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It is with enormous pleasure that I found the first of these three discs, Steve Reich's Four Organs and Phase Pattern. What is astonishing here is that these recordings came so close to writing of the pieces. Four Organs was written in January 1970, and the recording comes from May of that year. Phase Patterns was written in February 1970, with the recording being made in November of that year. So early, in fact, that Phillip Glass is still playing with Reich at this point, and appears on keyboards in the opening track.
As such this is enough to bring a bit of a tear to this old mans eye. It's like holding a Holy relic in your hands. To listen to this is like tapping into some celestial station and catching a glimpse of the birth of man.
Sure it's not expertly recorded (though not too terrible, and certainly not enough to discourage a purchase), these weren't recorded with the best tools. And yes, Four Organs is perhaps one of the most difficult pieces Reich has written (rather than repeated patterns, we have tones growing LONGER, which is a rather strange listening experience.) But the very opportunity this disc gives us more than makes up for the effort. Ignore the fact that there's only 32 minutes of music here, and transport yourself back in time.
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