Before and After Science by Brian Eno

Before and After Science, Masterpiece by Brian Eno from 1977, which took over two years between recording studio and post-production, a care that paid off. 

This is a wonderful album that contains more accessible and pop tracks compared to other works, and after this Eno would devote himself mainly to ambient and New Age works. 

In the line-up appear Jaki Liebezeit from Can, the members of Cluster (with whom Eno recorded Cluster & Eno in 1977) and with whom Eno arranged and co-wrote the masterpiece track "By This River". Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention) also participated, but not forgetting Percy Jones and Phil Collins, Robert Fripp, Paul Rudolph, Bill MacCormick and Phil Manzanera, Robert Wyatt (under the pseudonym "Shirley Williams"), Rhett Davies, in the section below I have listed all the participants and the bands they played in, where I found reliable information.

We have, just to name a few, members of Brand X, Genesis, Hawkwind, Cluster, Harmonia, Fairport Convention and many others ... how could a masterpiece not be born! Inevitable. But it should be considered that with this line-up Eno wrote about 100 songs in two years and only ten were chosen for Before and After Science. A huge work that boasts excellent performance, compositions and arrangements with top audio quality, as well as being my favorite Eno album.

An album that has two different aspects, one for each side.

On one side rock and pop, at times New Wave and Post Punk. It contains "King's Lead Hat", an anagram of Talking Heads, whom Eno had produced, and "Backwater", the catchiest track on the album. Simple songs enhanced by splendid arrangements

The other side with an inclination towards ambient like the melancholic "Here He Comes" and the languid "Julie With..." for example.

"By This River" I have already mentioned, a song that is incredible for the beauty it expresses in its simplicity, in just 3 minutes, and that evokes deep reflections with every listen. 

One of the songs I love most not only from Eno's production, but in general.

An album that everyone should listen to, without any doubt.

Tracklist

1. No One Receiving (3:52)

2. Backwater (3:43)
3. Kurt's Rejoinder (2:55)
4. Energy Fools the Magician (2:04)
5. King's Lead Hat (3:56)
6. Here He Comes (5:38)
7. Julie with... (6:19)
8. By This River (3:03)
9. Through Hollow Lands (3:56)
10. Spider and I (4:10)
Duration 39:36

LineUp

- Brian Eno - vocals, guitar (2, 5, 7, 9), synthesizers (Minimoog, EMS Synthi, AKS, Yamaha CS-80), piano, brass (2), synth percussion, vibraphone (4), co-producer
With:
- Phil Manzanera - Roxy Music, Quiet Sun - rhythm guitar (5, 6)
- Fred Frith - also collaborated with Robert Wyatt, Mike Oldfield, Syd Barrett and many others - modified guitar (4,9)
- Robert Fripp - King Crimson above all - guitar (5)
- Hans-Joachim Roedelius - Cluster, Harmonia - grand piano and electric piano (8)
- Dieter Moebius -  Cluster, Harmonia - bass, Fender piano (8)
- Paul Rudolph - Hawkwind - bass (1,2,5-7), rhythm guitar (1)
- Percy Jones - Brand X - fretless bass (1,3,4),
- Bill MacCormick - Quiet Sun, Matching Mole - bass (9)
- Brian Turrington - bass (10)
- Phil Collins - Genesis, Brand X - drums (1,4)
- Dave Mattacks - Fairport Convention - drums (3,6)
- Jaki Liebezeit - collaborated with Depeche Mode - drums (2)
- Andy Fraser - drums (5)
- Robert Wyatt ("Shirley Williams") - Daevid Allen Trio, Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine, Matching Mole - timbales (3)
- Rhett Davies - sound engineer on Selling England by the Pound by Genesis and Burnin' by Bob Marley - percussion (1), co-producer 
- Kurt Schwitters - vocals (3)

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.