Released 1984 (1984) Work Resumed on the Tower
(1984) Letters Home
(1986) Release date 1984 Label Recommended Records (UK) | Length 34:47 Artist News from Babel Producer News from Babel Genre Experimental rock | |
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Recorded 10–19 October 1983,
2–3 November 1983
London Experimental rock albums Letters Home, Complete, Hopes and Fears, Each in Our Own Thoughts, The World as It Is Today | ||
Work Resumed on the Tower (also known as Sirens and Silences/Work Resumed on the Tower) is a 1984 studio album by English avant-rock group News from Babel. It was recorded at Tim Hodgkinson's Cold Storage Recording Studios in Brixton, London, in October and November 1983, and released in 1984. It was their debut album and included guest vocalist Phil Minton. The music on the album was composed by Lindsay Cooper and the song texts were written by Chris Cutler.
Contents
The album comprises two song-suites Sirens and Silences and Work Resumed on the Tower, each on one side of the original LP release. The CD releases of the album were entitled Sirens and Silences/Work Resumed on the Tower. For technical reasons, the LP release was pressed on a 12" disc at 45 rpm, and not the standard 33⅓ rpm.
Background
The formation of News from Babel and the creation of this album was inspired by literary critic George Steiner's 1975 book on language and translation, After Babel. Commenting on the group, Chris Cutler said: "I liked the idea of a record as a letter or a newscast from a doomed but hopeful place." The album's title referred to the Tower of Babel. In the booklet accompanying the original LP release, Cutler wrote:
CD reissues
Track listing
All music composed by Chris Cutler and Lindsay Cooper.
Personnel
Songs
1Odysseus2:56
2Auschwitz/Babel4:07
3Klein's Bottle3:17