Brian Eno - (1974) Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)

Brian Eno - (1974) Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)

Released in 1974, second Eno album. this album just like it's predecessor "Here Come The Warm Jets" this album is more glam-rock/roxy oriented album compared to Eno's majority ambient albums. This album features Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music on guitar. I remember thinking to myself the first time I heard this album "that's weird" and not paying much attention to it, mainly because I was just discovering the wonders on Pink Floyd, which had cast a temperary shadow over music I was bound to stumble across such as: Soft Machine, Os Mutantes, etc. 1 Burning Airlines Give You So Much More remindes me of much of Needles In The Camels Eye, a great song to open the album with, it's the most accessible track on the album with micro camera''s. 2 Back In Judy's Jungle has a military type drum beat, which leads me to think this is an anti-war song, an interesting concept of the song Eno uses his synthesizers as the chorus of the song, "file under futile". 3 The Fat Lady Of Limboug remindes me of a cat burgler sneaking into a musium, or is that what the song is about?? Includes Roxy Music's saxophonist Andy MacKay playing the sax and oboe, also has a rhythm generator as the beat, this song demands a jelly-fish kiss. 4 Mother Whale Eyeless soundes like it shoud belong on "For Your Pleasure" apart from being the best song on the entire album includes a guitar solo from Phil Manzanera and superb bass work done by sessionist/friend of Eno's> Brian Turrington. 5 The Great Pretender I heard some-where that Eno opened a piano and had a friend sit on the strings while he played/recorded the opening keys, kind of a dark song, extremely tripppy as is much of this album is, as the song fades of you hear Eno's synth once again creating some kind of mechcanical crickets which ends side one. .::SIDE TWO::. 6 Third Uncle is a strong heart pounding song that sounds almost like punk rock, very fast past and the most progressive song on the entire album,I don't think Eno takes a single breath while singing , after this song you'll need a jelly-fish kiss.7 Put A Straw Under Baby is almost the exact opposite as 3rd Uncle, slow and soft, with a nursery- rhyme overtone, listening to the lyrics makes me think Eno is poking fun at the Christian Cult.8 The True Wheel is very progressive,almost psychedelic but certainly triippy, strong opening accomponied by Eno's hissing "electronics" and corney vocals, I heard this song explains the orgins of the mysterious meaning of 801 "looking for the certain ratio".9 China My China is an odd song with Manzanera on guitar, thumping bass, sifting drums, once again corney vocals, At 1:45min into the song Phil Manzanera performs a backwards guitar solo.10 Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy is the slowest, most relaxing, and final song on this album, and what a way to end this great Eno classic. Jake E from Progarcheives

Studio Album, released in 1974

Track Listings

1. Burning Airlines Give You So Much More (3:15)
2. Back In Judy's Jungle (5:14)
3. The Fat Lady of Limbourg (5:05)
4. Mother Whale Eyeless (6:00)
5. The Great Pretender (5:10)
6. Third Uncle (5:01)
7. Put A Straw Under Baby (3:28)
8. The True Wheel (5:20)
9. China My China (5:45)
10. Taking Tiger Mountain (6:00)
Line-up/Musicians

- Brian Eno / vocals, electronics, guitar, keyboards
- Phil Manzanera / guitar
- Freddie Smith & Phil Collins / drums
- Brian Turrington / bass
- Robert Wyatt / percussion, backing vocals
- Polly Eltes / vocals (4)