Harry Bertoia - Hints Of Things To Come (2022)

In 1970 Harry Bertoia had been developing his sonic sculptures for over ten years. He had only been composing/recording for two years and the four long pieces chosen for this CD find him starting to arrive at the sonic forms he had been searching for.

Hints Of Things To Come is one of the most unique and melodic pieces discovered so far in the Bertoia tape archive. In this piece we hear him slowly create and articulate a musical riff. Bertoia builds this phrase patiently until the composition reaches an intense climax where the riff is played heavily and distinctly.

7 ½ & 7 ½ Combined, another historic standout, is one of the earliest examples of Bertoia overdubbing by playing a tape and then performing along to the playback.

This CD is defined by ambient passages, long drones, gongs that sound like whales, shimmering harmonics and the feeling of an artist searching for sounds deep within his own sonic sculpture.

These are among the best pieces found in the archive so far.