Through his mystical experience, the artist has become one with the grand panorama.

Brian Eno & John Cale – “Spinning Away”

“Spinning Away” (1990)

This mini masterpiece is the result of a collaboration by 2 of the finest musicians of their era – John Cale and Brian Eno – on their vastly under-appreciated 1990 album “Wrong Way Up.”  One of the album’s standout tracks, “Spinning Away”  is an almost-perfect fusion of seamlessly layered melodies, hypnotic rhythms, and evocative lyrics. 

Layers of Euphoria

While both Eno and Cale are well-known for their progressive production skills and electronic noodling, the songs on “Wrong Way Up”  are very accessible. At the same time, Pitchfork.com praised the entire album as being “so layered and euphoric it ranks among the best albums either artist has ever made.” 

Mystic Starry Night

The lyrics tell of an artist who climbs a hill at dusk, intending to make a few sketches. But his attention is drawn upwards to the vast sky above, which appears like Van Gogh’s “night sky at Arles.”  The artist is overwhelmed by the splendor of the starry night.   

And he is transformed. He has “no idea”  what he has been sketching. Consequently, he is no longer just a simple artist trying to depict the beauty of nature on a sketch pad.  

His conscious awareness has transcended space and time, and now floats “in the stars … in the stars.”  Through his mystical experience, he has become one with the grand panorama and all the wonder therein.   _{(Image source)}

Brian Eno

Brian Eno is a UK musician who is known for his experimental work in rock, pop, alternative, and ambient music. His music career began when he bumped into Andy Mackay, while both were waiting for a train. Mackay invited Eno to join the band Roxy Music. He did. The rest is musical history.   

Although Eno calls himself a “non-musician,”  he is one of the most respected and reputable musicians working in the field. 

Extraterrestrial Genius

Apart from his early work with Roxy Music, his collaborations, his solo albums, and his groundbreaking ambient and generative music, Eno has produced albums for many musicians, from Talking Heads to Ultravox.  

In 2000, the astromer Marc Buie discovered an asteroid which he name “Asteroid 81948 Eno,”  in honor of Brian Eno.   _{(Image source)}

John Cale

John Cale is Welsh musician. In the 1960s, he moved to New York, where he played with LaMonte Young’s Theatre of Eternal Music. Soon thereafter, he joined the Velvet Underground.     

Since going solo in 1968, Cale has released over 2 dozen studio albums, as well as many soundtracks. Like Eno, Cale has produced albums for numerous other musicians, many of whom are innovative and cutting edge artists.

He has also collaborated with other renowned composers such as John Cage and Terry Riley.  _{(Image source)}

Up on a hill, as the day dissolves
With my pencil turning moments into line
High above in the violet sky
A silent silver plane – it draws a golden chain

One by one, all the stars appear
As the great winds of the planet spiral in
Spinning away, like the night sky at Arles
In the million insect storm, the constellations form

On a hill, under a raven sky
I have no idea exactly what I've drawn
Some kind of change, some kind of spinning away
With every single line moving further out in time

And now as the pale moon rides ( ... In the stars ... _[2x])
Her form in my pale blue lines ( ... In the stars ... _[2x])
And there, as the world rolls 'round ( ...In the stars ... _[2x])
I draw, but the lines move 'round ( ... In the stars ... _[2x])

And there, as the great wheels blaze ( ...In the stars ... _[2x])
I draw, but my drawing fades ( ... In the stars ... _[2x])
And now, as the old sun dies ( ... In the stars ... _[2x])
I draw, and the 4 winds sigh ( ... In the stars ... _[2x])

Lyrics by Brian Eno / John Cale, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – NormanLamont.com
Reference – SongMeanings.com
Reference – TheAppraisalI.wordpress.com

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Music to Your Ears” ...

          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 1–20"
          Previous posts in this series – "MTYE posts 21–40"

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"