Genre(s): Minimalism
Release Date: April, 1978
My Rating: 4.5/5

You could definitely characterize Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" as extremely pretentious, or as really weird elevator music. The composition came either from a burst of mad genius or an unhealthy amount of psychoactive drugs (or maybe one caused the other). But as polarizing as it is, there's a truly unique sound here for those with the patience to listen to the whole hour. Allow me to quote from Steve Reich's actual website:

"The entire opening and closing sections plus part of all sections in between contain pulses by the voice and winds. They take a full breath and sing or play pulses of particular notes for as long as their breath will comfortably sustain them."

As far as I can tell, this pulsing is individual, so each musician decides when to start playing their pulse and when to end. So while the piano and marimba lay down a steady drumming beat, other instruments phase in and out in different combinations. They rhythm also evolves, gradually changing to something completely different. The change is slow enough that if you listen to any few sequential minutes, you would hard pressed to hear differences. But skip between different parts and nothing is the same.

This puts "Music for 18 Musicians" on the high pedestal of the most hypnotic music I am aware of. The steady rhythm and pulsing sounds lull you into a flow state while changing just enough that it's not repetitive. Literally the perfect thing to fall asleep or work to.

YT Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_neSJpc6NyatKQ0ejPgVstLUQVIddFlF7A

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2zUpKJnQgl3YMUJ4dqYo61

Review Date: January 16, 2025
Last Updated: N/A