Brian Eno's 1979 milestone Music for Airports was the first album to feature his term "ambient music," although 1975's Discreet Music and 1978's Music for Films had already been exploratory steps in that direction. It's entirely possible that Eno knew at the time that he was inventing a new form of music, but he might not have known just what a milestone Music for Airports would turn out to be, or that it would be the first ambient work to get its own tribute album. The New York-based new music collective Bang on a Can celebrated Music for Airports' 20th anniversary by writing new transcriptions of the album's four lengthy pieces. It's incorrect to say that the group orchestrated the album, because these pieces take care to replicate Eno's originals exactly, down to each piece being precisely the same length its original. The only difference is that Eno's original Music for Airports was constructed out of tape loops and this version uses live musicians. That one change makes all the difference in the world. The use of live musicians, especially on "2/1," which is a vocal work for female chorus, opens up the pieces sonically; what had felt squashed and artificial on Eno's original now breathes. This tribute doesn't replace Eno's essential original, but it's fascinating listening for any fan of the artist's ambient work. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
Evan Ziporyn (Mixing), Evan Ziporyn (Producer), Todd Reynolds (Violin), Mark Stewart (Mandolin), Phyllis Jo Kubey (Voices), David Lang (Art Direction), Klaus Schoenwiese (Photography), Julia Wolfe (Liner Notes), John Pace (Mixing), Kenny Savelson (Assistant), David Lang (Liner Notes), Bang On A Can (Performer), Philip Glass (Executive Producer), Phyllis Jo Kubey (Vocals), Carla Leighton (Design), Evan Ziporyn (Arranger), Katie Geissinger (Voices), Julia Wolfe (Artistic Director), Carla Leighton (Photography), Steven Schick (Percussion), Maya Beiser (Cello), Greg Calbi (Mastering), Rafaela Hernández (Package Coordinator), Robert Wilson Black (Bass), Wayne duMaine (Trumpet), Christine Williams (Assistant), Eric Calvi (Producer), Kurt Munkasci (Executive Producer), Matt Goeke (Cello), Alexandra Montano (Voices), Gordon Jee (Art Direction), Martin Czembor (Assistant Engineer), Katie Geissinger (Vocals), Chris Komer (Horn), Eric Calvi (Mixing), John Pace (Engineer), Robert Black (Bass), Evan Ziporyn (Clarinet), Julie Josephson (Trombone), Alexandra Montano (Vocals), Wu Man (Pipa), Mark Stewart (Mandocello), Julia Wolfe (Arranger), Rafael Hernández (Package Coordinator), Rory Romano (Assistant Engineer), Mark Stewart (Cello), Michael Gordon (Art Direction), Evan Ziporyn (Clarinet (Bass)), Michael Gordon (Arranger), Lisa Moore (Piano), Rory Johnston (Executive Producer), Lisa Moore (Keyboards), David Lang (Arranger), Greg Hesselink (Cello), David Lang (Artistic Director), Tom Hoyt (Trumpet), Mark Stewart (Guitar (Electric)), Christopher Washburne (Trombone), Julia Wolfe (Art Direction)
