I found this curious album at my local library in amongst all the ‘straight’ classical music. I’ve never been a huge fan of minimalism but this is fascinating stuff.

To fully appreciate the music on this CD you have to first understand the technique of ‘phasing’ used extensively here. Some time back in the early 60’s Steve Reich just happened to be listening with headphones wired to two separate tape machines that were synchronised to play the same recording (as you do !).

After a while Steve noticed that the sound in his head was moving back and forth and right to left. Reich attributed this effect to the fact that the left tape player was moving slightly faster than the right tape player. Having made this discovery he decided to utilise this ‘phasing’ process in future recordings.

The first recording made using phasing was “It’s Gonna rain” (1965). Basically Steve went out on the street and recorded hundreds of peoples voices. Two separate fragments of these recordings were used here “It’s gonna fall” and “Rain”. As the tape players gradually slip out of phase the two pieces gradually merge to create “It’s Gonna Rain”. If this sounds boring — you’ve got to hear it on headphones — it really is a mantra supreme. Besides which my wife wouldn’t last five minutes with it coming through my stereo speakers!

Similar techniques were used on the later “Come Out” (1966). This recording is based on a recording of the voice of young black street kid arrested for murder. Reich went through over 10 hours of tape to pick out this phrase to create the desired effect. This stuff really is hypnotic if you’re in the right mood. A further piece “Piano Phasing” is an attempt to use the technique in a live context with two synchronised piano players.

I have not heard many of Reich’s other albums but “Different Trains” (1988) is also worth getting. This is a kind of minimalist Trans Europa Express relocated to the American railroads.