I got Bill Laswell’s first solo album Baselines last year. I’ve been listening to it a lot lately. It was among the many contributions he had that year. If you like Bill Laswell or his work as Material I think you’ll like his album. Or if you just into chaotic late 70’s early 80’s New York jazz/noise you’ll like this one. It’s phrenetic, irreverent, freaky at times, and a really great listen all around. It starts off in a fury with the first track "Activate". Drums roll into to a crescendo leading up to some strange synth sounds. Then it breaks down into just an onslaught of off kilter rhythms and repeated music phrases and improvisations. A lot of the tracks have this sort of feel. Laswell’s bass on this album really reminds me of Tom Jenkinson (Squarepusher). It’s kuhrazee. Bill gets some help from Fred Frith, Daniel Ponce, and David Moss to name a few. I was very pleased with this album. I’ve gotten quite a bit of Bill Laswell’s work and have been a fan since I heard him on John Zorn’s "Naked City" album. I highly recommend his label Axiom if your looking for Dub, Funk, Ambient, Hip-Hop, and various other types of music reenvisioned by space aliens. I’m posting the track "Upright Man". It’s got a really great dark funk sound to it. So New York. It’s not quite like the rest of the album but it’s a really great track.
Posted on 04/20/2007
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Posted on 10/02/2007
My Trusted MOGs
yes, very NYC....thanks
My Trusted MOGs
Heh-Vee.
My Trusted MOGs
No problem Steve. Nicki just saying it as you spelled it is heavy. That made me chuckle.
My Trusted MOGs
Laswell is bass royalty! Rockit!
My Trusted MOGs
Great Post! Have loved lots of Laswell's stuff over the past 20 years or so - especially most of the Material albums (less so the rap/hip-hop album), and also other music he produced and/or played on - Golden Palominos etc. Haven't really listened to anything from him in quite a while (don't have anything digital or on CDs - only LPs), so was good to hear. Keep 'em coming!
My Trusted MOGs
This has always been a favorite track of mine and shows the family resemblance and a continuation to Bill Laswell's former work in 1980/81 with Brian Eno/David Byrne on My Life in the Bush Of Ghosts.
My Trusted MOGs
I haven't heard that one but it sounds very interesting. His output is just amazing. I don't think I could ever get all of his work. I got some years left in me so maybe so. Thanks for pointing that out Stonebird.
My Trusted MOGs
Brian Eno recommended the music of the Zu Band which was the precursor to Material back in an interview I read in his No New York days. That's how Bill Laswell sort of got on my radar although he was unknown to me at the time. I saw the Zu Band perform in Los Angeles back in '79 and Bill Laswell played the bass wearing what would become his signature beret.
My Trusted MOGs
Whitney Houston sang one song for Material around this time..Bill has definitely worked with "everybody", including dead people.
My Trusted MOGs
I hadn't heard that. How bizarre. Need to hear that one. Mog ate your comment on the other post btw.
My Trusted MOGs
That's from Material's "One Down" release from 1983 which was pretty eclectic and even more pop orientated and the tune is called "Memories" with Whitney Houston on vocals and Archie Shepp on sax. That was the first time I heard of Whitney Houston. Nona Hendryx from Labelle is also on One Down.
My Trusted MOGs
Shux I don't have that one. Just the track "Take A Chance". I'm gonna check it out. Muchas gracias stonebird! That's some cool info.
My Trusted MOGs
By the way "Memories" is a cover of a Soft Machine song written by Soft Machine bassist Hugh Hopper. So now you have Whitney Houston in Bill Laswell's group Material covering a song originally sung by Robert Wyatt in the Soft Machine.
My Trusted MOGs
Now that I got. Thanks again for the info. You're very knowledgeable stonebird.