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Brian Eno's Opal Records to Relaunch After 30 Years
Confirmed
In Short: Opal Records, founded by Brian Eno in 1988, is returning with a bang, reissuing beloved albums and planning new releases.
Brian Eno's Opal Records, a label that once released groundbreaking albums by artists like Harold Budd and Laraaji, is set to return after a 30-year hiatus. In a statement, Eno described Opal as a label for "outsiders," highlighting its unique position in the music industry. The relaunch is marked by the reissue of two significant albums: "Another Day on Earth" from 2005 and "Drawn From Life" from 2001, both of which have been unavailable outside Japan for nearly two decades.
Each re-release will be available on October 16, with one percent of the proceeds from sales donated to Eno's sustainability initiative, EarthPercent. The relaunch is not just a return to form for Opal Records but also a celebration of its past and a look to its future. According to reports, Eno is planning a series of new releases to further cement the label's legacy and relevance.
The reissue of "Another Day on Earth" marks Eno's long-awaited return to song after over a decade of ambient and production work. The album, originally released on Hannibal Records, has been unavailable outside Japan since 2008. The reissue will be a welcome addition to Eno's discography, offering fans a chance to experience his work in a new format.
Among the artists who released albums on Opal Records were Eno's brother Roger, John Cale, and others who mapped much of what ambient, generative, and boundary-crossing music would become. The label's first run between 1988 and 1991 was brief but impactful, releasing albums by artists who were not only distinctive but also influential in shaping the future of music.
The relaunch of Opal Records is not just a musical event but also a statement on sustainability. Eno's commitment to EarthPercent, a sustainability initiative, is reflected in the label's business model. One percent of the proceeds from Opal Records sales will be donated to EarthPercent, further emphasizing Eno's dedication to environmental causes.
The reissue of "Drawn From Life" from 2001, another album that has been unavailable outside Japan for nearly two decades, is part of a broader strategy to bring Opal Records' back catalog to a wider audience. The label's return is a testament to Eno's enduring influence and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of music.
What's confirmed
- Opal Records, the label founded by Brian Eno in 1988 as an extension of his artistic world, is returning after more than three decades.
- Brian Eno, describing Opal in 1988, said: “If someone asks me what the Opal artists have in common I’m hard pressed to find a simple answer. I suppose I could say that each is distinctive, not only from each other, but also from the various mainstreams of modern music: it is a label for outsiders. Such a description might appear to condemn to permanent obscurity the artists to whom it is applied. But popular music has always drawn its strength and richness both from the centre – from the Beatles, for example – and from the edges – like the Velvet Underground. And sometimes the tables suddenly turn and what was on the outside shows up very close to the centre. ” Opal was never a conventional record label.
- In its first, brief run between 1988 and 1991, it released albums by Brian Eno, Roger Eno, Harold Budd, Laraaji, Djivan Gasparyan, Hugo Largo, Zvuki Mu, Daniel Lanois, Jon Hassell and John Cale – an alliance of artists who mapped much of what ambient, generative and boundary-crossing music would become.
- Eno put the label on hiatus in 1991 to concentrate on his own work, and the catalogue moved across to All Saints Records.
- Brian Eno has announced that he will be relaunching his Opal Records label and reissuing his albums ‘Another Day On Earth’ and ‘Drawn From Life’.
- Among the artists who released albums on the label were Eno's brother Roger, John Cale, and more.
- One percent of proceeds from Opal Records sales will be donated to Eno's sustainability initiative EarthPercent.
What's still developing
- The relaunch is kicking off with a bang, as the coveted musician is reissuing two beloved albums: 2005’s Another Day on Earth and his 2001 collaboration with J.
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- To mark the announcement, he's shared two previously unreleased live performances Brian Eno is relaunching Opal Records, the label he founded in 1988.
- EarthPercent recently published an open letter signed by Brian Eno, Bicep, Massive Attack and 200 additional artists opposing the Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea.