Delusion October 29, 2010

Laurie Anderson’s sonic innovations and incisive, off-beat humor have earned her a reputation as a master of performance art/rock. Commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and the Barbican Centre in London, Delusion bears all the striking sensual trademarks that Anderson fans have come to expect. The spoken text, an intriguing romp through Anderson’s impish train of thought, is presented in tandem with dreamlike animated images that sometimes reinforce and sometimes serve as counterpoint to the words.

Anderson performs the live music on electronic violin bolstered by baritone saxophone and viola in what Vancouver’s straight.com describes as “Anderson’s most musically satisfying undertaking since the pop success of 1984’s Mister Heartbreak.” Delusion tells a rich story about longing, memory and identity — mixing the pleasure of language with a terrible inkling that the world may be made entirely of words.

Official Website: http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/2010/