6 Things to Know About Harold Budd and Brian Eno's The Pearl

The Pearl is the direct follow-up to The Plateaux of Mirror, released in 1984. Both albums share the same shimmering ambient-piano sound.

Budd and Eno used the same recording approach for both albums. They improvised in the studio, with Eno processing Budd’s piano through effects.

The Pearl is more subdued and spacious than its predecessor. The tracks are slower and more minimal, with longer silences between notes.

The album features contributions from Daniel Lanois, who co-produced. His guitar and treatments add subtle texture to the piano pieces.

The Pearl helped define the ambient piano subgenre. Its influence can be heard in countless later artists like Stars of the Lid and Goldmund.

The album’s title track is one of the duo’s most famous pieces. It captures their signature blend of melancholy and calm better than almost anything else they made.