Drawn From Life, originally released on Virgin Records in 2001, was a full collaboration between Brian Eno and J. Peter Schwalm, the two having met through Enos longtime friend Rolf Engel. It will carry that joint billing for the first time. The album featured Holger Czukay, Laurie Anderson, Nell Catchpole and Leo Abrahams, and was supported by a tour taking in Porto and Lanzarote before a headline appearance at Japans Fuji Rock Festival.
The rights to Drawn From Life reverted to Opal when Citigroup acquired EMI and the album has not been available since. Eno and Schwalms partnership also produced the score to Fear X, an early film from Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Bronson) starring John Turturro and Deborah Kara Unger, and the Japan-only release Music for Onmyo-ji.
The 2026 reissue will be available across all formats and includes the bonus track Bloom (Instrumental).
Sense-soothing head music par excellence. Lie back, chill out - you are tuned into Eno Gold. - Stephen Dalton, Uncut (2001)
Something of the quality of [Miles] Daviss cathedral-in-sound ambience [...] pinpoints of sonic light set within incense-heavy atmospheres. - Julian Cowley, The Wire (2001)
Enos work can inspire arty and overly intellectual discussion, but a remarkably welcoming listen like Drawn From Life reminds one that, ultimately, he is making music to be enjoyed on a much more sensual level. - Steve Ciabattoni, College Music Journal (2001)