On Monday evening Brian Eno was presented with the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication at prestigious science festival Starmus V. In a further surprise accolade at the event, this morning the revered musician / producer / artist / activist was also presented with a certificate to commemorate Asteroid 81948 being officially named after him.
The official certificate and citation were presented to Eno by astronomer Marc Buie of the Southwest Research Institute, who discovered the asteroid and in association with the International Astronomical Union and the Minor Planet Centre made the choice for this unique honor.
Previously named ‘81948 (2000 OM69)’ the asteroid is newly-dubbed “Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno,” or “Eno” for short.
In other news, in anticipation of the forthcoming release of Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks, Brian Eno together with Daniel Lanois & Roger Eno has shared a new track called “Capsule.”
“Capsule” is taken from the new album For All Mankind which is released on July 19th alongside a remastered reissue of the seminal LP Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks, via UMe.
Stream “Capsule” here
Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks was written, produced and performed by Brian Eno together with his brother Roger and Daniel Lanois. The music was originally recorded in 1983 for the landmark feature-length documentary For All Mankind, which was directed by American journalist, film director and screenwriter Al Reinert. The film features 35mm footage of the Apollo 11 moon landing with real-time commentary, as well as the Apollo astronauts sharing their recollections of the momentous events surrounding it.
The extended edition of the album will be released in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. This very special anniversary release features the original album remastered by Abbey Road’s Miles Showell, as well as an accompanying album of 11 new instrumental compositions that reimagine the soundtrack to For All Mankind.
The music from the original album is highly recognizable, and tracks from it have been streamed in excess of 300 million times. Since its release, many of the songs from Apollo have found a life of their own, featuring in any number of films, television shows and commercials – most notably Trainspotting, Traffic, 28 Days Later, Drive and Love. “An Ending (Ascent)” was also used in the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony.
Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois produced the original Apollo album, which was recorded at Daniel and his brother Bob’s studio in Hamilton, Ontario. Lanois also collaborated with Eno on several other projects, most famously producing several albums for U2, including multi-platinum The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and No Line On The Horizon.
Apollo was the first recording experience for Roger Eno, and was the springboard into a long solo career of his own. He went on to record a number of other film scores, with and without his brother.
The 11 new tracks on Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks find Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno working collectively for the first time since the original album in 1983. Lanois contributed 3 compositions; “Capsule,” “Last Step From The Surface” and “Fine-grained,” while Roger Eno’s are “Waking Up,” “Under The Moon” and “Strange Quiet.”
Comments on the original album:
“One of Eno’s most stately pieces. Its other worldly qualities reflect a mature artist approaching his work with a craftsman’s care and consideration” BBC
“At times empty and disconnected (‘Matta’), weightless and serene (‘Drift’) and completely beautiful (‘An Ending (Ascent)), it adheres to an internal logic that culminates with the suitably skin-crawling ‘Stars’” Pitchfork
“’Trainspotting’ has one of the very best soundtracks of the ‘90s, and it’s ‘Deep Blue Day’ that sticks out as the most wonderful inclusion in Boyle’s classic” Consequence Of Sound
Disc 1: Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks – Remastered
- ‘Under Stars’ (4:29)
- ‘The Secret Place’ (3:31)
- ‘Matta’ (4:20)
- ‘Signals’ (2:47)
- ‘An Ending (Ascent)’ (4:24)
- ‘Under Stars II’ (3:23)
- ‘Drift’ (3:05)
- ‘Silver Morning’ (2:40)
- ‘Deep Blue Day’ (3:58)
- ‘Weightless’ (4:35)
- ‘Always Returning’ (4:04)
- ‘Stars’ (8:02)
Disc 2: For All Mankind
- ‘The End Of A Thin Cord’ (4:08)
- ‘Capsule’ (3:13)
- ‘At The Foot Of A Ladder’ (3:35)
- ‘Waking Up’ (2:29)
- ‘Clear Desert Night’ (3:11)
- ‘Over The Canaries’ (4:41)
- ‘Last Step From The Surface’ (3:58)
- ‘Fine-grained’ (3:34)
- ‘Under The Moon’ (3:10)
- ‘Strange Quiet’ (4:09)
- ‘Like I Was A Spectator’ (4:23)
Formats:
- 2LP 180gram vinyl in a gatefold sleeve
- Limited numbered 2CD edition with 24 page full colour hardcover book
- Standard 2CD edition
- Special digital edition with exclusive cover art
- Standard digital edition
Photo credit: Shamil Tanna