Luxa

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Luxa was Harold Budd's first solo album since 1991's By the Dawn's Early Light. The time between solo album was spent recording and collaborating with the likes of Zeitgeist, Andy Partridge, and Hector Zazou. This album also marked a break for Budd from writing for ensembles, as he had throughout the 1990s. One notable difference between this keyboard-focused album and the last one like it (1988's acclaimed The White Arcades) are the brighter tones Budd displays on each instrumental. While tracks such as "Mandan" and "Agnes Martin" are decidedly moodier, many others have a warm, languid feel, possibly due to the influence of the desert around Mesa, Arizona, where this album was recorded. Luxa may be not be as inventive as other Budd works, and there are a few familiar fragments floating about, but it still maintains a hypnotic hold on the listener while inspiring cinematic images in the mind's eye. The veteran composer's mastery of space and silence still places him far above the legions of New Age imitators who use minimalism as a crutch rather than as a true means of expression. --Bryan Reesman

Luxa,Harold Budd,Gyroscope,Ambient,Neo-Classical,Pop,Popular Music,Rock

Luxa

Tracks:

Niki D
A Sidelong Glance From My Round Nefertiti
Agnes Martin
Anish Kapoor
Paul McCarthy
Serge Poliakoff
Djinn
Porphyry
How Dark The Response To Our Slipping Away
Nove Alberi
Chet
Mandan
Feral
Grace
Marion Brown (Sweet Earth Flying)
Steven Brown (Pleasure)

Album Description

Harold Budd's first solo album since By The Dawn's Early Light and the first keyboard-based album since The White Arcades. This re-issue includes new artwork, complete lyrics and extended liner notes.

Average customer rating:

so simple, yet so brilliant
My Second Rendezvous with Harold Budd since 1984
same as it ever was....
Nice, very nice
Incredible!

Luxa
Harold Budd
Manufacturer: Gyroscope
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Avalon Sutra/As Long As I Can Hold My Breath
The Room
The Pavilion of Dreams
Secret Observatory
Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid

ASIN: B0000035DT
Release Date: 1996-09-24

Tracks:

Butterflies With Tits: Niki D.
Butterflies With Tits: A Sidelong Glance From My Round Nefertiti
Butterflies With Tits: Agnes Martin
Butterflies With Tits: Anish Kapoor
Butterflies With Tits: Paul McCarthy
Butterflies With Tits: Serge Poliakoff
Inexact Shadows: Djinn
Inexact Shadows: Porphyry
Inexact Shadows: How Dark The Response To Our Slipping Away
Smoke Trees: Nove Alberi
Smoke Trees: Chet
Smoke Trees: Mandan
Smoke Trees: Feral
Smoke Trees: Grace
Laughing Innuendos: Marion Brown (Sweet Earth Flying)
Laughing Innuendos: Steve Brown (Pleasure)

Amazon.com

Luxa was Harold Budd's first solo album since 1991's By the Dawn's Early Light. The time between solo album was spent recording and collaborating with the likes of Zeitgeist, Andy Partridge, and Hector Zazou. This album also marked a break for Budd from writing for ensembles, as he had throughout the 1990s. One notable difference between this keyboard-focused album and the last one like it (1988's acclaimed The White Arcades) are the brighter tones Budd displays on each instrumental. While tracks such as "Mandan" and "Agnes Martin" are decidedly moodier, many others have a warm, languid feel, possibly due to the influence of the desert around Mesa, Arizona, where this album was recorded. Luxa may be not be as inventive as other Budd works, and there are a few familiar fragments floating about, but it still maintains a hypnotic hold on the listener while inspiring cinematic images in the mind's eye. The veteran composer's mastery of space and silence still places him far above the legions of New Age imitators who use minimalism as a crutch rather than as a true means of expression. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews:

so simple, yet so brilliant .......2005-02-20

I'm sort of a new lover of Harold Budd. I've only known or heard of this great composer for about 8 months now, but I've spent this time tranfixed on the style and mood of Harold Budd. I can not say I have all the fancy words or expressions of some of the other reviews on here of his CD's, but the music trancends time and space, and takes you to far off places. Luxa is one of the finest CD's in my Budd collection now. Even though I paid a heavty price for it, and was a bit reluctant, it was very much worth the money. Much in the same feel as "The White Arcade" and "The Room", but the sound quality and depth of sound is remarkable. I highly recommend this CD. If your just starting out your Budd collection like me, begin with the more obvious titles, but work your way to Luxa, you won't be disappointed.

