Laswell

Real Name:
Bill Laswell
Profile:
Bill Laswell (b. February 12, 1955 in Salem, Illinois and raised in Albion, Michigan) is an American bassist, producer and record label owner. He is married to Ethiopian singer Gigi.

Laswell ranks among the most prolific of musicians, being involved in hundreds of recordings with many musicians from all over the world. Laswell's music draws upon many different genres, most notably funk, various world music, jazz, dub and ambient styles. He has also played or produced music from the noisier, more aggressive end of the rock spectrum, like hardcore punk and metal.
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Artist

Shortcut Code: [a661]
Data Quality Rating: Needs Vote

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Discography

Releases:
Low Life (CD)   Celluloid 1987
Charged (CD, Album, Promo)   Apollo 1999
Live At The Bowery Poetry Project 11/07/04 (File, MP3)   Musso Music 2007
Remixes:
Vibe Alive (12", Single)   Columbia 1988
Anything (CDr, Promo) Anything (Laswell Remix) BMG 2003
Double Damage (CD, Album, Enh + CD, Album) Blame And Demand (Wobb... Underground, Inc. 2003
Chrysalis Music - Winter Music Conference 2008 (2xCDr, Smplr, Promo) Gangsta Roll (Laswell ... Chrysalis Music Group USA 2008
Production:
Compact Disc (Album) (4 versions)   Elektra ... 1985
Makossa Rock (12")   Celluloid 1985
Absolute Beginners / Rise (7", Promo) Rise Virgin Dischi 1986
Home (12")   Virgin, Virgin 1986
The Island Story 1962-1987 25th Anniversary (Comp) (2 versions) Boops (Here To Go) Island Records 1987
Beat Wise (12")   Columbia 1988
Perfect Machine (Album) (3 versions)   Columbia ... 1988
Vibe Alive (12", Single)   Columbia 1988
The Greatest Hits, So Far (Album, Comp) (4 versions) Rise, Home Virgin ... 1990
Ekstasis (CD, Album)   Axiom 1993
Shadow Run (CD, Album)   Mercury 1993
Trance Europe Express (2xCD, Comp + Box) Praying Mantra (Orb Re... Volume, Volume 1993
25 Years (CD, Album)   Rykodisc 1995
Macro Dub Infection Volume One (2xCD, Comp) Astral Altar Dub Virgin, Virgin 1995
Plastic Box (4xCD)   Virgin, Virgin 1999
Various Failures 1988-1992 (2xCD, Comp) I Remember Who You Are... Young God Records 1999
Co-production:
Dissident (CD, Album)   Day Eight Music, Day Eight Music 1991
Mix:
Dreamspeed / Blind Light 1992-1994 (2xCD, RM)   Tzadik 2003
Appears On:
American Songs (LP, EP)   Red Music 1981
Bustin' Out / Over & Over (7", Single) Bustin' Out, Over & Over ZE Records, Island Records 1981
My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (Album) (7 versions) America Is Waiting, Am... Polydor ... 1981
Ambient 4: On Land (Album) (12 versions) Lizard Point, Lizard P... Editions EG ... 1982
Club Tropicana / Rockit (7", Promo) Rockit CBS 1984
Compact Disc (Album) (4 versions)   Elektra ... 1985
Makossa Rock (12")   Celluloid 1985
Pata Piya (Full Length Extended Version) / Abele Dance (85) (12") Pata Piya (Extended Ve... Celluloid, Streetwave 1985
Absolute Beginners / Rise (7", Promo) Rise Virgin Dischi 1986
Home (12") Home (Version From 'Al... Virgin, Virgin 1986
The Island Story 1962-1987 25th Anniversary (Comp) (2 versions) Boops (Here To Go) Island Records 1987
The Noise Of Trouble (Live In Tokyo) (Album) (2 versions) Base Metal, Help Me Mo... Enemy Records ... 1987
Beat Wise (12")   Columbia 1988
Perfect Machine (Album) (3 versions)   Columbia ... 1988
Vibe Alive (12", Single)   Columbia 1988
Best Of 12 Inch Gold (Volume 10) (CD, Comp) Rockit Old Gold (2) 1989
