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News From Babel





HISTORY

In the wake of English Avant-garde Rock Group Henry Cow (1968-1978), Art Bears (1978-1981), a song-oriented group, was formed by three of Henry Cow's members, drummer Chris Cutler , multi-instrumentalist Fred Frith and singer Dagmar Krause . In Art Bears' wake, News From Babel was formed in 1983 by Cutler, Krause, Henry Cow woodwind player Lindsay Cooper and United States harpist Zeena Parkins . This new group followed the song-oriented approach of Art Bears, but with a different musical emphasis. Cooper composed all the music and Cutler wrote all the song texts.

News From Babel was purely a studio group. In 1983 they recorded ''Work Resumed on the Tower'', the title referring to the Tower Of Babel , with guest vocalist Phil Minton . In 1986 they recorded ''Letters Home'', named after the title of one of Sylvia Plath 's books, with guest vocalists Robert Wyatt , Sally Potter and Phil Minton . Cooper's music on both albums is a blend of Jazz and Cabaret , while Cutler's lyrics are literate, exploring Marxist themes and personal alienation {Link without Title} .

The group disbanded in 1986 after recording their second album.


PERSONNEL

  • Lindsay Cooper – keyboards, bassoon, sopranino and alto saxophones, all musical compositions (except "Contraries")

  • Chris Cutler – drums, electrics, percussion, all song texts

  • Zeena Parkins – harp, prepared and electric harp, accordion, composer on "Contraries"

  • Dagmar Krause – voice

  • Guest musicians



DISCOGRAPHY



Singles



TRIVIA

  • News From Babel's name was derived from the title of George Steiner 's book ''After Babel''. Some of the songs on the albums relate directly to Steiner's books.

  • For technical reasons, the original LP releases of both albums were on 45- Rpm 12 " discs.



EXTERNAL LINKS