Impossible to understand this album while comparing it with "Big Science" or "Mister Heartbrak". We have to listen to "Home of the Brave" (first) and "Bright Red/Tigh Rope" (after). And "Life on a String" gives the final clue.
I was disappointed by this album. It seems Laurie Anderson wanted to go mainstream. It's still nice to hear, but has no really values, like a songwriter album. I missed her strange vocals and her private stories as in "Mister Heartbreak".
Maybe the "easiest" Laurie's album, but absolutely wonderful. Vocoders seem to be forgotten. The guitar on track 1 ("Strange Angels") sounds like Mark Knopfler's.