Harold Budd - The Serpent (In Quicksilver) & Abandoned Cities (1981 & 1984)

Recorded back when "ambient" meant Brian Eno rather than enervated techno, the LP and EP collected here were originally released on Budd's own Cantil label in the early '80s. The Serpent (In Quicksilver) consists of five solo keyboard works and one very interesting collaboration between Budd and pedal steel player Chas Smith. That piece, titled "Afar," evokes some of the music Brian and Roger Eno and Daniel Lanois were making at around the same time to accompany a film about the Apollo space mission. It's echoey and ethereal, and yet that pedal steel sound keeps things tethered to the earth (nothing wrecks the mental image of limitless space quite like the sound of steel guitar). The other pieces are also quite lovely, though not quite as interesting; many sound improvised and are as much about sound treatment as they are about harmonic or melodic development. Abandoned Cities is made up of two very long pieces for keyboard and electric guitar. In mood, if not sound, they bring to mind Robert Fripp and Brian Eno's No Pussyfooting album: the guitar is barely recognizable, and harmonic movement is mostly limited to long suspensions and resolutions. It's a beautiful, dark, shimmery sound, though, and will reward your attention or lull you to sleep – whichever you prefer. ~Allmusic

Track listing
The Serpent (In Quicksilver)
1.Afar (2:34)
2. Wanderer (4:15)
3. Rub With Ashes (1:58)
4. Children on the Hill (5:12)
5. Widows Charm (1:58)
6. The Serpent (In Quicksilver (4:02)
Abandoned Cities
7. Dark Star (19:02)
8. Abandoned Cities (23:07)
~ 63:01

Personnel
- Harold Budd / Piano, Fender Rhodes, Prophet 5, Bosendorfer, Yahmaha Electric Piano, Hammond Organ
- Chas Smith / Pedal Steel Guitar
- Eugene Bowen / Bass



original uploader unknown, found in my archive