Six Marimbas, In C, and Sound Unbound

Six Marimbas by Steve Reich

Six Marimbas is quite relaxing and simple in structure. However its drawn out nature and the lack of progression leaves the listener wanting more at the end. It seems that a big part of Steve Reich’s piece is looped. The sound evolution throughout the piece is subtle enough to make you think that you are always hearing the same melody. However, there are few progressions which build up the song and upon reaching a climax the song returns to the original melody.

In C by Terry Riley

In C starts off as a more dynamic piece and it evolves much quicker than Six Marimbas. I am not sure why the metronome effect was used throughout the whole song but it definitely creates a distraction for the listener. The builds up are much quicker and they create an edgier feeling. Towards the middle of the piece a few sounds are introduced which create a cacophonous environment that greatly impact the listening pleasure. Overall I would say that In C is more innovative than Six Marimbas and ultimately made my listening experience much better.

Sound Unbound

Cika-Laka/Cool Noises/Bbb by Shukar, RadioMentale, Raoul Hausmann

Cika-Laka combines vocal elements that for me create a flashback into my childhood memories. The piece resides in a paradoxical environment since it begins with a very formal speech and then burst into silly sounds, eliminating any pre-conceptions of seriousness. Some of the sampled voices have meaning in my home country and this adds extra depth to the relevance of Cika-Laka. The main melody closely resembles a Disney cartoon but the way it is sampled suggests that is done just so that it can be mocked throughout the whole track.