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From: rps@apollo.uucp (Robert Stanzel)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical,net.music
Subject: Obscure (Eno's label -- information)
Message-ID: <23f80996.1e08@apollo.uucp>
Date: Fri, 4-Jan-85 17:28:13 EST
Article-I.D.: apollo.23f80996.1e08
Posted: Fri Jan  4 17:28:13 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Jan-85 00:01:10 EST
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, Mass.
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Xref: watmath net.music.classical:748 net.music:5604

A while ago someone requested information on the Obscure label...

Most of the music on Obscure was written between 1972 and 1976.  The label was
founded by Brian Eno, who produced most of the releases.  They were originally
available only in Britain, then some were released in the US by Antilles, and 
now a few more are available on EG.  [GTaylor@Cornell:  any word on the rest?]

The fairly useless one-line comments were culled from a catalogue of small labels; 
I've provided longer comments for the ones I have.  Note the interesting cast of
characters who appear throughout.

 1  Gavin Bryars : The Sinking of the Titanic
    w/Michael Nyman, Derek Bailey

    "...in the vein of Erik Satie and John Cage..."

 2  Christopher Hobbs / John Adams / Gavin Bryars : Ensemble Pieces
    w/Derek Bailey, Cornelius Cardew, John White

    Adams is the guy "Time" lumped with Glass and Reich a few years back in their
    article on American Minimalism.  His piece ("American Standard") is sort of Ivesian.
    Hobbs' "Aran" is a wonderful little piece for percussion ensemble (toy pianos,
    bells, triangles, &c) and "MacCrimmon Will Never Return" is for reed organ (in the
    style of bagpipe music).  Bryars' "1, 2, 1-2-3-4" is best described as mutant cabaret.

 3  Brian Eno : Discreet Music

    This has been reissued on Editions EG.  The title piece is a tape-loop work which
    is shows the beginnings of Eno's interest in ambient sounds.  (Furthermore,
    the technique used is that which Robert Fripp refined into Frippertronics.)
    The flip is "Three Variations on Pachelbel's Canon in D" -- lush, romantic takeoffs.

 4  David Toop / Max Eastley : New and Rediscovered Musical Instruments
    w/Eno
 
    "Toop's compositions are geared towards the voice; like Harry Partch, Eastley
    makes use of a tremendous variety of obscure instruments."

 5  Jan Steele / John Cage : Voices and Instruments
    w/Fred Frith, Robert Wyatt, Carla Bley                    

    The liner notes say Steele writes quiet, repetitive, improvisational rock-based music.
    The Cage pieces are from his early period (ie reflective, not cacophonic [no flames]).
    I'd say the highlights are "Experiences #1" and "In a Landscape" -- worth buying the
    album for alone -- and should be heard by anyone who has the stereotypical view of Cage.     

 6  Michael Nyman : Decay Music
    
    This is an album of hardcore process music.  "1-100" is a pleasant ambient piece;
    "Bell Set No. 1" is not.  Interestingly, these are not at all like Nyman's current work.

 7  Penguin Cafe Orchestra : Music from the Penguin Cafe
    directed by Simon Jeffes
              
    PCO is a chamber ensemble whose sound wanders between rock, jazz, and 
    "classical-chamber-music".  Their newest album "Penguin Cafe Orchestra"
    is on EG and is easier to find.  Did anyone hear them at BAM this season?

 8  John White / Gavin Bryars : Machine Music                
    w/Hobbs, Nyman, Bailey, Fred Frith, Eno

    "White plays piano, bottle, tuba, jew's harp, and composes."

 9  Tom Phillips / Gavin Bryars : Irma     
    w/White, Nyman, Roy Babbington                     

    "Phillips composed, Bryars conducted this fascinating experimental opera."

10  Harold Budd : The Pavilion of Dreams                                      
    w/Bryars, Nyman, White, Eno

    Reissued on Editions EG.  You've all probably heard Budd; he's made it big with 
    his collaboration on Ambient #2 ("Plateaux of Mirror") with Eno.  "Pavilion" is
    similar, but doesn't sound as studio-processed.

-- 

"Satellites are out tonight"

Rob Stanzel             ARPA:  Rps%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC
Apollo Computer         UUCP:  ...{yale,uw-beaver,decvax!wanginst}!apollo!rps