A 6-Hour Time-Stretched Version of Brian Eno's Music for Airports

6 days ago

Copy Link

Brian Eno's 'Music for Airports' was conceived as ambient music to prepare listeners for the idea of death, creating a meditative and accepting atmosphere.
The album, created in 1978, utilized tape loops from improvisational sessions, pioneering slow, meditative music with melodic ambiguity and background presence.
A 6-hour time-stretched version of the album exists, emphasizing decay over attack, making it ideal for unnoticed playback in environments like airports.
Originally intended for airport terminals, 'Music for Airports' was first played at La Guardia in the 1980s and later performed live by Bang on a Can in various airports.
The album's 40th anniversary was celebrated with a day-long loop at London City Airport in 2018.
The article suggests the potential for ambient music to replace traditional genres in public spaces, enhancing environments like doctors' offices with calming sounds.
Criticism of the 6-hour version notes its excessive bass, suggesting a preference for mid-tones for better auditory experience, especially for those with synesthesia.

Hasty Briefsbeta