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Laurie Anderson: Big Silence

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s

Artist: Laurie Anderson
Title: Big Silence
Released: 1982
Label: Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Time: 38:57
Producer(s): Laurie Andreson & Roma Baran
Appears with:
Category: Pop/Rock
Rating: *********. (9/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  1997.06.05
Price in €: 8,65
Web address: www.laurieanderson.com

 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] From the air (Laurie Anderson) - 4:29
[2] Big silence (Laurie Anderson) - 6:14
[3] Sweaters (Laurie Anderson) - 2:18
[4] Walking & falling (Laurie Anderson) - 2:10
[5] Born, never asked (Laurie Anderson) - 4:56
[6] O Superman (for Massenet) (Laurie Anderson) - 8:21
[7] Example #22 (Laurie Anderson) - 2:59
[8] Let X = X (Laurie Anderson) - 3:51
[9] It Tango (Laurie Anderson) - 3:01

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


LAURIE ANDERSON - Violin, Keyboards, Electronics, Marimba, Percussion, Vocals

PERRY HOBERMAN - Flute, Piccolo, Saxophone, Bottles
PETER GORDON - Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
RICHARD COHEN - Clarinet, Bassoon, Baritone Saxophone
BILL OBRECHT - Tenor & Alto Saxophones
CHUCK FISHER - Tenor & Alto Saxophones
GEORGE LEWIS - Trombone
ROMA BARAN - Keyboards, Accordion, Percussion
DAVID VAN TIEGHEM - Drums, Marimba, Percussion

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Recorded at The Lobby, The Hit Factory, Skyline Studios and Sorcerer Sound, New York.All songs written by Laurie Anderson.



With BIG SCIENCE, avant-garde sculptor Laurie Anderson made the big leap from fringe performance artist to commercial success. Originally creating music to embellish her artwork, Laurie soon moved on to creating the music for its own sake, providing a new sound comprised of electronics, voice enhancers, and humorous vignettes. Totally original for 1982, BIG SCIENCE stands up to the test of time, still sounding like an innovative mark of creativity.From "This is your Captain speaking...," the opening lines of "From The Air," Laurie stands firmly in charge, piloting through an idiosyncratic and iconoclastic sonic experiment. The title track is an electronic dirge, exotic and technical--a futuristic ballad. "Sweaters" is a Middle Eastern kiss-off ("I no longer love the color of your sweaters..."), with the curious instrumentation of bagpipes, violin and drums. The unlikely hit "O Superman," with its repeated, hyperventilating "ah"s and spooky comical text, sets the tone--especially when Anderson asks to be held with "electronic arms." The acoustic, international grab-bag of "Example #22" provides one of the funnier lines on an album of countless, clever gems: "Honey you're my one and only/So pay me what you owe me." She also credits several paranormals for their work on the track.BIG SCIENCE is a collection of mesmerizing songs featuring quirky, heady poetry and wonderfully peculiar instrumentation (particularly Anderson's violin, which has a tape-equiped bow that draws against a recording head built into its body). It is an album of distinctive electronic mood music that helped change the landscape of alternative pop music.
Big Science is essentially a chunk of the more elaborate and difficult four-part multi-media performance piece United States. But, that said, Big Science never sounds like a portion, it is in fact a meal in itself. The music is moody and minimalistic, and Anderson's wry observations are perspicacious, smartalecky and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. There have been numerous artists attempting work like this since Big Science; few, however, equal Anderson's panache. Not your average pop record. Oh yeah, "O Superman" is here in all its glory.

John Dougan, All-Music Guide



"'Big Science', on that album, Anderson's peech is the focus, and her musical support - keyboards, percussion and occasional saxophone or bagpipes - is skeletal and hypnotic."

