When I think of what it means to be a music theorist, I imagine someone who takes himself and his work a tad too seriously.

Usually, theorists are busy cooking up axioms to define their ideas, then applying them to music that is unlistenable at worst, or confounding at best. Think Stockhausen (serialism), Cowell (ultra-modernism) or Hindemith (consonant dissonance). These theories may be interesting, but they are rarely much fun.

“Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)” will likely cause consternation among fans who only know Brian Eno from his more recent work. The artist we see here is a very different guy from the one known for making ambient music while producing monster hit albums for others. The ‘early’ Eno actually seems like a pretty fun guy who utilized humor as a basis for his artistry, with little regard for commercial acceptance.

“Taking Tiger Mountain” is a long shot from fall-down funny, but just about every track here has a lyrical angle based on wry observation, supported by unusual musical ideas that can often elicit a smile. It’s a confounding yet entertaining approach that relies on intelligence and humor in somewhat equal measure. Most importantly, this album moves Eno further from his previous association with Roxy Music, concentrating mostly on cranial (yet fun) pursuits while leaving all romantic notions to ex-bandmate Bryan Ferry. Eno sings lead on each track here, and while he lacks the stylistic intensity of Ferry, he provides an off-kilter, bemused sense of experimentation that is consistently entertaining.

This is the album where Eno started to impose unique theoretical ideas for production, relying on a homemade set of instruction cards that he developed with artist friend Peter Smith in order to provide his team with ‘oblique strategies’ for creative inspiration. Whenever a member of the group found himself at a crossroads and in need of artistic direction, the cards (which eventually became available for retail purchase) would provide an ‘oblique strategy’ as a potential solution. Examples include “Try faking it,” or “Work at a different speed,” or “Look closely at the most embarrassing details and amplify.”

Naturally, this process added humor to the recording process while simultaneously pushing musicians in directions that otherwise might have been counterintuitive. As proven by the dismal sales figures, the results were decidedly uncommercial, but contained a charming appeal that grew over time. Each track is unique unto itself, collectively lending the album a ‘boutique-like’ feel that gathers various styles into a loose, conceptually related theme. Who says music theory has to be boring?

Featured Tracks:

Burning Airlines Give You So Much More

Back in Judy's Jungle

The Fat Lady of Limbourg

Mother Whale Eyeless

The Great Pretender

Third Uncle

Put a Straw under Baby

The True Wheel

China My China

Taking Tiger Mountain

November 1974 – Billboard Did Not Chart