| | | Ratings (35) |
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| 1.0 awful | Iai EMERITUS | June 10th 08 |
A compilation of Reich's earliest compositions, Early Works shows off his experiments with tape loops and phase shifting, an important concept to minimalism's development and a stepping stone for music. So yes, these pieces are important. They're also awful. For a combined length of over 30 minutes, "Come Out" and "It's Gonna Rain" spin just one vocal sample each - both taken from racially provocative sources - against another recording of the same vocal sample that's playing slightly faster, until the two cycle right through and sync up again. It's an interesting concept, but then so was the Portsmouth Sinfonia - this is even more unlistenable. "Clapping Music" is exactly that, with the same phased idea, and while "Piano Phase" is the best thing here, it still wouldn't trouble a list of minimalism's finest moments. One should only listen to this is they are studying 20th century music - it's quite simply not an album to be enjoyed.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | GhandhiLion | May 2nd 17 |
Come out to show them! Come out to show them!
Come out to show them! Come out to show them!
That aside, Piano Phase is fantastic. These
tracks are essential listening.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | birdmusiclog | January 5th 22 |
1965-1972. Special attention be paid to It's Gonna Rain. Special attention not be paid to Clapping Music.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | HarrySmalldini97 | November 30th 15 |
Yeah this stuff is classic, it is going to rain after all
Bump |
| 3.5 great | deathprofessa47 | April 30th 13 |
Don't think them as compositions. Think of them as field work.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | TRMshadow | May 13th 12 |
Not really that great one way or the other... some may contend that it is a masterpiece and a ground-breaking work of minimalism, while his friend may claim that it's all just a bunch of conflicting melodies and is utterly unlistenable. Music like this is one of the few pieces of music that hinges entirely on the person listening. One man's trash is another man's treasure. 2.9/5 (for me at least)
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | FillInTheBlankHere___ | February 16th 09 |
I disagree - I listen to this album on a regular basis, and the tape pieces are engaging to listen to the subtle modulation of the phases. Steve Reich is incredible.
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| 4.0 excellent | perival | July 12th 23 |
| 3.5 great | ZIG | February 19th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | MmJj | January 12th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Neatoo | August 4th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfe | June 25th 17 |
| 3.5 great | bgf97 | November 13th 13 |
| 3.0 good | sehguh | January 4th 12 |
| 3.5 great | BlueW | August 2nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | solopez | February 6th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | conradtao EMERITUS | October 27th 10 |
| 2.0 poor | qwe3 | January 22nd 10 |
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