Reinhardt Buhr—Unscripted Live

I've seen many artists use looping to great effect, but there's something about Reinhardt's work that manages to transcend it to a different level. I first became aware of him on Facebook, where I'd see videos of him simply hanging out on the streets, creating what can only be described as absolutely incredible music on his live looping equipment. There's something quite mesmerising about watching someone build a composition from scratch, layer by layer, with each new sound becoming another piece of the puzzle.

This release of 10 songs captures that live feel and takes his music in a variety of directions, but always remains firmly grounded in that same creative space. Sound after sound is added, altered and removed, with seemingly disparate sounds gradually coming together to form something quite beautiful. It's a fascinating process, and one that gives the album a real sense of movement and spontaneity.

"Idea One" falls into what I'd probably describe as the modern classical genre, with a strong piano/keyboard focus. It's soft, lilting and melancholic, but always beautiful. There's a real delicacy to it, and it's one of those pieces that gently draws you in without ever needing to demand your attention.

"Idea Two" gives me much more of a Tangerine Dream vibe, with an electronic keyboard foundation complemented by cello, an instrument that features quite regularly in his work. It's fascinating and hypnotic, and you can't help but be swept away as each new sound makes its introduction, only to meld effortlessly with what's already there. There's a wonderful organic quality to the way the composition develops, despite its electronic foundations.

With ten tracks on the album it's surprising that it runs for nearly 2 hours, but when you listen that time just flies by. There's plenty to explore, but if I had to pick a couple of favourites, I'd probably settle on "Idea One" and "Idea Nine". I suspect that says something about my penchant for the more keyboard-focused compositions, although "Idea Two" is also right up there, particularly given my love for Tangerine Dream.

Although Reinhardt is from and based in South Africa, some of his music takes a rather interesting detour into world music territory. At times, there's an almost Eastern European flavour to proceedings and sometimes Asian, which I think is often down to the particular combination of instruments and sounds he brings together. It's another aspect that makes the album such a fascinating journey, as you never quite know where the next composition is going to take you.

Having followed his work for a while, I'd say this album is a solid introduction to what he does. There's a real appreciation to be had not only for his musicianship, but also for his remarkable improvisational ability. Given that the album is recorded live, it's particularly impressive to consider just how much thought, creativity and instinct goes into bringing these pieces together. It's one thing to play an instrument well, but quite another to build something so cohesive and captivating in real time.