---
title: The Creation of the Universe
description: The Creation of the Universe, the 2009 double live album by Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio: Lou Reed, Ulrich Krieger and Sarth Calhoun, recorded over two nights at REDCAT in Los Angeles, October 2008.
url: https://www.sarth.net/transmissions/the-creation-of-the-universe/
published: 2009-05-19
facet: dream
credit: Lou Reed, guitar, electronics and a small Continuum. Ulrich Krieger, tenor saxophone and live electronics. Sarth Calhoun, Continuum, and the whole field processed through Kyma.
author: Sarth Calhoun
---
[Transmissions](/transmissions/) / The Creation of the Universe

Transmission · Dream

# *The Creation of the Universe*

*The Creation of the Universe* is a double live album by Lou Reed’s Metal Machine Trio: [Lou Reed](/conspirators/lou-reed/), [Ulrich Krieger](/conspirators/ulrich-krieger/) and me. It was recorded over two nights at REDCAT in Los Angeles, October 2 and 3, 2008, the concerts that became [Metal Machine Trio](/conspiracies/metal-machine-trio/), and released in May 2009 on Reed’s Sister Ray Recordings under the Best Seat in the House banner.

Two tracks, *Night 1* and *Night 2*, each about fifty-five minutes.

![Cover of The Creation of the Universe by Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio.](/images/art-creation-of-the-universe.jpg)

Cover, *The Creation of the Universe*, 2009.

> We have formed a recording unit called BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. We intend to put out different types of my music - from industrial to meditative to songs and all subway stops in between. CREATE!
> 
> Lou Reed, as quoted on Sarth’s site

## How it was recorded

We recorded the sets with a matched pair of Schoeps and a stereo Royer, and released them as they were -- pure ambient microphone tracks with no direct lines. That stuff was released as a double live CD, “Creation of the Universe.” This was the start of the group which was eventually renamed The Metal Machine Trio, and we went on to play in Europe, Brazil, and Australia.

We called the music “Deep Noise” because that’s what it was. At times though, it felt almost like improvised classical music, or something which didn’t have a name.

## Listen

[Embedded player](https://embed.music.apple.com/us/album/the-creation-of-the-universe/315196713)

The record: Night 1, fifty-five minutes. Night 2, fifty-six. On [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-creation-of-the-universe/315196713) and [Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/release/1583151-Lou-Reed-s-Metal-Machine-Trio-The-Creation-Of-The-Universe).

> The REDCAT stage looked like a rehearsal room Friday night when Lou Reed, Ulrich Krieger and Sarth Calhoun took the stage.
> 
> Ann Powers, [Los Angeles Times, October 4, 2008](https://web.archive.org/web/20110312081628/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/soundboard/2008/10/lou-reed-and-ul.html)

## The nights

The album is the two REDCAT nights billed as *Unclassified: Lou Reed and Ulrich Krieger*, the shows that sold out inside a day and had a late set added. [Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lou-reed-oct-3-2008-los-angeles-redcatcalarts-theater-1043833/) heard me seated behind a desk with computers and mixers adding chunky layers of sub-frequency bass vibrations to the mix.

The later [ambisonic installation](/conspiracies/creation-of-the-universe-ambisonic/) of the same name uses a different recording, from the Gramercy show of April 24, 2009, not this album. The dates are on [Sightings](/sightings/).

## Conspiracies

Made by [Metal Machine Trio](/conspiracies/metal-machine-trio/), the trio’s first release. The processing ran through [Kyma](/devices/); the instrument was the Continuum. The press on the record and the shows is on [Rumors](/rumors/).

Who played what: Lou Reed, guitar, electronics and a small Continuum. Ulrich Krieger, tenor saxophone and live electronics. Sarth Calhoun, Continuum, and the whole field processed through Kyma.

My account and the Lou Reed line are from the Conspiracies page of my old Squarespace site. Release data from Apple Music and Discogs.