Robert Barry “Otherwise”

Robert Barry

Otherwise

Van Abbemuseum (Holland) 1981

VA-01 (LP)

sleeve : EX(wear on corner.)

media : EX/EX(some slightly noises.)

This is an album released in 1981 by the American artist Robert Barry, who was a leading figure in conceptual art alongside Lawrence Weiner and Joseph Kosuth in New York. It was produced as part of a project at a modern art museum in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The analog record features an avant-garde sound poetry piece consisting of a continuous listing of words and short phrases. Words like "Sometime," "Non Sence," "Wonder," and "Hoping For" are read aloud in intervals of about 30 seconds, alternating with periods of silence, for nearly 200 words. At first glance, it may seem devoid of any coherent context, but listeners somehow find themselves trying to derive meaning from it, making it a truly intriguing audio poetry. When played alongside ambient music, natural sounds, or various other audio elements, new perspectives emerge. The artwork is also exceptional. Highly recommended

A: Otherwise