ROLLING STONE ALBUM GUIDE ***
© Copyright 2001 RollingStone.com



Big Science prompted trendy early-'80s art students to plug in their synthesizers and start their own postpunk performance-art-cum-rock-&-roll projects. The album actually produced a hit single in the form of "O Superman." That track and "Let X=X" are the two best-known things from this album, which is a condensation of United States, Anderson's four-and-a-half-hour performance-art piece. The entire show is available as United States Live, a four-disc box set. Big Science, however, presents the cream of the crop. Although a lot of Anderson's shrill non sequiturs seemed annoying at the time of her breakthrough, she predicted techno music years before it happened. Still, as rock critic J.D. Considine pointed out, her creations are often closer to theater than to music.

Bill Holdship, Amazon.com



If you've got a taste for quirky electronic music, wry wit and/or avant-garde art, this New York-based conceptual artist, performer and video/music innovator should entrance you (as she has me). From the vaguely disconcerting "O Superman" (an ode to Ma Bell?) to the subtle humor in lyrics like "From The Air" and the title track, Laurie Anderson uses poetic recitations and unusual instrumentation to create story-songs that amuse, challenge and frequently touch the listener with a strange magic. It's as if some smart-ass little sister with graduate degree credentials snuck into a Byrne/ Eno session to add her own talent and playfulness. If a song title like "Born, Never Asked" intrigues you, run out and grab this album. You're not gonna hear it much on the radio (but, oh, you should!).

Marianne Meyer - Sep 27, 1982
CMJ New Music Report Issue: 1 - College Media, Inc.



The Ground Floor of Musical Architecture

"Big Science" is Laurie Anderson's major label debut and in retrospect was perhaps her riskiest venture into recorded music. Sounding absolutely like nothing else either at that time or since, this abbreviated studio version of "United States I-IV" plays like minimalist dada music and is cemented firmly in technotronica. Anderson's voice, an odd mix of warmth and casual indifference, is front and center of the proceedings while she continues her witty dissection of social banalities. Both experimental and intelligent, this music is probably too complex for anyone under the age of 21 (though considering the short attention spans of most youth nowadays, it is doubtful any of them would make it through this review, much less the album in question). Throughout her lengthy career, Anderson has so far been unable to achieve what could be considered a "perfect" statement, and this is certainly the case with "Big Science", wherein three of the songs, "From the Air", "Born, Never Asked" and the popular "O Superman", drag on and on incessantly (the latter grinding to a stop at almost eight and a half minutes). Of course the centerpiece of the record is by far the most brilliant; the moody title track is a wonderfully executed commentary on social isolation by way of Thomas Hobbes philosophy. Personal Favorites: the deceptively simple declarations of an ex-lover's refusals of acknowledgement found in "Sweaters", and the the exceedingly strange German exorcism found in "Example #22". Representative Lyrics: "Your eyes. It's a day's work just looking into them." ("It Tango"); "Cause when love is gone, there's always justice/ And when justice is gone, there's always force/ And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi, Mom!" ("O Superman")

southwesternreview from El Paso, TX, January 31, 2000



A Classic!

Having been a fan of different and "alternative" music, I was intrigued when I first saw the videos for "Sharkey's Day" and "O Superman" on MTV. I was just blown away. So, I went out and picked up my first Laurie Anderson album, Big Science. I was simply amazed at the quality and consistency of this album. I wanted to hear O SUPERMAN first, but when I started with FROM THE AIR, I didn't stop until the album was over. Mesmerizing is the best word I can think of in describing this album. While the lyrics may seem loony, they are actually very intelligent and thought provoking. One of the most haunting songs is BORN, NEVER ASKED. There is a line in that song that says, "What is behind that curtain?" This just underscores the simple yet fascinating aspects of Laurie's lyrics. I just never knew that I was "always falling when I was walking." If you didn't know that, then you must own this album. In fact, everyone should. This is simply a magical piece of art.

