Arthur Russell - Open Vocal Phrases.... [2CD]

Format: 2 x CD
Catalogue No.: RT0542CD
Barcode: 0191402054224
Release Date: 18 Apr 2025
Genre: Post Rock/Experimental

Double CD digipack + full colour insert and liner notes

"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

"Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out"

Plus the complete "Sketches For World Of Echo" (originally published in 2020 as a cassette and DL) available for the first time on CD.

(Double CD digipack + full colour insert and liner notes.)

Tracklisting:
Disc One Sketches for World of Echo
Changing Forest
Let's Go Swimming
They and Their Friends
Keeping Up
Make 1,2
I Take This Time
Losing My Taste For The Nightlife
I Can't Hide You
The Boy with a Smile On His Face
Sunlit Water 

Disc Two Open Vocal Phrases Where Songs Come in and Out
That's The Very Reason
Tower Of Meaning/Rabbit's Ear/Home Away From Home
Happy Ending
All-Boy All-Girl/Tiger Stripes/You Can't Hold Me Down
Introductions
Hiding Your Present From You/School Bell
Too Early To Tell