Trailblazing '70s Album of Female Electronic Composers Reissued on Collector’s Red Vinyl

Groundbreaking '70s Compilation of Female Electronic Artists Reissued on Vinyl

The historic compilation "New Music for Electronic and Recorded Media", originally released in 1977, has been reissued in a special, limited-edition format. Widely regarded as one of the most significant feminist statements in experimental music history, the album features groundbreaking works by Laurie Spiegel, Laurie Anderson, Pauline Oliveros, Ruth Anderson, Annea Lockwood, Johanna M. Beyer, and Megan Roberts.

With only 300 copies pressed on red vinyl, this collector’s edition includes updated liner notes by Jennifer Lucy Allen and Bradford Bailey, alongside the original text by Charles Amirkhanian. Nearly five decades after its debut, this reissue reaffirms the album’s status as both a revolutionary artistic achievement and a bold feminist declaration.

A Milestone in Feminist Experimental Music

Upon its original release, "New Music for Electronic and Recorded Media" sparked a quiet revolution as the first compilation to focus exclusively on experimental female composers. Many of the featured artists debuted their first recordings on this album, including Laurie Spiegel, whose Appalachian Grove I laid the groundwork for her 1980 masterpiece, The Expanding Universe.

Other highlights include:

• Pauline Oliveros’ Bye Bye Butterfly (1965), a daring two-channel tape composition blending oscillators and excerpts from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. This visionary piece feels like a precursor to the sounds of Aphex Twin and remains astonishingly modern.
• Johanna M. Beyer, whose Music of the Spheres is performed by Don Buchla and Allen Strange’s Electric Weasel Ensemble, utilizing Buchla's Music Easel synthesizers. Beyer’s inclusion challenges the historical erasure of women in classical and experimental music.
• Annea Lockwood with World Rhythms (1975), an innovative concrète fantasy blending environmental sounds like motorboat engines and swamp gurgles to create a mesmerizing soundscape.
• Ruth Anderson’s Points (1974), a minimalist, microtonal tape composition made from pure sine waves that still sounds groundbreaking today.

Laurie Anderson contributes two pieces showcasing her signature mix of sardonic spoken word and angular, experimental soundscapes, which remain as captivating and ahead of their time as ever.

A Statement of Resistance and Innovation

This reissue also sheds light on the historical marginalization of female composers. By featuring underappreciated figures such as Johanna M. Beyer, who passed away in 1944 with most of her works unpublished, the album challenges the erasure of women in music and celebrates their enduring influence on experimental and electronic genres.

Tracks That Shaped History

The album features eight tracks showcasing the avant-garde brilliance of its contributors:

Side A:

• Johanna Beyer - Music of the Spheres
• Annea Lockwood - World Rhythms
• Pauline Oliveros - Bye Bye Butterfly

Side B:

• Laurie Spiegel - Appalachian Grove I
• Megan Roberts - I Could Sit Here All Day
• Ruth Anderson - Points
• Laurie Anderson - New York Social Life
• Laurie Anderson - Time to Go

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Each piece offers a unique perspective, reflecting the broad spectrum of sonic exploration undertaken by these pioneering composers.

Secure Your Copy (If You Can)

With only 300 copies pressed, this special edition is already sold out in many stores, making it a prized collector’s item. For fans of electronic music, this reissue is more than a record—it’s a vital piece of feminist and musical history. Buy it here.

If you get the chance, don’t miss the opportunity to experience these revolutionary compositions that continue to inspire new generations of artists.