One of the all time great ambient records
The Pitiful Anonymous | the Acres of Skin | 04/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Truly, when "Ambient 4: On Land" was first released in 1982, it was decades ahead of its time, or even, as another reviewer here described it , "timeless". "Ambient 4" can be said to have been the shape of ambient to come in the way it abandons all clear instrumentation and obvious melody to reach an ultimate goal: simulating a virtual, fictional world. Spacial effects and panning give the listener the sense bring the listener beyond the point of being reminded of an environment and into the realm of feeling as if they are there. "On Land" abandons the new age ideal of music for the functional purpose of relaxation, and also doesn't seem intended to be used as a backdrop for daily activities, as it rewards focused listening.
The place "On Land" will take you to is green of all shades, all hues, typically paler and interwoven with grey. Everything lies overgrown, not far from civilization but uncontrolled by it, possessing all the wildness and unpredictability of a deep forest... typically safe, often unnerving in its bizarreness, occasionally truly threatening. You will get wet and most likely dirty. There are moments of greater unease, such as the almost human, gasping voice of "Shadow" and the dark murkiness of "Lantern Marsh", as well as the sense one gets when exploring a potentially dangerous place against better judgment, driven by simple curiosity. The best example of this is in the misty fog and overcast weather of "Unfamiliar Wind (Leeks Hills)". There is a general sense of melancholy hanging over most of the record, like that of a cold morning lacking in bright sunlight.
There are modern ambient artists who you'd swear were working in surround sound even on the puniest of stereo systems (Coil, Lustmord, Steve Roach), and yes, the production of "On Land" lacks the clarity and separation of their work. However, in terms of sheer creativity and vision-inspiring power, "On Land" stands the test of time, and is one of the all time greats of the genre. Highly recommended."
On Land
Mike Smith | 03/08/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are in the market for music, don't get this. This is not music. This is a collection of finely tuned soundscapes. Each track will put you in a particular place. It may be peaceful, a little off center, maybe even a bit disturbing. Your ear may yearn for resolution, but none may come. I don't have much music in my collection like this. I think it's good to have though, for those moods when you don't want a lot of structure and instead would like to float through sound. It's engaging and overall yields a good experience."
Perhaps his defining moment...
Toxic Excess | Chicago, Illinois | 04/03/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having already described Tangerine Dream's "Zeit" album as 'the great-granddaddy of all dark ambient albums," I'll simply describe this one as the album without which other releases in the genre would have been impossible - and impossible to supersede as well! Eno's manifold talents as a musician, artist and producer all come to the fore in one ineffable piece of work here.
As others have described, this is a baffling accomplishment in many ways. It is both very obviously "studio-based" music and simultaneously his most organic effort. It falls into the cracks so successfully in so many realms that it attains what is probably the best argument for his reputation as a "purposeful genius" that I can imagine.
Emotional, cold - reflective and yet very much in the present, it's a timeless piece of work. There is little doubt in my mind that people will be listening to this two centuries hence with the same feelings of obscure nostalgia and appreciation for the day at hand as we do right now."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
