"Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)" is the second solo studio masterpiece by Brian Eno, released in November 1974 under his mononymous credit "Eno" by Island Records. Departing from the sprawling ensemble of 16 musicians featured on his debut album "Here Come the Warm Jets," this album harnessed the talents of a compact core band comprising five instrumentalists: Eno (keyboards, guitar), Phil Manzanera (guitar), Brian Turrington (bass guitar), Freddie Smith (drums), and Robert Wyatt (percussion). Manzanera, also contributing to the writing and production, played a pivotal role in shaping the album's sonic landscape. To infuse the recording process with inventive spontaneity, Eno and Peter Schmidt devised instruction cards called Oblique Strategies.
 
"Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)" unfurls as a loosely woven concept album delving into themes of geopolitical intrigue, spanning from espionage to the tumultuous backdrop of the Chinese Communist Revolution. While it may not have charted in the United Kingdom or the United States, the album garnered acclaim from critics for its audacious approach and innovative soundscapes. Over time, it has garnered even greater recognition, solidifying its status as a seminal work in Eno's illustrious catalog.