Arthur Russell - Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out

Pre-Order. Released 18th March, via Rough Trade Records

“Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out" offers an intimate unedited solo live performance recorded at Phill Niblock's Experimental Intermedia Foundation in Downtown NYC on 12/20/85.  

Phill curated and produced with Arthur two concerts at EI that would become an integral part of the foundation for the final World of Echo album. Arthur titled this performance "Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out". This extraordinary performance was recorded by Steve Cellum and overseen by Phill and Arthur. Arthur would later edit sections from this performance merging it with studio material recorded at Battery Sound to finalize the World of Echo album released in 1986. 

"Some of it sounds so pure and clear and I am picturing him huddled around all that gear, simply magical. In my memory he didn't play "for" the audience but was rather trying to perfect these various permutations of sound within himself...and a few of us just happened to be present" - Tom Lee

The double vinyl LP includes the complete nineteen minute plus version of Tower of Meaning/Rabbit’s Ear/Home Away along with the previously unreleased songs That’s The Very Reason, and Too Early to Tell. Side four includes two instrumental tracks from the previously unreleased in the UK “Sketches For World Of Echo” Changing Forest and Sunlit Water (+ full colour insert and liner notes)

Tracklisting:
A1 - That’s The Very Reason

A2 - Tower Of Meaning/Rabbit’s Ear/Home Away From Home

B1 - Happy Ending

B2 - All-Boy All-Girl/Tiger Stripes/You Can’t Hold Me Down

C1 - Introductions

C2 - Hiding Your Present From You/School Bell

C3 - Too Early To Tell
 
+ from Sketches for World of Echo

D1 - Changing Forest

D2 - Sunlit Water