From Here to Infinity
Encyclopedia
From Here to Infinity (rendered on the cover and label art as From Here → Infinity) is the first solo album by Sonic Youth
guitarist/songwriter Lee Ranaldo
. The album consists of several compositions performed by Ranaldo with guitar, amplifier feedback, and guitar stompbox effects recorded onto extended tape loop
s.
on lock groove vinyl, which allowed the listener to listen to the remaining few seconds of each composition for as long as they desired. On the original vinyl recording, Ranaldo created a few of the tracks directly in the mastering
studio where the cutting of the original vinyl version took place. In addition to the locked grooves, the LP was mastered at 45 RPM (although the vinyl's record label also gave a "varispeed" designation, suggesting that the record could be enjoyed at any speed) and also contained on the album's second side an engraving of the serpent designed by Savage Pencil
, which was given its own track number, title, and facetious "infinity
" track length.
The spontaneous insertion of recordings during the vinyl cutting stage proved to be both a blessing and a minor setback when it came time for the compact disc edition of the album to be created, according to Ranaldo's sleeve note on the CD edition; Ranaldo utilized a combination of the original master tapes, and recordings taken directly from a vinyl copy of the album to reproduce the tracks that Ranaldo had done in the mastering studio. Ranaldo also extended the length of many of the tracks, and cut new tape loops based on the original recordings "to replace certain lock grooves" that the artist "wasn't altogether happy with" on the original record. The utilization of some transfers from a vinyl copy inspired Ranaldo to boast on the bottom of the sleeve note that the CD edition of From Here to Infinity was "the only compact disc with surface noise".
The album reached #20 in the UK Indie Chart
, spending six weeks on the chart.
The title was taken out of print after a business dispute between Sonic Youth and SST led to the deletion of all Sonic Youth titles from the SST catalog, although the title did remain on SST catalog inserts for a few years afterward; as of the spring of 2007, no new edition of From Here to Infinity is planned, although used/leftover copies of the CD trade for an average of $14 to $28 on such sites as Half.com.
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
guitarist/songwriter Lee Ranaldo
Lee Ranaldo
Lee M. Ranaldo is an American singer, guitarist, writer, record producer, and visual artist, best known as a co-founder of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth...
. The album consists of several compositions performed by Ranaldo with guitar, amplifier feedback, and guitar stompbox effects recorded onto extended tape loop
Tape loop
In music, tape loops are loops of prerecorded magnetic tape used to create repetitive, rhythmic musical patterns or dense layers of sound. Contemporary composers such as Steve Reich and Karlheinz Stockhausen used tape loops to create phase patterns and rhythms...
s.
Album history
The album was originally released by SST RecordsSST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
on lock groove vinyl, which allowed the listener to listen to the remaining few seconds of each composition for as long as they desired. On the original vinyl recording, Ranaldo created a few of the tracks directly in the mastering
Audio mastering
Mastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
studio where the cutting of the original vinyl version took place. In addition to the locked grooves, the LP was mastered at 45 RPM (although the vinyl's record label also gave a "varispeed" designation, suggesting that the record could be enjoyed at any speed) and also contained on the album's second side an engraving of the serpent designed by Savage Pencil
Savage Pencil
Savage Pencil is a comics artist, and is the nom de plume of English music journalist Edwin Pouncey.-Biography:...
, which was given its own track number, title, and facetious "infinity
Infinity
Infinity is a concept in many fields, most predominantly mathematics and physics, that refers to a quantity without bound or end. People have developed various ideas throughout history about the nature of infinity...
" track length.
The spontaneous insertion of recordings during the vinyl cutting stage proved to be both a blessing and a minor setback when it came time for the compact disc edition of the album to be created, according to Ranaldo's sleeve note on the CD edition; Ranaldo utilized a combination of the original master tapes, and recordings taken directly from a vinyl copy of the album to reproduce the tracks that Ranaldo had done in the mastering studio. Ranaldo also extended the length of many of the tracks, and cut new tape loops based on the original recordings "to replace certain lock grooves" that the artist "wasn't altogether happy with" on the original record. The utilization of some transfers from a vinyl copy inspired Ranaldo to boast on the bottom of the sleeve note that the CD edition of From Here to Infinity was "the only compact disc with surface noise".
The album reached #20 in the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
, spending six weeks on the chart.
The title was taken out of print after a business dispute between Sonic Youth and SST led to the deletion of all Sonic Youth titles from the SST catalog, although the title did remain on SST catalog inserts for a few years afterward; as of the spring of 2007, no new edition of From Here to Infinity is planned, although used/leftover copies of the CD trade for an average of $14 to $28 on such sites as Half.com.
Side one
- "Time Stands Still" - 2:40
- "Destruction Site" - 1:17
- "Ouroboron" - 0:46
- "Slo Drone" - 1:10
- "New Groove Loop" - 0:48
- "Florida Flower" - 0:40
- "Hard Left" - 0:18
Side two
- "Fuzz/Locusts" - 1:04
- "To Mary" - 0:40
- "Lathe Speaks" - 1:39
- "The Resolution" - 0:48
- "Sav X" - ∞
- This track is actually an etching of Savage Pencil's dragon from the front cover.
- "The Open End" - 0:24
Compact disc edition
- "Time Stands Still" - 3:51
- "Destruction Site" - 2:17
- "Ouroboron" - 1:41
- "Slo Drone" - 2:25
- "New Groove Loop" - 2:50
- "Florida Flower" - 1:05
- "Hard Left" - 1:43
- "Fuzz/Locusts" - 2:06
- "To Mary (X2)" - 3:26
- "Lathe Speaks" - 1:58
- "The Resolution" - 2:13
- "King's Ogg" - 4:15
External links
- Vinyl tracklisting and cover, label, and vinyl art at Discogs.org