Wrong Way Up - Brian Eno & John Cale

This album contains some of Brain Eno's most commercial songs ever and some of John Cale's most atmospheric lyrics ever. Recorded in 1990 at Eno's home studio the sessions began amicably enough but by the end the two men were hardly speaking as Cale began to resent what he saw as Eno's constant tinkering with perfectly good recordings. The daggers between the faces on the album cover reflect this tension.
However none of this is apparent ...
...cheeriest albums I own there is a perpetual sunny atmosphere throughout, which occasionally spills over into outright goofiness. The absurdity of the sea shanty "Empty Frame" is infectious and I defy anyone not to grin along with the tune. But somehow it avoids embarrassment and silliness.
Other highlights include one of Eno's most romantic tunes "Spinnig Away" with its delightful lyric about sketching Arles' cathedral ... more

This album contains some of Brain Eno's most commercial songs ever and some of John Cale's most atmospheric lyrics ever. Recorded in 1990 at Eno's home studio the sessions began amicably enough but by the end the two men were hardly speaking as Cale began to resent what he saw as Eno's constant tinkering with perfectly good recordings. The daggers between the faces on the album cover reflect this tension.
However none of this is apparent when listening to the record. Without doubt one of the cheeriest albums I own there is a perpetual sunny atmosphere throughout, which occasionally spills over into outright goofiness. The absurdity of the sea shanty "Empty Frame" is infectious and I defy anyone not to grin along with the tune. But somehow it avoids embarrassment and silliness.
Other highlights include one of Eno's most romantic tunes "Spinnig Away" with its delightful lyric about sketching Arles' cathedral "with my pencil turning moments into lines" as he poetically puts it.
The single, "One Word" is arguably the best track as it perfectly meshes Cale's and Eno's vocals to the extent that I still can't tell who is who and it contains the catchiest melody I've heard in years.
Faults - the rhythm tracks sounds oddly dated now, with surprisingly clunky programmed beats and shuffling percussion that didn't sound terribly up to date even in 1990. But the chirpy melodies and the sheer joie de vivre on show more than compensate.
So, a summery album that stands up to as many replays as you can give it! Well worth investing in. 

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