Music (not) for Airports
With a nice bit of forethought - the sort that usually passes me by - I loaded Brian Eno's Ambient 1: Music for Airports on to my iPod before I went to London for the weekend. I was genuinely quite excited about listening to the album in an airport. I do wonder why I'd not done it before.
Once I got to Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld, though, my excitement bubble was, rather inevitably, burst.
I guess that airports must've been different places in 1978 when Brian Eno made that album. They probably were far more exclusive places; mainly used by rich people, businessmen, and balding arty rock stars. There was no easyJet-style airlines to bring the tone of the place down, for one thing. Fewer pasty-faced families dragging their obnoxious children off on weekend breaks. Minimal security theatre. You could probably smoke cigarettes, too.
All in all, Music for Airports - in its intended environment - doesn't feel relevant. I think I'll stick to listening to it at home from now on. I wonder if it ever did feel relevant, though. And, of course, I wonder if I'm wrong: have you listened to it in an airport? How was it for you?
Once I got to Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld, though, my excitement bubble was, rather inevitably, burst.
I guess that airports must've been different places in 1978 when Brian Eno made that album. They probably were far more exclusive places; mainly used by rich people, businessmen, and balding arty rock stars. There was no easyJet-style airlines to bring the tone of the place down, for one thing. Fewer pasty-faced families dragging their obnoxious children off on weekend breaks. Minimal security theatre. You could probably smoke cigarettes, too.
All in all, Music for Airports - in its intended environment - doesn't feel relevant. I think I'll stick to listening to it at home from now on. I wonder if it ever did feel relevant, though. And, of course, I wonder if I'm wrong: have you listened to it in an airport? How was it for you?
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7 Comments:
I love that record and I'd certainly welcome it over the blaring television news found in most US airports.
I feel what you're saying Craig. Strangley enough, I listened to this for the first time in years about 2 months ago in my loft with the rooflights open in the dead of night whilst watching a meteor shower.....highly recommended! Perhaps, he got the title wrong- "Music for Meteors" anyone?
That does sound about right, Jam.
And I totally agree, Stuart. Airports are bad enough without being forced to listen to one TV channel.
Perhaps, on reflection, I need better headphones if I want to properly appreciate Music for Airports in an airport.
i saw a live-performance of it a couple of years ago at (amsterdam's) schiphol airport. part of some highbrow art festival. a bit too dull to sit and watch. but i thought it kinda worked as background music.
I listened to it on a cold, lonely train station, 1 o'clock at night. This record is so relaxing I fall asleep whenever I listen to it...so that time, indeed, I slept...and woke up 8 in the morning :(
But have you ever listened to Thursday Afternoon on a Thursday afternoon?
I haven't.
But I might do this afternoon.
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