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Here's a quirky one. I can't say as I've heard anything quite like it (though one could look and find comparisons, I suppose). Using a truly eclectic variety of instrumentation - jazz, weird tribal-organ fusion, bagpipes (or somesuch), strings, ambient, experimental constructions (the whole CD is experimental, truth be told), horns - she crafts a strange backdrop for her odd singing style and spoken word manifestations. For a lot of listeners, this will be a tough sell. It doesn't lend itself to mainstream-trained ears. Even I was initially charmed, startled, put off and finally appreciative. It is a challenging listen and too-often pretentious, but at the same time, it is what it is precisely because of those qualities. Reward is here for the listener who likes to encounter new ideas and artistic expressions. Laurie Anderson should be commended for her boldness and willingness to explore, even if it is a tad rough around the edges. -- review by Kristofer Upjohn
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