Arthur Russell - Sketches for World of Echo / Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out

“Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out" offers an intimate unedited solo live performance by Arthur Russell, 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 version 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.

Tracklist:
CD1: Sketches for World of Echo
01. Changing Forest
02. Let’s Go Swimming
03. They and Their Friends
04. Keeping Up
05. Make 1,2
06. I Take This Time
07. Losing My Taste For The Nightlife
08. I Can’t Hide You
09. The Boy with a Smile On His Face
10. Sunlit Water 
CD2: Open Vocal Phrases Where Songs Come in and Out
01. That’s The Very Reason
02. Tower Of Meaning/Rabbit’s Ear/Home Away From Home
03. Happy Ending
04. All-Boy All-Girl/Tiger Stripes/You Can’t Hold Me Down
05. Introductions
06. Hiding Your Present From You/School Bell
07. Too Early To Tell
[2LP] 
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
D1. Changing Forest
D2. Sunlit Water