100 Dance Hits Of The Eighties (2 versions) Rockit Connoisseur Collection 1990
About Time (CD, Album, RE) Much Too Old Decal 1990
The Greatest Hits, So Far (Comp) (3 versions) Rise, Home Virgin ... 1990
Dissident (CD, Album) Black Swans, Heart Of ... Day Eight Music, Day Eight Music 1991
Soul Years 1983 (2xCass, Comp) Rockit Knight Records Ltd 1991
I'll Strangle You (Maxi) (4 versions)   Crammed Discs ... 1992
Sahara Blue (CD, Album, Ltd) I'll Strangle You, I'l... Crammed Discs, BMG Ariola München GmbH 1992
A Brief History Of Ambient - Volume 1 (2xCD, Comp) The End Of Words Virgin Records America, Inc. 1993
Ekstasis (CD, Album) Tarab, Meet Your Maker... Axiom 1993
Headfirst Into The Flames - Live In Europe (CD, Album)   MuWorks Records, MuWorks Records 1993
Shadow Run (CD, Album) Shadow Run, The Black ... Mercury 1993
This Is How It Feels (CD, Album)   Restless Records 1993
Trance Europe Express (2xCD, Comp + Box) Praying Mantra (Orb Re... Volume, Volume 1993
A Brief History Of Ambient Volume 3: The Music Of Changes (2xCD, Comp) Kingdom Come Virgin, Virgin 1994
25 Years (CD, Album) Sample This, Brown Sug... Rykodisc 1995
Macro Dub Infection Volume One (2xCD, Comp) Astral Altar Dub, This... Virgin, Virgin 1995
The Best Of Gong (CD, Comp) Much Too Old Nectar Masters 1995
TEXtures (2xCass, Mixed, Comp + Box) Praying Mantra (Orb Re... Volume 1996
Wide Horizons (CD, Comp) Mektoub Gruppo Futura 1996
Temporary Music (1979-1981) (CD, Comp)   Movieplay Gold 1997
Lingo (CD, Album) 47, Black Athena, Niñ... BMG 1998
Future Shock (Album) (3 versions)   Columbia ... 1999
Best Of The Eighties - 108 Original Hits (6xCD, Comp, Box) Rise EMI Gold, EMI Records Ltd. 2000
Meltdown (CD, Album)   Tzadik 2001
The Essence (12")   Transparent Music 2001
Disco Not Disco 2 (2xLP) Ciguri Strut 2002
Rockit 2.002 (12") Rockit 2.002 (Full Len... Transparent Music 2002
Step Across The Border (CD, RE, Comp, Dig) Legs, Legs, Same Old Me ReR Megacorp, Fred Records 2002
Dreamspeed / Blind Light 1992-1994 (2xCD, RM)   Tzadik 2003
Original Masters: Ambient Works Selection (CD, Smplr, Promo) Lizard Point Virgin, Virgin 2004
ZE Christmas Album (CD, Comp) It's A Holiday ZE Records 2004
Köln (CD, Album, RE)   Atavistic 2005
Poplife™ Presents Poplife Sucks (CD, Comp, Mixed) Don't Lose Control 541 2008
Tracks Appear On:
A Brief History Of Ambient Volume 3: The Music Of Changes (2xCD, Comp) Kingdom Come Virgin, Virgin 1994
Area Entertainment I (CD) Anesthesia Artelier Music 1998
Atmospheric Synthesizer Spectacular - Vol. 1 (CD) Rockit Tring International PLC  
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by jaxxalude Nov 30, 2003
Strange that no comment is still done about such an important figure in music. Not just electronic. In music, period. Bill Laswell's music is not one to be tagged, simply because this man has travelled so many musical roads. His discography is almost impossible to be updated, given his almost inhuman work rate. But wherever he is, his influence is felt. One thing is for sure: as a bass player, it is hard to beat this man's abilities. And as a producer, he is simply one of the most creative and groundbreaking people ever to walk this planet. He may not hit the mark all the time (and given his work rate, that is impossible). But when he hits the mark... boy, we can almost say he hits the jackpot!
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YouTube Videos

Bill Laswell/Tetsu Inoue - Ruins