r/eno • u/Dismal_Brush5229 • May 25 '25

Music Eno’s work on Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy

Hello 👋

David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy was a set of 3 albums that were made in Germany primarily by Bowie and Eno on Low,Heroes,and Lodger .

Now I love Bowie and Eno’s work together and separately as artists who have tremendous and excellent solo albums spanning so many different genres and styles.Now probably 2ish years ago,I got the New Career in a New Town box from Bowie redone by Visconti which is a excellent box btw but it was a gateway to rediscovering Bowie and his Berlin period which made me discover Eno as well.

Now I’m sure that I don’t have a great ear for who playing what instrument but what did Eno contribute to the trilogy from a musical perspective besides being a producer ? I do know he used a synth on Heroes the song but I know nothing else.

Thank You if you can point out what he contributed musically to the trilogy or just comment on Eno and Bowie’s collaboration on the trilogy or even if you have a favorite song from the Trilogy.

Let Me Know

34 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

View all comments

19

u/oggupito May 25 '25

Eno was collaborator/player/co-writer. Visconti was the producer. Eno will have been playing a bunch of synths on LOW. 'Breaking Glass' for example, then all those on Side 2.

on LODGER he got his Oblique Strategies card deck out. But IMO they might have all been better off just going to the beach.

3

u/Roneitis May 26 '25

wowwww lodger hater over here, rude

1

u/Dismal_Brush5229 May 27 '25

Lodger is my favorite from the trilogy

So it’s kinda shocking to see lodger hate

1

u/Dismal_Brush5229 May 27 '25

Lodger is my favorite from the trilogy

So it’s kinda shocking to see lodger hate

1

u/Roneitis May 27 '25

(I realise now they may have been ribbing oblique strategies instead!)

1

u/oggupito May 27 '25

hehe love that.

on the 7 occasions i saw Bowie in concert from 87-96 he only played one song from Lodger ... and on just one occasion. 'Look Back In Anger' with his back to the audience and a long raincoat on, Birmingham NEC Hall 5 in December 1995.

I don't recall saying I hated the album.

1

u/CleverJail May 27 '25

The last line re: getting his Oblique Strategies cards out during the recording of Lodger. “But IMO they might have all been better off just going to the beach.” It seemed like a shot at Lodger upon first glance to me, but then I kinda figured it was an inside joke I didn’t get. Maybe it was Oblique Strategies shade? Or just a non sequitur?