Terry Riley

Les Yeux Fermés / Lifespan

★★★★

A compilation of soundtracks for two independent films, both of which I've never heard of or seen. The first soundtrack is just two long pieces, both around eighteen minutes. They act more like a journey or method of traveling, down a desolate but well-known trail. Like the Silk Road after the Black Death; empty but full of history and marked remains that lead the way. The second film soundtrack is in six shorter pieces that each seem a bit different and not cohesive. They just take on a theme and run with it for a short period of time and make the most of it. And it's definitely fun to see Terry Riley create songs like that, it's rare to see tracks from him that are less than fifteen minutes long so it truly gives some insight into the mind of the long haired hypnotist hippie. 

“Journey From the Death of a Friend” is a very Rileyesque track for the most part. Meditating and playful, it’s like regaining energy and innocence that was lost due to age and experience. It mostly remains that way but delves a bit intro drone territory with a subtle echoing that is tattered with icy synth stabs that dance along. However, as you immediately begin “Happy Ending” you are transported into a jazzy based saxophone realm that is quite strange and mostly advanced for its time. This song is one of the rare cases in which you can see Terry Riley jump into the deep end of jazz. It mostly works and gets better as air and space is pumped in, letting everything have a bit more room to breathe and exist. 

After these two long pieces, the second soundtrack appears with much splendor. To me it sounds a lot more like what you’d expect a soundtrack from a minimalist to sound like. “G Song” is pure honey and the most beautiful track just off face value. It’s a whimsical and warm song that fills every nook and cranny it can find, especially with the saxophone. He also incorporates way more instruments and styles within each small song. It may be his voice on the song “In the Summer” or tablas on a couple tracks before. And songs like “Oldtimer” sound like a cute synth version of a Spaghetti Western bar song. It’s ahead of its time for sure but it may sound a little childish or 8-bit to a listener now. I just think it exudes  a charm that is hard to find elsewhere.

This was reissued on Riley’s own label and I chose to listen to this compilation because of the fact that they’re both soundtracks and not that long either. Also I really like the cover, the winding and web-like natural environment. It matches the organic and spiraling feel to the music itself. I think Riley is one of the most unique minimalists from his time period; his incorporation of different styles such as jazz, classical, and Eastern music helped form music that remains magical even today. 

Favorite Song: Journey From the Death of a Friend