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City Life / New York Counterpoint / Eight Lines / Violin Phase
Classical · 2003 · 14 tracks · 1h 5m

City Life / New York Counterpoint / Eight Lines / Violin Phase

Steve Reich

A high-definition portrait of the modern metropolis. Field recordings of street speech and sirens collide with interlocking, mathematical woodwind and string patterns.

October 7, 2003 · RCA Red Seal

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A high-tension, intellectually rigorous exploration of urban energy that finds beauty in mechanical repetition.

Tracklist · 14 Tracks · 1h 5m
01
City Life: I. "Check it out"
5:38
02
City Life: II. Pile driver / alarms
3:53
03
City Life: III. "It's been a honeymoon - Can't take no mo"
5:01
04
City Life: IV. Heartbeats / boats & buoys
3:55
05
City Life: V. "Heavy Smoke"
4:53
06
New York Counterpoint: I. Fast
4:44
07
New York Counterpoint: II. Slow
2:40
08
New York Counterpoint: III. Fast
3:22
09
Eight Lines (Octet): I. Number 1
3:32
10
Eight Lines (Octet): II. Number 16
2:50
11
Eight Lines (Octet): III. Number 31
3:48
12
Eight Lines (Octet): IV. Number 46
2:29
13
Eight Lines (Octet): V. Number 61
3:27
14
Violin Phase
15:21
Moments Worth Listening For
The jarring transition in 'City Life' where a pile driver and car alarms are transformed into a rigorous rhythmic foundation.
The dizzying psychoacoustic effect in 'Violin Phase' when the two melodic lines drift just far enough apart to create a third, ghost-like melody.
The moment in 'New York Counterpoint' where eleven clarinets lock into a shimmering, pulsating wall of woodwind texture.
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does City Life / New York Counterpoint / Eight Lines / Violin Phase sound next to the rest of Steve Reich's catalogue?

Urban Night+2.2σ

Urban Night saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

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