Welcome to Breakdown, an unofficial resource and discussion list about the innovative guitarist/producer Michael Brook. This site is infrequently updated, but contains a great deal of background info which will remain online. For up-to-date news and information, visit Michael Brook's official site and MySpace page.

Cobalt Blue review
from Q Magazine, 1992
by Martin Aston
[archived here without permission]

Toronto-born Brook has progressed from house engineer under Daniel Lanois, to working with Brian Eno and Harold Budd, to producing an intriguing array of mavericks, from Youssou N'Dour and Sinéad O'Connor to Mary Margaret O'Hara. He's also pursued his own muse in 1985's ethno-ambient Hybrid, 1986's collaboration with The Edge on the Captive soundtrack and now Cobalt Blue. Lanois, Brian and Roger Eno make guest appearances but the real star is Michael Brook's infinite guitar (famous for the intro to U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For) which produces infinitely sustainable tones, perfect for the camera-panning, visionary ambient glide he specialises in. If he is a member of an already specialist scene - with the Enos, Budd and his former tutor, Jon Hassell - what elevates Michael Brook's pan-global stitching is the ability to produce dynamic tension within minimalist contexts, knowing when to attack or retreat, or simply to unfold exquisite aural wallpaper.

rating: 3