Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto Glass

Noton

Revered composers and sound designers Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto come together for their seventh collaborative album. The continuous, 37-minute album is a live recording from a completely improvised performance at architect Philip Johnson’s Glass House in Connecticut. The duo, having only rehearsed once the day before, experimented with keyboards, mixers, glass bowls, crotales, gong mallets, rubber heads and the building itself to create a fascinating experience. Stylish and elegantly minimal, Glass has an ethereal aesthetic that seems to let the sounds of nature into the house. Its glistening chimes and melodies evoke the sensation of rain and condensation whilst the ever-present pads inject drama, tension and suspense throughout. There’s a watchful sensation at play, putting the listener in the role of uneasy onlooker. Mostly tonal, textual and spatial, the album evolves from a meditative state into an unfurling of emotive and profound melodies that leave a lasting impact. A stunning performance from two highly attuned composers, Glass is a beautiful work that combines music, art and architecture with style and precision.

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8/10