The Big Ship is my favorite recording ever made. Numero Uno. And Eno spelled backwards is One. Picture this, a ship moving slowly across the horizon, small at first but then coming into view as this gigantic, hulking object. I picture an ocean with a big cargo freighter. The music starts out quietly, then constantly builds, adding new layers of synthesizers while a drum machine creates the chugging sound of an engine. Each harmonic layer brings the ship closer, emotionally overwhelming us by its massiveness as the music builds to a near feedback explosion. After its intense perigee, the ship moves slowly off into the distance. The chord progression is heavenly, one chord bending into the next with natural grace. I first bought the album, Another Green World, on cassette in 1988. The Big Ship made a big impression on me the first time I heard it, and even after a zillion listens it still sends tingles of joy up my spine.
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