MATERIAL
1/ The Western Lands (A Dangerous Road Mix) (Laswell,Skopelitis,Burroughs)8.31
2/ Seven Souls (Tim Simenon Mix) (Laswell,Burroughs) 7.06
3/ Soul Killer (Remote Control Mix) (Laswell,Burroughs) 8.15
4/ Ineffect (BL,Skopelitis,WB,Shaheen) 7.34
5/ Seven Souls (Laswell,Burroughs) 5.42
6/ Soul Killer (Laswell,Burroughs) 4.32
7/ The Western Lands (Laswell,Skopelitis,Burroughs)6.54
8/ Deliver (Laswell,Skopelitis,Suso) 5.48
9/ Equation (BL,Skopelitis,Rammellzee) 5.06
10/ The End of Words (Laswell,Burroughs) 5.06
Recorded at Platinum Island Studio and B.C. Studio, New York
Track 1 remix recorded at Greenpoint Studio, Brooklyn, New York
Track 2 remix recorded at Eastgate Studios, London W10
Engineer at Platinum Island: Robert Musso
Assistant at Platinum Island: Oz Fritz
Engineer at B.C. Studio: Martin Bisi
Engineer on track 1: Robert Musso
Remix engineer on track 2: Q
Drums: Artie Smith
Mixed at B.C. by Martin Bisi
Produced and arranged by Bill Laswell/Material
Business: Tony Meilandt
William S. Burroughs vocal production: James Grauerholz
Additional production and remix on track 2 by Tim Simenon
Additional production and remix on track 3 by Terre Thaemlitz
Originally mastered at Masterdisk by Howie Weinberg
Remastered at Greenpoint by Robert Musso and Anton Fier
Series produced by Janet Rienstra and Bill Laswell
Material Inc: John Brown
Asiom: Bill Murphy
William S. Burroughs: voice; Rammellzee (9): voice; Foday Musa Suso (8):
vocals; Fahiem Dandan (4): vocals; Nicky Skopelitis: 6 & 12 string guitars,
baglama, coral sitar, saz, fairlight; Simon Shaheen & Shankar: violin; Bill Laswell:
4, 6 & 8 string basses, acoustic guitar, tapes, percussion; Jeff Bova: electronic
keyboards; Sly Dunbar: drums, fairlight; Aiyb Dieng: percussion; (1) Jah
Wobble: bass; Bill Laswell: bass samples; Nicky Skopelitis: guitars; Tetsu
Inoue: electronics; DJ Spooky: noise; Robert Musso: processing; (2) Don Hoss: remix programmer.
1989 - Virgin Records (UK), 210 084 (Vinyl)
1989 - Virgin Records (Germany), DM 210 084 (Vinyl)
1989 - Virgin Records (UK), C2956 (Vinyl)
1989 - Virgin Records (Greece), VG 50485 (Vinyl)
1989 - Venture/Virgin (UK), CDV 2596/260 084-222 (CD)
1989 - Virgin Records America, Inc. (USA), 2-91360 (CD)
1997 - Meta/Triloka/Mercury Records (USA), 314 534 905-2 (CD)
2016 - Bill Laswell Bandcamp (digital only)
Note: Tracks 1,2 and 3 only appear on the remastered Meta/Triloka/Mercury version.
The version of The Western Lands, remixed by Inoue and featuring additional bass by Jah Wobble, DJ Spooky contributing various 'noises' and Tetsu on electronics is a fine remix. There is an aggressiveness here that I like. Unfortunately with the remix of Seven Souls from Tim Simenon, it doesn't do all that much for me except make me reach for the remote time and time again. The drums tend to overpower the lyrics for me and being quite partial to the original I prefer to keep my memories as they are, that being that Seven Souls was an original and powerful idea and still carries a lot of weight and ideas for me. Thaemlitz's contribution is ethereal and mysterious, almost ominous. Some nice guitar samples evoking imagery of Morocco or somewhere equally as exotic. Voice manipulation as well. Basically a great track. (Must check out more of his material when i think of it.)
Burroughs theme's range from death, loneliness, isolation, nuclear desolation and the soul's voyage after death. All readings come from The Western Lands, the novel that completes his trilogy that began with Cities of the Red Night and The Place of Dead Roads. Some would see this as dark music, Burroughs toying with the 'other' world's of lost souls, dead souls best left alone. Other's will see it as a brave attempt at understanding what may be in store for us and the realisation that we do live on as souls when we punch in the time card for the last time. Comes with some new artwork by Russell Mills. If you missed it last time, don't miss it this time.
What really makes this such a great album are the musicians involved in this project. L.Shankar on violin, Aiyb Dieng, Bill Laswell, Nicky Skopelitis, Jeff Bova, Foday Musa Suso, Simon Shaheen and Sly Dunbar. Heavy duty stuff. Mixed in with some powerful words from an extraordinary writer, and voila...one album to remember.
Hans Stoeve (courtesy of the Nadabrahma website)
To a diatribe from William S. Burroughs comes music reminiscent of the classic Eno/Byrne collaboration My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts. A totally groove orientated collection of material with a who's who of contributing artists including Sly Dunbar, Bill Laswell, Jah Wobble, DJ Spooky et al.
After the first three tracks, which feature some uplifting and joyful soundbites from Mr. Burroughs himself, you'll find yourself in the slightly more upbeat department with contributions on Ineffect from an assortment of instruments including an electric sitar, a couple of india style violins and a most unlikely horn section which makes me think of Robert Plant for some reason.
With average track lengths coming in at around six minutes plus you'll find yourself getting into this album in a big way. Technically the whole thing is faultless with performances from people who really know what they're doing, with tons of experience and all that, and with healthy helpings of some of the craziest stuff I've ever heard courtesy of Willy S. (it all cracks me up) I have to say this is already one of my faves.
Now, finally, I can put my worn copy of My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts back in the stack as Seven Souls takes over the top slot.
Rating - 812,160 (out of a possible 1,000,000)
Courtesy of Electronimusic.com