The technology behind Tristan Perich's 1-Bit Symphony is fascinating; more important, the music is fairly electrifying. It reminds me of Terry Riley's rough, ecstatic music of the late nineteen-sixties, in the Rainbow in Curved Air period. It's not for every taste, but what music is? The final movement is infinite; when you're ready to move on, you switch the gizmo off.
Update: Perich and his new work will be the focus of an event at Roulette on Aug. 20. Music of Reich, Gordon, Shawn Greenlee, and Daniel Wohl is also in the mix. It looks to be severe.
