City of Light

Bill Laswell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 29, 1997)
• Label: Sub Rosa
• ASIN: B000003HIE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #582,321 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Originally released in 1997 on Sub Rosa, now reissued. American bassist Bill Laswell (Praxis, Massacre, etc.) is the founder of ''collision music'' - a collaborative concept that brings together musicians from divergent instrumentations and backgrounds. City of Light is about Banaras, a city older than history, tradition, way beyond legends. It is Shiva's land, founded at the dawn of creation. It is India's oldest and most fabled city. The Hindus call it Kashi, the luminous... The City of Light. Sub Rosa. 2007. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exotic, But Intimately Familiar, April 19, 2001

By 

David K. Bell (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of Light (Audio CD)

First, I would not call this a "dub" album. Laswell's work seems to be associated with that label, but I think his work rises well above the level of most of the boring dreck that goes by the name "dub." The haunting, spacey electronic elegance of the "Outland" series, for example is more reminiscent of the sophisticated work of Brian Eno than it is of the reggae-based basement tape feel of of most "dub." Dub often has an underlying rhythmic component I associate with that genre, which much of Laswell's work does as well, but which this one does not. In any event, this cd is different from all the other Laswell work I have heard.

The title refers to the holy city of Benares, on the banks of the Ganges, the most holy of rivers to the vast and rich complex of religions in India we Westerners refer to as Hinduism. Benares--city of funeral ghats, where the faithful set the remains of loved ones afloat, as their spirits return to the great river of life; city of Shiva; city of continual change and of eternal timelessness; city of cremation grounds; city of light.

This cd is a sound painting of Benares, an exquisite dream you had, a recollection of a holy pilgrimmage made there in a prior life, at once exotic and intimately familiar. The sounds of the river, the voices of people in the streets, recitations of sacred poetry read with a Laurie Anderson-like quality of mystical dreaminess, a woman reciting her sacred devotions, the timeless sound of a holy man chanting his mantra--yes that sound that awakens you from the slumber of a thousand lifetimes to remember--remember! To remember our true nature, never gone for an instant, yet somehow seemingly forgotten.

The first time I listened to this cd, I was working on the computer and playing it as background. The whole thing sets a wonderful state of mind, but when the sound of that fellow chanting the ancient sound of that mantra came on, I literally froze at its familiarity, my eyes filled with tears, I forgot where I was. For weeks afterward, I heard that sound, felt the vibration of it in my own meditations.

I like all of Bill Laswell's work I have heard. This cd is different.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Star Masterpiece, February 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: City of Light (Audio CD)

Bill Laswell is the most important musician of this decade that no one knows about. "City of Light" is a masterpiece and should be a must have in anyone's collection. From the beginning to the end, "City of Light" magically transcends your spirit to India and to the banks of the Ganges. This album has been my traveling companion at home and all over India.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bill Laswell Does it Again (and again and again), April 4, 2000

By 

Paul M. Loughman (Delray Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of Light (Audio CD)

This is a beautiful CD to dream to...as are most CD's that Bill Laswell has had anything to do with. I feel very lucky that a friend turned me on to Mr. Laswell's Material project with "Hallucination Engine" (another fabulous record), because Bill Laswell has a little something out there for everyone, and it's always done well. Remember the awesome bassline from Public Image Ltd.'s "Rise"? Bill Laswell. Looking for ambient? Bill Laswell. Jazz? Bill Laswell. Celtic? Bill Laswell. Rap/hip-hop? Bill Laswell. Always done with class and style. But, being partial to Eastern styled music, I rank City of Light as one of his best.