ROGER ENO & BRIAN ENO
Mixing Colours (Deutsche Grammophon)
With a catalogue going back 40 years, pianist and synthesist Roger Eno has proven to be almost as eclectic as his extraordinary and more famous brother. But his own compositions have always had a more consistent devotion to melody, probably due to his classical training and background. That’s what makes Mixing Colours much more than just easily-sellable collaboration between siblings from the original British art rock scene. As Roger said in a recent interview: “I sent Brian sketches and he ‘coloured them in’ as this is one of his great strengths: that of post-production.” So we get Roger’s hushed and sombre piano and electric piano compositions completed or treated to a greater or lesser extent by Brian. The tracks were passed back and forth between them over many years until they finally coalesced into this beguiling, meditative album where the silences are as powerful as the notes. Expect lots of Harold Budd-like melodies and surreal detours, alongside some uplifting, churchy progressions like “Iris” which reflect Roger’s ongoing love of chamber music.
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