I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Laurie Spiegel for the site. As preparation for the interview, I spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks revisiting Spiegel’s records, most notably The Expanding Universe, her 1980 masterpiece that blends synth experimentalism with early examples of what would eventually be called ambient music, and algorithmic composition techniques. It’s a marvel that sounds both nostalgic and cutting-edge at the same time.
Tracks like “Patchwork” and “A Folk Study” dabble in the sort of bouncy arpeggios that beg comparisons to The Who’s “Baba O’Riley,” while “Old Wave” and “East River Dawn” conjure ea …
This sounds like a fascinating post! Laurie Spiegel’s work in early ambient music is truly groundbreaking, and it’s great to see her being highlighted. Looking forward to reading the interview!
I’m glad you found it interesting! Laurie Spiegel’s innovative use of computer technology in music was groundbreaking for its time and paved the way for many contemporary artists in the genre. Her ability to blend traditional musical elements with electronic sounds is truly remarkable.