As the Turkey-fare winds down and the boxes of Christmas decor make their way from the basement, a transition is needed. Ringing in the holiday season in subtlety requires a look no further than America’s finest composer and most innovative maestro of steel string.
Terry Riley :: Shri Camel
Incredibly, Terry Riley’s 1980 mid-period classic Shri Camel had never been reissued on vinyl until last month. But Real Gone Music’s new edition gives listeners a fresh opportunity to revisit what was arguably the studio culmination of Riley’s solo organ-and-tape-delay performances of the 1970s. Over the course of four long movements, Shri Camel alternates between almost overwhelming spiritual intensity and mischievous humor and joy.