Before and After Science

Released in December 1977, Before and After Science represents the culmination of Brian Eno's 'pop' period before he pivoted almost exclusively to ambient and production work. Recorded over two years with over 100 tracks written and discarded, the album utilized a subtractive process where Eno and his collaborators (including members of Cluster, Phil Collins, and Robert Fripp) would record dense layers only to have Eno strip them away to find the 'hidden' song beneath. This 'studio as instrument' approach resulted in a record of two distinct temperaments: the 'Before' (upbeat, rhythmic art-rock) and the 'After' (pastoral, ambient-leaning meditations). The album is notable for its use of 'sound-over-sense' lyrics and the inclusion of Kurt Schwitters' phonemes. It stands as a bridge between the glam-inflected art-rock of Here Come the Warm Jets and the environmental stillness of Music for Airports, marking a pivotal moment in the history of electronic music production.