Tristan Perich and James McVinnie—Infinity Gradient

Again, this might seem a little out of left field, but when something resonates, it’s hard to ignore. That was exactly my reaction to this new release from Tristan Perich and James McVinnie.

The album has 8 tracks, and most listeners will probably know from the first one whether it’s going to be for them. Imagine ambient and electronic influences with touches of classical, and you’re close to the general feel.

If you’re familiar with Philip Glass, you’ll know the territory. Much of the album brings to mind his 1993 release Glassworks in its structure and melodic ideas. Where Glassworks uses piano, synth and even flute, this record pairs pipe organ with 100 speakers. I had to pause at that too, so I checked Bandcamp and found this explanation:

"...an hour-long symphony in seven movements for organ and 100 speakers in 1-bit audio, recorded for this album at London’s Royal Festival Hall (RFH) at Southbank Centre... The 100 speakers are set across the stage featuring four giant subwoofers, 24 medium-sized speakers, and 72 small speakers – against the backdrop of RFH’s imposing organ". I can read that description, but I still don’t think I can fully picture what it would feel like in a live setting. I’d love the chance to hear it in person. I’m sure Bach would appreciate what’s being accomplished here, centuries after his own organ masterpieces.

Albums like this aren’t really about the individual tracks. They tend to flow from one into the next, and the focus is the experience, how you feel, and where the music carries you. As someone who loves repetition, I find it deeply meditative, and it’s also the sort of music I turn to when I need to shut out the outside world and retreat into my thoughts. My other go to pieces for that are George Harrison’s Wah Wah and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

It can be difficult to describe this kind of release to someone who might dismiss it without hearing it, yet I think many would be surprised at the journey it might take them on. For me, I knew immediately, this was going to be something special.