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Stream Laurie Anderson "Let X=X"
Frequently, I write about artists that are influenced by the sounds of the '80s. Laurie Anderson's 1982 album "Big Science" is considered by many one of the albums that lead the way for the synth-oriented sounds of that era. Interestingly, if you listen to Anderson's music it is hard to put a timestamp on it. It could be 2 weeks old, 10 years old or 3 years early. Her work is truly timeless.
Nonesuch Records will be re-releasing Anderson's "Big Sciene" in July to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ground-breaking record.
Laurie Anderson is regarded as an avant-garde performance artist who is mostly known for her multimedia presentations that enable her to express herself as a visual artist, poet, composer, photographer and instrumentalist at the same time.
In the early '80s, she became a familiar figure at Lower Manhattan's hip and happening visual arts scene that also included people like David Byrne and Philip Glass. "Big Sciene" is generally considered her debut album. It appeared in 1982 and is a selection of tracks from her "United States Live" project, a legendary seven hour performance piece that includes her commentary on the social and political anxiety she perceived in the United States at the time. "Big Science" includes the 8-minute epic "O Superman," which became a top ten hit in the UK, and "Let X=X," a poetic, synth masterpiece.
The re-mastered version of "Big Science" includes the classic video for "O Superman" and the original B-side track "Walk The Dog." This is some pretty amazing stuff.
Stream Laurie Anderson "Let X=X" [QT]
June 21, 2007 in Video Streams | Permalink
Comments
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I'm so glad I read this. I had forgotten how much I loved this album. Like a million other people, I bought the O Superman 12" single and then the album.
That time was really magical for music. It was post-punk and all bets were off. One night you could be listening to the first breaths of life of hip-hop, and David Byrne & Brian Eno mashing up African rhythms with samples voices.
Thanks for that trip down memory lane.
Posted by: Ken at Jun 21, 2007 6:39:21 PM
I had this record in high school. It's truly a classic. Laurie is one of a kind.
Posted by: James Derek dwyer at Jun 28, 2007 8:49:31 AM
A lot of people never heard Laurie's original ending to "Let X=X". I'm still searching for it. It's awesome. It's very sad that she never released the original version of it for (Big Science). The most beautiful poetic line she used to end that song with was "It's a days work just looking into your eyes. It's a days work just looking into them..."
Posted by: Steven S. Stone at Sep 13, 2008 3:44:47 AM









