Laurie Anderson

I did once a suggestion and was rejected.As much as I would love to see her in the Archives,I very much doubt.

^absolutely not,my friend.She is experimental,she is avant-garde,she is shiny pop,she is abstract and excentric,but nothing prog-related.

Ah, I was going to do a Laurie Anderson thread in a non-Prog lounge (even though I'd like to see her here too under Progressive Electronic, or perhaps Crossover now).  It was the thread on Bjork that made me think of her.

Big Science has been one of my favourite albums since I first heard it in the 80s.   She's an amazing, quirky performance artist.  She's not really progressive rock of course -- she is an experimental avant garde "art music" artist and a kind of  "pop culture" icon.  Has been resident artist at NASA I recall and helped with the Athens Olympic ceremonies  Not pop music, but she had interesting commentary on culture and development.  Big Science was about technological effect.    Love to see her here, but could understand the rejection.

I lent my Big Science album to someone many years ago and never got it back, but have listened subsequently to many of her songs.  Her Big Science (1982 release) album is streaming HERE.  After not having heard it for many years, it still stands as a great work, but watching her perform is best since she ties the music in with a visual performance (I'm sure the Blue Man group owe something to her, as do quirky performers such as Bjork, I would imagine.

Here's a well-written review of Big Science: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/07/07/170916.php

On youtube (O Superman, which was something of a surprise hit partially thanks to John Peel's interest, is a great vid): CLICK

And Laurie Anderson's Big Science has been remastered and re-released for those that don't know (think I'll pick it up though there's an unfortunate lack of bonus material for a 25th anniversary re-release): http://www.laurieanderson.com/

As this site has increasingly progressed from "Progressive Rock", I suspect there now may be more tolerance for truly progressive artists such as Laurie Anderson.

I still want to work on suggesting her to Prog Related. If only I would have more time.

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.

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.

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

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).

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. 

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