Album: Discreet Music

Introduction
"Discreet Music" is a 1975 ambient music album by English artist and record manufacturer Brian Eno. It functions as a breakthrough in the development of ambient music and a necessary milestone in Eno's career. The album includes two parts: the 30-minute title track, "Discreet Music", and 3 iterative plans of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major" by avant-garde classical composer Gavin Bryars. Despite its minimalist nature, "Discreet Music" has left an indelible mark on the history of electronic and speculative music.

Background and Concept
Eno's motivation for "Discreet Music" originated from a mishap he had in early 1975. Bedridden after being hit by a cars and truck, he asked a buddy to put on a record of harp music for him as he set to rest. The record player, however, was set too low, and Eno might barely hear the music above the noise of rain exterior. Rather of feeling frustrated, Eno discovered himself interested by how the barely audible music mixed with the ambient noises of the room. This experience resulted in a new understanding of music as an ecological and immersive existence instead of a centerpiece.

Bring into play this discovery, Eno aimed to produce music that could be "disregarded as it is intriguing", allowing the listener to pick their level of engagement, supplying background environment for life, or providing a more mindful listening experience. He coined the term "ambient music" during this period, and "Discreet Music" would become one of the earliest landmark albums in this category.

Production
"Discreet Music" was recorded at Eno's own home, utilizing only his EMS Synthi AKS synthesizer and several tape recorders to create a series of stunning and delicate musical environments. The title track depends on a generative system organizing sounds and melodies without the need for consistent intervention. Eno utilized this method to experiment with chance and control, combining looped melodic phrases with ever-changing electronic processing.

The 2nd half of the album consists of three variations of "Canon in D Major" by Pachelbel, reinterpreted by Gavin Bryars. The "Three Variations on the Canon in D Major" function members of the Cockpit Ensemble under Bryars' direction, who taped their performances live in the studio. The option of baroque material contrasting with electronic processing highlights Eno's commitment to recontextualizing conventional music through modern-day strategies.

Legacy and Influence
Given that its release in 1975, "Discreet Music" has actually been considered a pioneering album in the ambient category, specifying a new method to music and forming the music landscape for generations to come. Brian Eno would even more explore and expand upon the principles established in "Discreet Music" through his later works, such as "Music for Airports" and "Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks".

In addition to its impact on ambient music, "Discreet Music" has actually influenced numerous artists across different categories, from electronic to post-rock, and its principles can still be heard in the work of musicians today. As a testimony to its enduring importance, the album was reissued in 2019 as part of Eno's prolific "Eno: Classical Music & Beyond" collection, celebrating the enduring legacy of this innovative work.