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Each of Eno's Ambient works has a different mood, with unique instrumentation and textures. On Ambient 2, Eno and Harold Budd create a intoxicating world that, once you've visited, you'll want to return to.

Harold Budd creates slow piano works, reminiscent of some of Eric Satie's more well-known work, or possibly Thomas de Hartmann's. Budd treats his keyboards through effects, though, and adds reverberation, creating an unnatural context for the natural sounds. Eno processes Budd's piano with phasers, tape loops, and backwards reverberation effects. Budd and Eno create sounds never heard before on Ambient 2.

The album is as listenable as it is ignorable, so it supports multiple levels of attention. Of Eno's Ambient series, The Plateaux of Mirror is probably the most accessible. The pieces have clear melodies and form, less oblique than Ambient 1 or 4.

The pieces are slow and mellow, and their titles suggest quiet, contemplative places: "Wind in Lonely Fences", or "The Chill Air", for example. They are evocative and thought provoking. The pieces work together as a whole, also, because they have fairly consistent sound, pacing and mood throughout.

Ambient 2 is a great introduction to Eno's ambient music. If you like this, you'd like his album The Pearl, also.

Synthtopia Reviews of Eno's Music

Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports

12/15/2003

Ambient 1 is simply one of the most important pieces of electronic music ever created. On Ambient 1, Eno set out to create something new, music that could be ignored as well as listened to. He succeeded wildly, and spawned a generation of imitators, inspired by the timeless beauty of Music for Airports.

Brian Eno - Ambient 4: On Land

11/23/2003

This is the last recording in Brian Eno's seminal Ambient series, and after 20 years, it still sounds beautiful and disturbing.

Brian Eno - Neroli

2/23/2004

Neroli oil comes from the white blossoms of the bitter orange tree, and is an expensive pale yellow oil used in fragrances. Neroli is also the name of a 1991 ambient work by Brian Eno that is as exotic and ethereal as the fragrance.

Brian Eno/Harold Budd - Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror

12/3/2003

Imagine Eric Satie piano pieces played in an underwater parking garage, and you'll have some idea of what to expect from this classic album.

Brian Eno/Harold Budd - The Pearl

2/23/2004

Brian Eno first collaboration with minimalist composer Harold Budd, Ambient 2: Plateau of Mirror, was a groundbreaking classic of ambient music. Budd and Eno created beautiful soundscapes, haunted by melancholy piano themes. There second CD, The Pearl, is even more beautiful.

Brian Eno/Laraaji - Ambient 3: Day of Radiance

12/17/2003

Day of Radiance is an excellent addition to Eno's series. Ambient 3 staked out new territory and new emotions for ambient music. The music is happy, even blissful, while remaining reflective and timeless. These pieces serve as an important counterpoint to the darker and sometimes disturbing music of Ambient 4.

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