Brian Wolters from Cabot, AR USA, April 25, 2001



Not easy listening

Another one of my whim buys. REally I think its a three and a half, but thats been awkward. Parts of it I think are great, Big Science, Seaters (anyone who has come to an end of a relationship will empathise) and Let X=X. They are quirky with a supportive backing music. All through I feel the music is simply the back drop to a poetry session. That is not a criticism, but an observation. Other parts seem to degenerate into wall paper like From the Air. To summarise, yes I am glad I own this music, but it never really encouraged me to buy anything else by Laurie Anderson.

davidmorse from Loughborough, Leics United Kingdom, November 23, 2000
 

 L y r i c s


From The Air

Good evening. This is your Captain.
We are about to attempt a crash landing.
 Please extinuish all cigarettes.
 Place your tray tables in their
 upright, locked position.
Your Captain says: Put your head on your knees.
Your Captain says: Put your head on your hands.
Captain says: Put your hands on your head.
Put your hands on your hips. Heh heh.
This is your Captain-and we are going down.
 We are all going down, together.
And I said: Uh oh. This is gonna be some day.
Standby. This is the time.
 And this is the record of the time.
This is the time. And this is the record of the time.

Uh-this is your Captain again.
You know, I've got a funny feeling I've seen this all
 before.
Why? Cause I'm a caveman.
Why? Cause I've got eyes in the back of my head.
Why? It's the heat. Standby.
This is the time. And this is the record of the time.
This is the time. And this is the record of the time.

Put your hands over your eyes. Jump out of the plane.
There is no pilot. You are not alone. Standby.
This is the time. And this is the record of the time.
This is the time. And this is the record of the time.


Big Science

Coo coo it's cold outside. Coo coo it's cold outside.
Ooo coo coo. Don't forget your mittens.

Hey Pal! How do I get to town from here?
 And he said: Well just take a right where
 they're going to build that new shopping mall,
 go straight past where they're going to put in the freeway,
 take a left at what's going to be the new sports center,
 and keep going until you hit the place where
 they're thinking of building that drive-in bank.
 You can't miss it. And I said: This must be the place.

Ooo coo coo. Golden cities. Golden towns.
 Golden cities. Golden towns.
And long cars in long lines and great big signs
 and they all say: Hallelujah. Yodellayheehoo.
 Every man for himself. Ooo coo coo.
 Golden cities. Golden towns. Thanks for the ride.

Big Science. Hallelujah. Big Science. Yodellayheehoo.

You know. I think we should put some mountains here.
 Otherwise, what are all the characters going to fall off of?
 And what about stairs? Yodellayheehoo. Ooo coo coo.

Here's a man who lives a life of danger.
 Everywhere he goes he stays - a stranger.
 Howdy stranger. Mind if I smoke? And he said:
 Every man, every man for himself.
 Every man, every man for himself.
 All in favor say aye.

Big Science. Hallelujah. Big Science. Yodellayheehoo.

Hey Professor! Could you turn out the lights?
 Let's roll the film.

Big Science. Hallelujah.
Every man, every man for himself.
Big Science. Hallelujah. Yodellayheehoo.


Sweaters

I no longer love your mouth.
I no longer love your eyes.

I no longer love your eyes.
I no longer love the color of your sweaters.
I no longer love it.

I no longer love the color of your sweaters.
I no longer love the way you hold your pans
 and pencils.
I no longer love it.

Your mouth. Your eyes.
The way you hold your pens and pencils.
I no longer love it. I no longer love it.


Walking & Falling

I wanted you. And I was looking for you.
But I couldn't find you.
I wanted you. And I was looking for you all day.
But I couldn't find you. I couldn't find you.

You're walking. And you don't always realize it,
but you're always falling.
With each step you fall forward slightly.
And then catch yourself from falling.
Over and over, you're falling.
And then catching yourself from falling.
And this is how you can be walking and falling
at the same time.


Born, Never Asked

It was a large room. Full of people. All kinds.
And they had all arrived at the same buidling
at more or less the same time.
And they were all free. And they were all
asking themselves the same question:
What is behind that curtain?

You were born. And so you're free. So happy birthday.


