Some albums don't need any notes or explanation. Others do, and this is probably one of those. But as my copy is a review one, which Lucy filched from her office (they weren't going to review it anyway, see 1, 2, 3 for other examples), I don't have any context for it. It's quite fun to have to imagine one — my guess is something inspired by the writings of a zen monk who lived on a mountainside in the 16th century.
This music feels a long way from the stuff that made Riley's name (1, 2, 3). Its Oriental feel and occasional cheeky mischief make it sound almost like John Zorn at times. I'm going to see Terry Riley in a couple of months, for the first time since 1986. I figured I might not get another chance. The concert is a kind of tribute to Pran Nath, so I'm not at all sure what to expect.
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