Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto

Glass

On reflection, Glass exemplifies what a beautifully mysterious form ambient improvisation can be.

Glass is as austere as it is brimming with creativity; an anomaly that beckons its willing listeners into immersing themselves into the chilling aura the composition will undoubtedly evoke.

Even though Glass has a lot of physicality to it, it’s gentle in the ways in which it fills our space with its presence. It’s a record one loops for the evening and unconsciously forgets about it, only to wonder what is missing when it stops playing.

In a live recording from a site-specific 2016 performance at Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House, the Japanese polymath and the German minimalist balance piercing tones with emotional warmth.

This piece would have been wonderful tacked onto the end of Sakamoto’s async from last year as a double-disc bonus. But as it stands, it’s a promising development in a 15-year musical dialogue that’s far from over.

There's an intense and cautious feeling to Sakamoto and Nicolai's approach, keeping everything at a constant volume and introducing changes only gradually. Glass is good for close listening, trading narrative for pure texture and mood.