Disc 1 - A challenging label with challenging artists mixed in with challenging composers of the 20th Century is reinterpreted by the London Sinfonietta as a series of concerts is presented in Warp Works & Twentieth Century Masters. Quite a challenge for this reviewer. Leaning way into the experimental side of downtempo, these concerts are a wonderful representation of how to recognize great composers outside of hearing their original recordings.

1. Aphex Twin "Prepared Piano Piece 1"
2. Aphex Twin "Prepared Piano Piece 2"
3. Conlon Nancarrow arr. Yvar Mikhashoff "Study no. 7"
4. John Cage "Sonatas 1 & 2 (from Sonatas & Interludes)"
5. Steve Reich "Violin Phase"
6. John Cage "First Construction in Metal"
7. Squarepusher arr. David Horne "The Tide"
8. Karlheinz Stockhausen "Spiral"
9. John Cage "Sonata 12 (from Sonatas & Interludes)"
10. Edgard Varese "Ionization"
11. Steve Reich "Six Marimbas"
12. Squarepusher arr. Fraser Trainer & Sound Intermedia "Conc 2 Symmetriac"
13. John Cage "Sonata 5 & 6 (from Sonatas & Interludes)"
14. Aphex Twin arr. David Horne "AFX237 V7"
15. György Ligeti "Chamber Concerto 1] Corrente"
16. György Ligeti "Chamber Concerto 2] Calmo, Sostenuto"
17. György Ligeti "Chamber Concerto 3] Movimento Preciso e Meccanico"
18. György Ligeti "Chamber Concerto 4] Presto"
19. Aphex Twin arr. Kenneth Hesketh "Polygon Window"

Aphex Twin's Prepared Piano Piece 1&2 are lovely in their minimal performance that shows it's not how much you play but when it is played. John Cage has always been someone I admired but never listened to. So hearing Sonatas 1&2 impressed me with their accessible melodies draped with plinks and plunks.

Steve Reich's Violin Phase is one of my favorite pieces he has written. Hearing musicians bear down and play drifting time signatures in respect to the original tape loop idea was just fantastic. First Construction in Metal by John Cage comes across as early industrial noise with the banging metal sounds driving on and on being played with the instruments ready to come apart at any given moment.

The highlight of the first disc has to be The Tide by Squarepusher, arranged by David Horne. Jazzy ride pops in and out with a Latin swing as the strings and horns build up tension that make you feel like you are watching a high wire act where the walker is teetering back and forth after being drugged by the villain who's standing in the shadows with an evil smile. The set concludes with Spiral by Stockhausen and incorporates radio noise as ambiance that takes the lead at points and then adds weight to the string arrangements when the melodies arrive in and out of the piece. At times during the second half of the piece, the work leans towards thoughts of Meddle-Era Pink Floyd saying yes to composing for 2001: A Space Odessy

Disc 2 - really pushes the boundaries with four "out there" pieces by Gyorgy Ligeti that bounce between frantic and quiet in unsuspected moments. The Aphex Twin piece, AFX237 V7, sounds like an organic mash up of beats and strings giving a Peter and The Wolf meets crime drama feel to a very complex structure. Six Marimbas by Reich is a beautiful "Tangerine Dream" sort of repetitive track that just keeps going up to the eighteen minute mark without losing any of its depth and doesn't get boring.

In a triumphant ending to the release, Aphex Twin is revisited on Polygon Window. With a straightforward 4x4 thump on the low end, the multiple layers of the original work are performed by eleven percussionists, two pianos and a violin. The crowd comes alive at the end and for good reason at that.

~ Dedric Moore

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