album · January 25, 1980

Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics

Jon Hassell

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This 1980 release, billed as "Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics," is a seminal work that defined a new genre by blending ambient electronic textures with the sounds of non-Western musical traditions.

• The album was co-produced by Brian Eno, who also contributed synthesizers and concepts.
• It was recorded at Eno's UK studio and released on the One Up label.
• The album's concept of "Fourth World" music aimed to bridge the gap between the ancient and the future, the urban and the "primitive."

Jon Hassell is an American composer and trumpeter known for his pioneering work in electronic music and ambient soundscapes. He was a key figure in the development of "Fourth World" music, a fusion of ethnic musical elements with electronic processing.