Brian Eno relaunches Opal Records with reissue of lost albums

Musician and producer Brian Eno has announced the relaunch of his cult record label, Opal Records, marked by the reissue of two long-unavailable albums scheduled for release on 16 October 2026.

Originally founded in 1988 before going on hiatus in 1991, Opal Records served as home to ambient, generative, and experimental artists including Harold Budd, Daniel Lanois, John Cale, and Laraaji. The label returns with the physical and digital re-release of Eno’s 2005 solo album Another Day on Earth and his 2001 collaborative project with J. Peter Schwalm, Drawn From Life. Both records have been unavailable outside Japan for nearly two decades following the expiration of their original licensing deals.

To accompany the announcement, Opal Records has released two previously unreleased live performance videos featuring Eno, Schwalm, and a live ensemble comprising Nell Catchpole, Leo Abrahams, Christoph Buhse, Tim Harries, and Heiko Himmighoffen. The footage showcases "Caught Between" recorded at the Porto Festival in 2001, alongside "Persis" filmed at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival the same year.

Another Day on Earth, which marked Eno's return to vocal songwriting after more than a decade focusing on production and instrumental ambient works, includes guest contributions from Jon Hopkins and lyrics co-written by Michel Faber and Danny Hillis. The 2026 reissue features the former Japan-exclusive bonus track "The Demon of the Mines."

Drawn From Life, carrying a joint billing for Eno and Schwalm for the first time, features guest appearances from Laurie Anderson and Holger Czukay, and includes the bonus track "Bloom (Instrumental)."

Both reissued titles will be made available across digital, CD, and special translucent coloured vinyl formats on 16 October 2026. One percent of all sales proceeds from Opal Records releases will be donated directly to the environmental charity EarthPercent.