"Another Green World" is the third solo studio album by English musician Brian Eno, released on November 14, 1975, by Island Records. The album marked a significant shift in Eno's music, transitioning from the rock-oriented sound of his previous albums to a more ambient and experimental approach. Only five of its fourteen tracks feature vocals, with the rest being instrumental pieces that foreshadow his ambient works of the late 1970s.
Recorded in 1975 at Island Studios in London, Another Green World was produced by Eno and Rhett Davies, with a core group of musicians including Robert Fripp (electric guitar), Phil Collins (drums), Percy Jones (fretless bass), and John Cale (viola). Eno employed unconventional recording techniques and used his "Oblique Strategies" cards for inspiration, resulting in inventive instrument credits like "snake guitar" and "uncertain piano." The album's artwork, a detail from Tom Phillips' After Raphael, complements its avant-garde sound.
The album's music blends minimalism, art rock, and ambient textures, with Eno experimenting with synthesizers and guitar loops. The tracks range from structured songs like "St. Elmo's Fire" to more abstract instrumental pieces like "The Big Ship" and "Sky Saw." The lyrics that do appear are characterized by Eno’s usual free-associative style.
While Another Green World did not achieve significant chart success, it received widespread critical acclaim. Publications like Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and NME have since named it one of the greatest albums of the 1970s and of all time. Retrospective reviews have continued to praise its pioneering sound, and it remains an influential record in the development of ambient music and art rock.
In the years following its release, Another Green World has been recognized as a masterpiece, with AllMusic and Pitchfork both hailing it as Eno's definitive album. In 2004, the album was remastered and reissued by Virgin Records, further cementing its legacy as a landmark in experimental music.
