Album: Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)

Overview
Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy) is the second solo studio album by English artist and music manufacturer Brian Eno, released in November 1974 by Island Records. The album marks Eno's departure from the glam-rock and art-rock styles of his previous works, rather integrating speculative and progressive aspects in both the music and lyrics. Inspired by his fascination with Chinese innovative opera, Eno crafted an unique, non-linear story that touches upon styles of espionage, global politics, and alternative truths. In spite of its preliminary blended vital reception, the album has actually because acquired a cult following and is considered a critical influence on the post-punk and art-rock scene.

Concept and Background
The inspiration for Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy) came from a set of postcards Eno had obtained portraying scenes from a Chinese opera entitled Taking Tiger Mountain. Eno was fascinated by the images and the narrative they communicated, regardless of being unable to comprehend the Chinese text. Rather than attempting to decipher the original story, he decided to develop his own interpretation through his album, based upon his thought of interpretation of the opera.

Eno used using oblique strategies, a set of cards with cryptic directions suggested to trigger imaginative responses, throughout the recording procedure. This strategy was established by Eno and his friend Peter Schmidt as a help to conquer creative blocks. The oblique methods pressed Eno and his collaborators to approach the music-making process in non-traditional methods, leading to an unique and diverse sound throughout the album.

Music and Style
Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy) showcases Eno's innovative usage of electronics, speculative production strategies, and non-traditional instrumentation. The album's sound is defined by a mix of art-pop, progressive, and experimental music, while still preserving the essence of rock. The tunes often integrate synthesizers, keyboards, and other electronic elements, all of which add to the album's unique experimental and ambient sound.

Eno's innovative approach to songwriting is likewise obvious in the intricate plans and stylistic shifts present across the tracks. Melodies typically divert away from standard structures, with songs such as "Mother Whale Eyeless" and "The True Wheel" showing adventurous, non-linear compositional types. The album's sound deftly blends the progressive with accessibility, resulting in a cohesive yet challenging collection of tracks that press the limits of the rock category.

Lyrics and Themes
The album's lyrics are imbued with a sense of surrealism and unconventional storytelling that mirrors the album's musical technique. Eno frequently uses brilliant images and puzzling metaphors in his lyrics, adding to an overall sense of enigma and uncertainty. A lot of the tracks center around styles of espionage, intrigue, and political transformation, drawing loosely from the Chinese opera that influenced the album. Tunes like "Burning Airlines Give You So Much More" and "Back in Judy's Jungle" exemplify the album's repeating themes of global politics, warfare, and espionage, while others discuss the idea of alternate measurements for reality ("Third Uncle").

Legacy and Influence
Though at first met with blended reviews, Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy) had actually grown in stature throughout the years and is now considered a landmark album in the development of art-rock and post-punk music. Eno's inventive usage of electronics and speculative production techniques laid the foundation for future generations of artists, and his distinctive method to songwriting and lyricism stays an inspiration to progressive and alternative artists today. The album's sustaining tradition showcases Eno's long-lasting impact on contemporary music and underscores his status as a pioneering force in the worlds of experimental and electronic music.