O Superman

O Superman. O judge. O Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad.
O Superman. O judge. O Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad.
Hi. I'm not home right now. But if you want to leave a
 message, just start talking at the sound of the tone.
Hello? This is your Mother. Are you there? Are you
 coming home?
Hello? Is anybody home? Well, you don't know me,
 but I know you.
And I've got a message to give to you.
 Here come the planes.
So you better get ready. Ready to go. You can come
 as you are, but pay as you go. Pay as you go.

And I said: OK. Who is this really? And the voice said:
This is the hand, the hand that takes. This is the
 hand, the hand that takes.
This is the hand, the hand that takes.
 Here come the planes.
They're American planes. Made in America.
Smoking or non-smoking?
And the voice said: Neither snow nor rain nor gloom
 of night shall stay these couriers from the swift
 completion of their appointed rounds.

'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice.
 And when justive is gone, there's always force.
 And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!

So hold me, Mom, in your long arms. So hold me,
 Mom, in your long arms.
In your automatic arms. Your electronic arms.
 In your arms.
So hold me, Mom, in your long arms.
Your petrochemical arms. Your military arms.
In your electronic arms.


Example #22

Beispiele paranormaler Tonbandstimmen.
 Was sind paranormale Tonbandstimmen?
 Es sind Stimmen unbekannte herkunft.
 Es sing paranormaler Tonbandstimmen-

(Examples of paranormal voices on tape.
 What are paranormal voices on tape?
 They are voices of unknown origin.
 They are paranormal voices on tape-)

Ihren Klang. Ich verstehe die Sprachen.
 Ich verstehe die Sprachen nicht. Ich hore nur
 Irhen Klang.

(Your sound. I understand the languages.
 I don't understand the languages.
 I hear only your sound.)

The sun is shining slowly
The birds are flying so low.
Honey you're my one and only,
So pay my what you owe me.

Lights are going down, slowly,
In the woods the animals are moving.

In my dreams you're talking to me.
Your voice is moving through me.
You talk as if you knew me.
So pay me what you owe me.

Beispiel Nummer zweiundzwanzig.

(Example #22.)

The sun is shining slowly
The birds are flying so low.
Honey you're my one and only
So pay me what you owe me.


Let X=X

I met this guy - and he looked like might have
 been a hat check clerk at an ice rink.
Which, in fact, he turned out to be. And I said:
 Oh boy. Right again.

Let X=X. You know, it could be you.
It's a sky-blue sky. Satellites are out tonight.
Let X=X.

You know, I could write a book. And this book would
 be think enough to stun an ox. Cause I can see the
 future and it's a place - about 70 miles east of
 here. Where it's lighter. Linger on over here.
 Got the time? Let X=X.

I got this postcard. And it read, it said:
Dear Amigo - Dear Partner.
Listen, uh - I just want to say thanks. So...thanks.
Thanks for all the presents. Thanks for introducing
 me to the Chief.
Thanks for putting on the feedbag. Thanks for going
 all out.
Thanks for showing me your Swiss Army knife.
     and uh -
Thanks for letting me autograph your cast.
 Hug and kisses. XXXXOOOO.
Oh yeah, P.S.
I - feel - feel like - I am - in a burning building - and I
 gotta go.
Cause I - I feel - feel like - I am - in a burning
 building - and I gotta go.


It Tango

She said: It looks. Don't you think it looks a lot like rain?
He said: Isn't it. Isn't it just. Isn't it just like a woman?
She said: It's hard. It's just hard. It's just kind of hard
 to say.
He said: Isn't it. Isn't it just. Isn't it just like a woman?
She said: It goes. That's the way it goes. It goes
 that way.
He said: Isn't it. Isn't it just like a woman?
She said: It takes. It takes one. It takes on to. It takes
 one to know one.
He said: Isn't it just like a woman?
She said: She said it. She said it to no. She said it to
 no one.
Isn't it. Isn't it just? Isn't it just like a woman?

Your eyes. It's a day's work to look in to them.
Your eyes. It's a day's work just to look in to them.

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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