{"product_id":"opal-information-number-25-1994","title":"Opal Information, Number 25, 1994","description":"24 pp. Opal Ltd has concentrated solely on music publishing and Brian Eno's own work since 1991. From 1983 until then, Opal represented a group of artists who produced what Eno describes in his Diary as \"a string of eclectic, interesting, often lovely and nearly always not-very-profitable records\". This page highlights Opal's activities prior to 1991. If you want more information on Opal's current activities, see Eno's Diary and the EnoWeb's addresses page. \"If someone asks me what the Opal artists have in common I'm hard pressed to find a simple answer. I suppose I could say that each is distinctive, not only from each other, but also from the various mainstreams of modern music: it is a label for outsiders. \"Such a description might appear to condemn to permanent obscurity the artists to whom it is applied. But popular music has always drawn its strength and richness both from the center - from the Beatles, for example - and from the edges - like the Velvet Underground. And sometimes the tables suddenly turn and what was on the outside shows up very close to the centre.\" - Brian Eno. It was with these words that Eno opened the liner notes to the first compilation from his label imprint, Opal, in 1988. Eno had long been commited to ambient music and in launching Opal, he hoped to continue providing an artists' collective for people who shared his vision. The flagship artists for this imprint consisted of such longtime collaborators as musicians Daniel Lanois, Harold Budd, Michael Brook, Jon Hassell, visual artist Russell Mills and others. In many ways Opal was a continuation of the aesthetic these artists formed at E.G. records - making music that was unintrusive enough to be pleasant background music, and at the same time having enough complexity and texture to reward close listening. Eno became enamored with this approach to music after an incident in which a record played quietly in the background as he faded pleasantly in and out of consciousness. As a result of that experience, Eno tried to create music which could evoke that feeling. In the making of this music, Eno began working with other ambient visionaries. His Ambient series brought him together with electric zither player Laraaji and minimalist composer and pianist Harold Budd. He worked with ethnomusicologist and trumpet player Jon Hassell on the Fourth World Volumes. Daniel Lanois became involved through his production for Eno at Grant Avenue studio and began contributing instrumentally. This process continued until Eno had a strong core of artists who believed in his vision, which resulted in perhaps the greatest alliance of ambient musicians around. These artists have been kept fresh by their enthusiasm to experiment and work together with other artists and have made a big impact upon popular music, not only through their own works, but also through working with and influencing such popular artists as U2, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Neville Brothers, Cocteau Twins, and many others.--Music Hyperreal","brand":"Opal Limited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39895357849670,"sku":"2322858","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1232\/9510\/products\/2322858.jpg?v=1647446718","url":"https:\/\/ym-demo.myshopify.com\/products\/opal-information-number-25-1994","provider":"Yesterday's Muse","version":"1.0","type":"link"}