesn’t conclude so much as evaporate.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 17, 2006 releases, 1998 recordings

Related artist(s): Roger Eno, Kate St. John

More info
http://rogereno.bandcamp.com/album/the-flatlands

Latest news

2020-01-15
Carlos Alvarado RIP – Carlos Alvarado, pioneering composer, multi-instrumentalist and pioneer of progressive rock and electronic experimental music in Mexico, passed away January 14th, 2020 at age 68 after a two year battle with cancer.  » Read more

2020-01-12
Wolfgang Dauner RIP – Pianist Wolfgang Dauner, one of the pioneers of both European free jazz and jazz rock, has died at the age of 84. With his own groups and with the United Jazz+Rock Ensemble, his playing and compositions were a prominent presence in European jazz from the mid-60s until just recently. » Read more

2020-01-12
Michael Allison RIP – Michael Allison, who since 1997 has been recording as Darshan Ambient, passed away on January 9th after a long and brave battle with cancer. He has been at at the forefront of the new ambient/electronic music scene, with over eighteen releases to his credit. » Read more

2020-01-10
Neil Peart RIP – One of rock music's defining drummers has died at the age of 67. Neil Peart's work with Rush provided one of the templates for percussion in rock, and he certainly ranks in the top ten most influential drummers of the 20th Century. Peart retired from playing in 2015 due to health issues, and succumbed to brain cancer on January 7, 2020. » Read more

2020-01-07
Joel Vandroogenbroeck RIP – Word has reached us of the death of Joel Vandroogenbroeck, best known as one of the founders of Brainticket, He also recorded electronic music under a variety of names. He was born August 25th, 1938 in Brussels, Belgium and died December 23, 2019 in Arlesheim, Switzerland, aged 81. » Read more

More news

Previously in Exposé...

Nouvelles Lectures Cosmopolites - Friesengeist Part π - Ascendances – For the third installment of his Friesengeist series, Julien Ash has pared things down, utilizing only four musicians to augment his own keyboards and effects; previous releases featured eight or...  (2008) » Read more

Random review

Listen & discover

Ole Lukkoye rides the "Good Waves"

More recommendations
Paul Sears - Angels & Demons That Play book

Print issues