Whereas conventional background music is produced by stripping away all sense of doubt and uncertainty (and thus genuine interest) from the music, Ambient Music retains these qualities.” Muzak was intended for mood boosterism, but ambient was meant to induce reflection, and to help foster a relationship between the artist, the listener, and their surroundings. In the airport, Eno wanted listeners to confront their own mortality; his record had “something to do with where you are and what you’re there for—flying, floating, and secretly flirting with death.” In other words, it wasn’t pure
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