“A meeting of the minds between [Steve] Reich and Radiohead” – Pitchfork’s Radio Rewrite Review

Pitchfork joins the growing list of media sites praising minimalist composer Steve Reich’s newest album Radio Rewrite. The title was spawned after Reich watched Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood’s performance of “Electric Counterpoint” at a Polish Festival. After the performance, Reich “felt something settle in with a “click”.The performance got Reich listening to Radiohead and ultimately “Radio Rewrite”, which is “scored for flute, clarinet, two vibraphones, two pianos, a string quartet and one electric bass”, was born. “The piece is a mixture of moments where you will hear Radiohead, but most moments where you won’t”, Reich said in an interview. When the song “quietly departs from its source material” it settles into a “seething, anxious rhythm of its own”. Read the full review here.

“Radio Rewrite” came to The Met for an event dedicated to Reich’s work. The Met’s current ‘Artist in Residence’ Alarm Will Sound also performed Reich’s “Clapping Music,” “Piano Counterpoint,”City Life,”Four Genesis Settings,” and “New York Counterpoint.” Read the Spin feature on this performance here.