It seems fitting to begin my 2017 with this ambient release from the legendary Brian Eno.

I know it’s incredibly cliche, but I feel a huge sense of optimism right now. Prior to starting my play through of this album / track “Reflection”, I watched what can only be described as a thrilling performance of “Sandstorm” that rang in the new year in Finland. I’ve probably heard the song thousands of times before, but I had a sense of wonderment from that performance that is extending into this first spin of Eno’s record.

I feel calm and alert. Something I didn’t feel a lot of in 2016. I felt throughout the year I was constantly oscillating between anxiety and fatigue, with moments of contentment in between. Reflection, 12 minutes in, seems to be a sonic equivalent of this contentment. Those twelve minutes, in spite of being more or less similar in vibe, went by quickly. As I write this I wonder how fast the rest of the album will fly by. As that thought crosses my mind the music seems to exhale in some sort of proverbial pat of reassurance.

Eighteen and a half minutes in, some shrill notes break the calm in a call out form. It’s almost as if Eno is trying to remind us that we can’t get too comfortable because of the dark world we live in. Yet, four minutes later, another grouping of shrill notes provides an answer of sorts – bookending a melody that says it’s okay to find moments of contentment in these uncertain times.

I actually didn’t even realize the full meaning behind the Reflection project until I was nearly two thirds of the way through the fifty-four long piece. That significance being that Eno wished to compose a piece that was more than static. That could be malleable by the listener through the use of a special app, allowing for a unique listening experience each time through. Though I am “only” listening to the default, non-malleable version via Spotify, it makes a ton of sense that this was what Eno was going for. The piece, with it’s recurring themes, effects, and the emotions conveyed that I alluded to above, the piece feels alive. Like I’m engaging with some otherworldly creature rather than hearing a human being perform art.

Take an hour out of your day to listen and see where this takes you. You might be surprised at what happens.

Score: 4/5