“Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror” by Harold Budd and Brian Eno – Album Review
There’s a certain art to creating music that doesn’t demand attention, but still lingers like a ghost in the room. Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror is that kind of record—a collaboration between Harold Budd and Brian Eno that feels less like an album and more like a mirage. Released in 1980, it was the second entry in Eno’s Ambient series, an experiment in soundscapes designed to be “as ignorable as they are interesting.” But let’s not kid ourselves—this album does more than sit quietly in the background. It whispers, it glides, it dances softly on the edge of consciousness.
This wasn’t just another ambient record; this was the kind of collaboration that felt like two painters working on the same canvas but in different corners, their brushstrokes overlapping in the most delicate ways. Budd brought his minimalist piano compositions, and Eno added his trademark processing, sculpting a world where sound moved like watercolors bleeding into one another.
Two Masters, One Vision
The pairing of Harold Budd and Brian Eno feels almost too perfect. Budd, a composer with a talent for creating sparse, meditative piano pieces, was already carving out a niche for himself with his “soft pedal” approach. Eno, meanwhile, was becoming the father of ambient music, fresh off the success of Ambient 1: Music for Airports. Together, they created something that felt organic yet otherworldly, intimate yet expansive.
- Harold Budd’s Contribution
Budd’s piano is the emotional core of the album. His playing is understated, avoiding traditional structure in favor of moments that feel spontaneous, almost accidental. It’s less about melody and more about tone and texture, as if each note were chosen for its ability to hang in the air like morning mist. - Brian Eno’s Contribution
Eno’s role was that of an architect, a sonic sculptor. Using studio techniques like reverb, delay, and subtle tape manipulation, he transformed Budd’s piano into something that felt like it existed in another dimension. Eno added layers of atmosphere that blurred the lines between the piano and its surroundings.
The Sound of The Plateaux of Mirror
Listening to this album feels like stepping into a dreamscape. Each track is a fragment of a larger story, a place that exists just on the edge of your imagination. The music doesn’t grab you—it waits for you to come to it.
- Minimalist Piano
The piano lines are sparse, often reduced to single notes or simple clusters. This simplicity allows the listener to focus on the texture of the sound rather than the composition itself. - Atmospheric Effects
Reverb and delay are used to stretch the piano’s tones, making them feel like they’re floating in an infinite space. This creates a sense of depth and timelessness. - A Quiet Sense of Movement
Despite its stillness, the album feels like it’s always in motion, like ripples spreading across a pond. The music shifts subtly, never staying in one place for too long.
Production Notes: Sculpting a Soundscape
The production process for Ambient 2 was as much about subtraction as it was about creation. Eno’s approach to ambient music often involved stripping away anything that felt unnecessary, leaving only the essence of the sound.
- Studio as Instrument
Eno used the studio as a tool for shaping the music. By manipulating the piano recordings with reverb and delay, he was able to create a sense of space that was larger than life. - Tape Manipulation
Subtle tape effects were used to create slight imperfections in the sound, adding an organic quality to the otherwise ethereal atmosphere. - Collaborative Improvisation
The sessions were fluid, with Budd and Eno bouncing ideas off each other. Budd’s piano parts were often improvised, and Eno would then process and layer them to create the final compositions.
Themes and Emotional Resonance
The album’s strength lies in its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions without being overt. It’s music that feels deeply personal yet universal, inviting the listener to project their own experiences onto it.
- Stillness and Reflection
The music encourages introspection, creating a space where the listener can slow down and simply be. - A Sense of Place
Each track feels like a distinct location, from quiet forests to vast, open skies. The music paints these places in broad strokes, leaving the details to the imagination. - Timelessness
There’s a sense of timelessness in the music, as if it exists outside of the normal flow of time. This makes it feel both ancient and modern, familiar and alien.
Impact and Cultural Influence
While not a commercial juggernaut, Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror has become a touchstone for ambient and minimalist music. Its influence can be felt in everything from film scores to modern electronic music.
- Influence on Ambient Music
The album helped solidify the ambient genre as a legitimate art form, inspiring countless musicians to explore similar territory. - Film and Media
Tracks from the album have been used in films and documentaries, where their ability to evoke emotion without distraction makes them a perfect fit. - Legacy of Collaboration
The partnership between Budd and Eno set a standard for collaborative creativity, showing what can happen when two artists with distinct visions come together.
Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror is more than an album—it’s an experience. It’s a reminder that music doesn’t always have to demand your attention. Sometimes, it’s enough for it to simply exist, waiting quietly for you to discover it.
@microgenremusic Album Reivew – Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror by Brian Eno & Harold Budd #ambientmusic #electronicmusic #ambient #microgenremusic #brianeno #haroldbudd ♬ original sound microgenremusic
