Bono, Adam Clayton, Brian Eno, Larry Millen Jr. and The Edge have formed a loose collective known as Passengers. On this, their first album, they are joined by Mo'Wax maestro Howie B, Japanese singer Holi and opera legend Luciano Pavarotti. Entilted Original Soundtracks1, it is among the most compelling listens never heard on radio. A combination of Jean-Michel Jarre, Tangerine Dream, Aphex Twin and U2, it is like sharing Mind with past future-visionaries. Original Soundtracks1 was recorded during a two week session in London's Westside studio last November and a futher five weeks in Dublin this summer. "We wanted to make the record in six weeks," says Bono. "For us this is an opportunity to get all this stuff out that there isn't really room for on our own records," adds bassist Adam Clayton. During the summer session, Pavarotti flew to Dublin to seek the band's participation at his Pavarotti And Friends concert in Modena, Italy on September 12, a massive outdoor event which raised funds for children in Bosnia through the War Child charity. Bono, The Edge, and Brian Eno performed a new song titled "Miss Sarajevo"--inspired by the TV documentary of the same name--and Pavarotti returned the favor by adding his voice to that song on Original Soundtracks 1. The album is a soundscape of ravey thrums, with cascading synthesizers and driving hyperactive beat. The Edge's textured guitar work is among the most well-placed of his career; never considered a virtuoso player in the traditional sense, his guitar provides perspective and blows through the tracks like the breath of earthen reality. The ability of the musicians to create Space on the album seems largely the influence of Brian Eno. His production and contribution has impacted artists ranging from Talking Heads and Roxy Music to John Cale, yet Eno's own abstract compositions have hardly found the mainstream. Dreamy, ambient and adventurous, Passengers showcases both the genius of Brian Eno and the incredible ability of U2 to evolve and shape the modern musical form. Original Soundtracks 1 is definitely the stuff of headsets and opened doors.
