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Artist: RUSSELL, ARTHUR Title: Calling Out of Context Format: CD Label: Audika Country: USA Price: $14.50 |
| "When Arthur Russell died in 1992 he left an overwhelming archive of over a 1000 tapes that reveal the sublime genius of one of the most important musicians of the last 25 years. As a cellist, songwriter, composer, and disco visionary Arthur Russell consistently blurred the lines of our expectations of what pop music could be. Originally from Iowa, Arthur travelled west in 1970 to study Indian classical composition with Ali Akbar Khan, befriended Allen Ginsberg, performed with Alice Coltrane, and then moved to New York in 1973 to study at the Manhattan School of Music. Quickly gravitating to the then burgeoning downtown scene, Arthur wrote and performed his minimal compositions (captured on Instrumentals and Tower Of Meaning . Both to be re-issued by Audika) and collaborated with a whos who of some of New Yorks most influential artists including Rhys Chatham, Ernie Brooks, David Byrne, Phillip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Jon Gibson, Robert Wilson, Christian Wolff, John Cage, Arnold Dreyblatt, and Phill Niblock. It then changed by a mere accident. Simply, he went to a disco. Inspired by the sonic repetition and sense of community, Arthur wrote and recorded some of the most important records of the disco era including Kiss Me Again, Is It All Over My Face, and co-founded Sleeping Bag Records with partner Wil Socolov releasing Go Bang and the album 24-24 Music . In 2002 Audika Records entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the estate of Arthur Russell to issue previously unreleased and out of print material from Arthurs vast archive. The first album Calling Out Of Context , features 12 previously unreleased tracks recorded during Arthurs prime years 1985-90. The material is drawn from Corn , an album that was completed in 1985 but never released, and an abandoned album recorded for Rough Trade as Arthur had become ill. Many of these tracks show hidden sides of Arthurs talent and underline the loss of his great potential. Contrary by nature, Arthurs spontaneous reaction and altered perception to his environment produced music that remains challenging and contemporary. Arthurs open hearted attitude to music was far ahead of its time, and now that time is ours." - Audika. |
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Artist: RUSSELL, ARTHUR Title: First Thought Best Thought Format: Double CD Label: Audika Country: USA Price: $22.00 |
| "Before disco, and before the transcendent echoes, Arthur Russell wanted to be a composer. His journey began in 1972, leaving Iowa to study Indian classical composition with Ali Akbar Khan in Northern California and ending two years later in New York at the Manhattan School of Music. In that brief period Arthur met and worked with several musicians and poets that would guide his work throughout the remainder of the decade: Allen Ginsburg, Christian Wolff, Jackson MacLow, Rhys Chatham, Philip Glass, Elodie Lauten, and Ernie Brooks. First Thought Best Thought collects Arthur Russells out of print instrumental and orchestral compositions along with over 45 minutes of previously-unreleased material on two CDs. Initially intended to be performed in one 48 hour cycle, Instrumentals was in fact only performed in excerpts a handful of times as a work in progress. The legendary performances captured live in New York at The Kitchen and Franklin St. Arts Center include the cream of that eras downtown new music scene including Ernie Brooks, Rhys Chatham, Jon Gibson, Peter Gordon, Garrett List, Andy Paley, Dave Van Tiegham, and Peter Zummo. Included here is the previously unreleased Instrumentals Vol. 1 along with Instrumentals Vol. 2 that has been out of print for over twenty years. Originally released in 1984, sections of Instrumentals Vol. 2 were incorrectly mastered at half speed, and have been now corrected for this compilation. Reach One is one of Arthurs earliest compositions dating back to 1973. The hypnotic soundscape was written and performed for two Fender Rhodes pianos, and is previously unreleased. One of the holy grails in Arthurs discography, Tower Of Meaning is a beautiful and stunningly moving orchestral work. Conducted by the late Julius Eastman, Tower Of Meaning was originally released in a limited private edition of only 320 copies. Sketch For The Face Of Helen shares only the same title as the previously released excerpt from 1981. Inspired by his work with friend and composer Arnold Dreyblatt, this previously unreleased version was recorded with an electronic tone generator, keyboard and ambient recordings of a rumbling tugboat from the Hudson River. First Thought Best Thought is an essential collection of the lost instrumental treasures from Arthur Russells vast archive and brings the genius of his legacy closer into focus. Packaged with a 16-page color booklet + O-card of archival images and essays by former Modern Lover Ernie Brooks and Audikas Steve Knutson." - Audika. |
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Artist: RUSSELL, ARTHUR Title: World of Echo Format: CD Label: Audika Country: USA Price: $16.00 |
| "Out of print for over fifteen years, Arthur Russells most extraordinary work, World Of Echo is issued for the first time on CD by Audika Records. Newly remastered from Arthurs pristine original 1/4" sequenced masters, World Of Echo sounds like nothing you have heard or will ever hear. 18 tracks are featured including drumless versions of his Disco classics Lets Go Swimming, Tree House and Wax The Van along with four previously unreleased tracks from Sketches From World Of Echo. Originally released on LP in 1986, World Of Echo is a deeply intimate and meditative work of awe-inspiring grace and remains a timeless work of sublime beauty. Arthurs aim was to achieve what he calls the most vivid rhythmic reality, with just cello, voice, and echoes. Arthur achieved all of this and more on one of the most amazing albums you will ever hear." - Audika. |