Laurie Anderson

Nice to see this revived, ziggy. .  I had rather wanted her in a proper prog category, Crossover, even though I could see definite arguments against it (I am so inclusive when it comes to team categories I don't belong to ), but would fully support her in Prog Related (but that's the admins call).

Dare I say it: because so-and-so is here, she definitely deserves to be here.  I really base it on Big Science (the album) primarily, though.  Gosh I love that album.  For someone like Laurie Anderson, I almost think she needs a new "art" category.  One's she in, then Bjork.

tuxon wrote: I hardly know her music, but what I've heard (Oh Superman, Big Science and some others) I wouldn't call it progressive music, but certainly interesting stuff, can surely classify as Prog related, so who's writing a bio?

I offered, but bumped it heavily...

If there's anything I can do to help...

Her newer stuff sounds poppier, but I really should get more Laurie Anderson music.  Still think there might be a case for this in Crossover.

Laurie Anderson is on a Peter Gabriel song called "This is the Picture Excellent Birds".

Edited by mystic fred - October 17 2007 at 02:06

My Talisma and Parallel Mind just came in today.  Excuse me while I veg out.  Those of you who don't excuse me will certainly be pleased. 

Thanks Slartibartfast (I considered using Agrajag as my nick here).  I'm sure I've heard bits and pieces of both of those albums (more from Bright Red) -- something I''ll definitely look into.  I agree with Moogtron's point too.  As she is a multimedia performance artist, good to get DVDs.  A friend of mine had the Home of the Brave VHS tape, and that was great.  I enjoy Laurie Anderson's soundpieces enough to not need the visuals, though, but the visuals are a plus.

Darqdean: Thanks for the suggestion of quirky female artist.  Danielle Dax's name sounded familiar, but checked out the videos on youtube and now I remember her (though a little vaguely),

Lucas: well, of course avant garde music is not necessarily Prog (progressive but not Prog which is short for Progressive Rock -- and a heck of a lot of Prog is very derivative, sadly).  Perhaps one day we'll find artists such as Stockhausen, Xenakis etc., but not now.  I must admit that I'd like to see artists such as Nyman and Glass here, but wouldn't expect it under the current umbrella.  I would like to see this site expand further beyond Progressive rock into other progressive music territories.

Anderson is not Prog really, but I still think she could find a place here in revisionistprogarchives (nad not just in that vague, disorderly related category).

Logan wrote: ^ Those are her only two albums I know very well too, DarqDean, but I've enjoyed several videos of her performances.  In the 80s she and Kate Bush were two of my favourite artists (both have a quirkiness that appeals). Her musical minimalist aspect is rather at odds with the extravagance of much Prog.  I tend to think Prog or bust rather than the "compromise category" of Prog Related, but could see her as appropriate to PR (to be another artist lost in that nebulous category). I'm a liitle sorry for reviving this old thread in such a way.  I couldn't resist as there was already a Laurie Anderson thread in existence (which I chose not to respond to a year plus ago because even though I would like her here, I wasn't sure how suitable), but really I just wanted to share my appreciation of this fine artist and mention the new re-mastered release  which is slightly old news anyway.  Hope that "stream" and the other links get a few more people into her music (though she is a well-known artist, of course).  I hadn't heard the whole album in many years, and it still sounds fresh even if it has dated.  Hope no one minds me posting the stream. An artist that will appeal to many into experimental progressive music, I feel.

Edited by Slartibartfast - October 16 2007 at 15:21

Oh I agree, she is a maverick (yah!) and an innovator, two qualities I love in music. (I would add Danielle Dax to your list of quirky female performers). As a performance artist Anderson is without parallel and her music is unsurpassed in bridging minimalism with acceptability. I fully intend to watch the streams later this evening.

I only know Big Science and Home of the Brave, which are both truly awesome albums. To me she is a crossover from Art Rock to Advant-Prog, but more Advant-Art  than Prog Rock.