World of Echo

World of Echo
Studio album by Arthur Russell
Released	1986
Recorded	1985–1986
Genre	Experimental
Length	51:14
Label	Upside (US) Rough Trade (UK)
Arthur Russell chronology
Instrumentals, 1974 – Vol. 2 (1984) World of Echo (1986) Another Thought (1994)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Dusted	(positive)[2]
Pitchfork Media	(8.4/10)[3]
Stylus	(B+)[4]
2005 re-issue

World of Echo is the only full length non-collaborative studio album recorded, released and compiled by Arthur Russell during his lifetime. It was released in 1986 on Upside Records in the United States and on Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom.

Audika Records issued a limited edition CD on 27 October 2004 which included bonus tracks and a DVD with footage by Phill Niblock. They subsequently issued another CD on 11 January 2005 and a double vinyl edition on 29 March 2005. Rough Trade also reissued the album on 9 January 2005.

In culture

In 2016, Kanye West incorporated a prominent sample from Russell's "Answers Me" in his track "30 Hours".^[5]

Track listing

All songs written by Arthur Russell.

1. "Tone Bone Kone" – 1:05
2. "Soon-to-Be Innocent Fun / Let's See" – 9:36
3. "Answers Me" – 2:11
4. "Being It" – 5:17
5. "Place I Know / Kid Like You" – 3:28
6. "She's the Star / I Take This Time" – 4:57
7. "Tree House" – 2:15
8. "See-Through" – 2:10
9. "Hiding Your Present from You" – 4:17
10. "Wax the Van" – 2:11
11. "All-Boy All-Girl" – 3:44
12. "Lucky Cloud" – 2:53
13. "Tower of Meaning / Rabbit's Ear / Home Away from Home" – 4:38
14. "Let's Go Swimming" – 2:42

The reissued copies included the following bonus tracks:

15. "The Name of the Next Song" – 8:00
16. "Happy Ending" – 4:23
17. "Canvas Home" – 2:34
18. "Our Last Night Together" – 3:27

Personnel

People involved in the making of this album include:^[6]

• Arthur Russell – Cello, vocals, hand percussion, echo

Technical personnel

• Arthur Russell – Producer, liner notes
• Ernie Brooks – Producer
• Steve Cellum – Producer
• Ray Janos – Remastering
• Melissa Jones – Artwork
• Steve Knutson – Reissue executive producer
• Tom "Sisu" Lee – Reissue executive producer
• Phill Niblock – Producer
• Peter Zummo – Producer

Reception

FACT Magazine ranks World of Echo as the #1 album of the 1980s.^[7]

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Dusted review
3. Pitchfork Media review
4. Stylus review
5. "Kanye West Shares New Song "30 Hours," Adds More Songs to New Album The Life of Pablo". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
6. "World of Echo – Credits". Allmusic. Macrovision. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
7. FACT Magazine review