My Second Rendezvous with Harold Budd since 1984.......2001-05-11

Ambient music preoccupied the first half of my life since Eno and Budd had walked into my private chamber in the 70s and 80s. The mood and tranquility that being generated and developed through the collaboration of the two afore mentioned artists, which looked very much aspired by Satie, provided the most relaxing and meditating ambiance to draw city men away from the daily pressurized robotic life. Luxa - a name which made no meaning to me, rather all its masterpieces, had led me to travel through another time and space to experience the beauty and mystery of nature. Pictures after pictures, scenes after scenes, vivid, yet peaceful, flipped across my mind, as if it were an endless trip to a faraway land with no boundary. Hat off to Harold Budd. Ambient 2 and The Pearl hit 80s while Luxa took over the 90s and even transcends the Millennium.

same as it ever was...........2000-10-04

Harold Budd is probably sick of reading this sort of praise about his work, but truth is truth. He writes beautiful music. I would go as far as to say pretty music. HB is not going to set the world on fire with his piano technique, but then again he would be the first to admit to that. He has a very minimalistic way of of playing the piano, a very much soft pedaled approach. When HB performs you have feel within that time stands very much still.

Like most people who are aware of the music of Harold Budd, I first came across his music back in the eighties via the two releases with Brian Eno. The Plateaux of Mirror and The Pearl with Budd on electric and acoustic pianos and Eno providing shimmering background textures and atmospheres, both went on to become benchmark classic ambient releases blitzing what little opposition there was, and elevating ambient music to an art form.

This is HB's first solo work since 1991. It's basically HB paying tribute to people like Chet Baker, Agnes Martin, Serge Poliakoff. The music itself is as usual very light and free floating, the sort of thing we have come to expect from someone like Mr Budd. Sustained atmospheres bring back memories of The Pearl. What a beautiful album that was. This is dream music, hypnotic in effect. This really is beautiful music HB.

Nice, very nice.......2000-02-07

Harold Budd's latest album is a return to the minimalistic style of his early work and to his collaborations with Brian Eno in the early-'80s. Budd's early-'90s albums were strong statements of his imimitable standing between pop, new age, and contemporary classical music, but chamber music isn't exactly my cup of tea (although the performance of the Zeitgeist ensemble on "She's a phantom" was flawless). However, "Luxa" is divided into four musically different sections. The first one features the more pop-oriented pieces, like the rhythmic "Niki D." and "Paul McCarthy" with its delicate harmonies. The second part of this album comes up with three minature tracks, showing Budd at his purest. The third section obviously was inspired by Budd's former native place, the Mojave Desert. Synth-driven tracks like "Nove alberi" and "Feral" are the soundtrack to a very hot and dry day in the desert. The last two pieces are dedicated to Marion and Steven Brown. Overall, the sound quality is much better than on Budd's earlier records. I think "Luxa" is his best effort since "The pearl" in 1984.

Incredible!.......1998-10-21

Ignore the odd titles. Turn off the lights. Turn on to something or someone. Relax. listen. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

No Name, No Slogan

Manufacturer: Wax Trax
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000BNY7K0

Product Description

Remixes

Average customer rating:

Luxa
Harold Budd
Manufacturer: United States Dist
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000254Y9Q
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Tracks:

Butterflies with Tits: Niki D.
Butterflies with Tits: A Sidelong Glance from My Round Nefertiti
Butterflies with Tits: Agnes Martin
Butterflies with Tits: Anish Kapoor
Butterflies with Tits: Paul McCarthy
Butterflies with Tits: Serge Poliakoff
Inexact Shadows: Djinn
Inexact Shadows: Poryphry
Inexact Shadows: How Dark the Response to Our Slipping Away
Smoke Trees: Nove Alberi
Smoke Trees: Chet
Smoke Trees: Mandan
Smoke Trees: Feral
Smoke Trees: Grace
Laughing Innuendos: Marion Brown (Sweet Earth Flying)
Laughing Innuendos: Steven Brown (Pleasure)

Album Description

Further mellowness from the King of Shoehorned Piano. This album has quite a bit of substance. Pretty much a construct of keyboards and piano combinations in different timbres, and a rather interesting collection thereof. A few of the tracks shift more towards the Pop side than I would expect, but there are some seriously mellowed-out influences around the corners. It's probably a nice disc for shuffle play, but I keep forgetting. Not sure where to point to any other copies, but it won't be hidden too deeply. Saints. 2005.

Average customer rating: