Laurie Anderson - Big Science

Big ideas. Big sound. Minimal impact.

Concept artist Laurie Anderson’s crowning glory is belatedly awarded an equally expansive reissue, complete with selfpenned liner notes, a bonus B-side and music video.

There’s something of a sensory overload about Big Science that demands this second visit. Anderson’s often spoken words float in the mind and create a wealth of colour and imagery, amply fleshed out by hypnotic beats and sounds. Born, Never Asked’s handclaps loop endlessly, for example, and are intersected by a violin that dances around this most simple of structures. It’s a prime example of how such simple noises combine to create a panoramic sound, and a fascinating, layered construction.

Such is the delicacy of the line Anderson treads, it’s no surprise that, 25 years from its initial conception, some of the effects seem dated and almost laughable. O Superman, the album’s hit single upon its original release, flirts between originality and downright absurdity, its computermanipulated voice more akin to shonky sci-fi movies than highconcept music.

Much like its namesake, then, progress in this particular field has been fast and steady. While this particular formula won’t be ignored, it’s been improved upon hundreds of times over.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

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Reviewed by Sam Coare
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