Beatrice Lang
Electric Counterpoint is a minimalist composition by American composer Steve Reich. The piece was first recorded in 1987 by guitarist Pat Metheny and released on Nonesuch Records. Electric Counterpoint has since been covered by many artists, including Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, who performed the piece with the London Contemporary Orchestra and recorded it for a Nonesuch album of Reich works titled Radio Rewrite. In 2010, Röyksopp released two remixes of the third movement, one of which is titled Milde Salve.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Röyksopp |
| Original Artist | Steve Reich |
| Album | Radio Rewrite |
| Year | 2014 |
| Format | CD/download |
| Track | Electric Counterpoint: III. Fast |
| Remixes | Röyksop's True To Original Remix, RYXPs Milde Salve |
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What You'll Learn
Electric Counterpoint's composer, Steve Reich
Electric Counterpoint is a minimalist composition by the American composer Steve Reich. The piece was commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival for guitarist Pat Metheny and was composed during the summer of 1987. It has a duration of about 15 minutes and is the third in a series of pieces, following Vermont Counterpoint (1982) and New York Counterpoint (1985). Electric Counterpoint consists of three movements: "Fast," "Slow," and "Fast," played one after the other without pause. Reich has offered two versions of the piece: one for electric guitar and tape (the tape part featuring two electric bass guitars and up to ten electric guitars), and the other for an ensemble of guitars.
The work shares similarities with Reich's New York Counterpoint. It was first recorded in 1987 by Pat Metheny, who made extensive use of overdubbing. Guitarists wishing to perform the piece may use Metheny's pre-recorded ensemble part or opt to record their own, adding the 13th guitar part in live performance. In 2007, the guitar ensemble Forestare made the first recording of the lesser-known second version, on ATMA Classique.
Electric Counterpoint has influenced many modern artists. For instance, in 2008, Joby Burgess' Powerplant arranged the work for Xylosynth, taking influence from Metheny and the Orb. Röyksopp, the Norwegian electronic music duo, released two remixes of the third movement in 2010 for free. One of these remixes, titled "Milde Salve", is a reinterpretation of the original. Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has also performed the piece at several festivals and concerts featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra. He recorded the piece for a Nonesuch album of Reich works titled Radio Rewrite, released in 2012.
As a minimalist composition, Electric Counterpoint is characterised by its use of repetitive patterns, slow harmonic rhythms, and a steady pulse. The piece explores the interplay between live performance and pre-recorded tape, with the guitarist pre-recording multiple guitar and bass parts and then playing the final guitar part live against the tape. This creates a layered and textured sound, with the live and pre-recorded elements weaving in and out of each other to create a complex and captivating musical landscape.
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Röyksopp's remix of the third movement
Electric Counterpoint is a minimalist composition by American composer Steve Reich. The piece, consisting of three movements ("Fast," "Slow," and "Fast"), was first recorded in 1987 by guitarist Pat Metheny.
In 2010, Röyksopp released two remixes of the third movement ("Fast") for free. The first remix closely follows Reich's original composition, while the second reinterpretation is titled "Milde Salve".
Röyksopp's first remix, "Electric Counterpoint: III. Fast – RYXP True to Original Edit", stays true to the original arrangement while adding beats and bass. Interestingly, Röyksopp altered the time signature from 3/4 to 4/4, mirroring The Orb's approach in their 90's classic "Little Fluffy Clouds".
Röyksopp's second remix, "Milde Salve", takes a different approach. Using the tone quality of the original sample as a starting point, this version embarks on an analogue-fuelled journey into "repetitive madness and harmonic bliss".
Both remixes showcase Röyksopp's creative interpretation of Steve Reich's iconic composition, offering a unique perspective while respecting the original work.
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The Orb's Little Fluffy Clouds sample
The Orb's "Little Fluffy Clouds" is a single released by the British ambient house group in November 1990 on the record label Big Life. The song peaked at number 87 on the UK Singles Chart. The Orb also included it on their 1991 double album "The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld". The song was re-released several times with different B-sides, with its 1993 re-release reaching number 10 in the UK.
"Little Fluffy Clouds" makes extensive use of clips from an interview by Carl Arrington with American singer Rickie Lee Jones, in which she recalls picturesque images of her childhood. The song also includes a sample from a 1990 John Waite BBC Radio 4 broadcast for the programme "You and Yours".
The song also samples Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint: III. Fast", featuring Pat Metheny. The Orb sampled the third movement of the Pat Metheny recording as one of the hooks of "Little Fluffy Clouds". The original studio version of the song only samples the third movement, while the live version samples both the first and third movements.
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RJD2's The Proxy sample
RJD2's "The Proxy" samples Steve Reich's minimalist composition "Electric Counterpoint". Reich's piece, which consists of three movements ("Fast", "Slow", and "Fast"), was first recorded in 1987 by guitarist Pat Metheny, who made extensive use of overdubbing. RJD2 sampled the opening of Metheny's 1989 rendition of "Electric Counterpoint" for "The Proxy", which was featured on his debut studio album "Deadringer", released on July 23, 2002. The album received critical acclaim, with Spin placing it at number 31 on its list of the best albums of 2002, and Kludge ranking it as the third-best album of the year. In 2015, Fact listed "Deadringer" as one of the "100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time".
"The Proxy" is not the only instance of "Electric Counterpoint" being sampled in popular music. The Orb also sampled the third movement of Pat Metheny's recording for their song "Little Fluffy Clouds". In 2010, Röyksopp released two remixes of the third movement of "Electric Counterpoint", one of which was a reinterpretation titled "Milde Salve". Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood has also performed the piece at several festivals and concerts, recording it for a Nonesuch album of Reich works titled "Radio Rewrite" in 2014.
The influence of Steve Reich's "Electric Counterpoint" extends beyond these samples and performances. Guitarist Santiago Quintáns recorded the piece for his album "Santiago Quintans Plays Steve Reich", released on Megadiscs Classics in 2021. Giacomo Baldelli also interpreted the composition for his album "New York City Tracks" on Halidon in 2022. These diverse renditions showcase the enduring appeal and adaptability of Reich's original work.
RJD2's sampling of "Electric Counterpoint" in "The Proxy" is a testament to the enduring relevance of Reich's composition in contemporary music. By incorporating elements of the original work into a new context, RJD2 not only pays homage to Reich's artistry but also contributes to the evolving landscape of music, blending influences from different genres and eras. This exchange of ideas and inspirations between artists is a testament to the richness and interconnectedness of the musical world.
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Jonny Greenwood's Radio Rewrite performance
Jonny Greenwood's performance of Electric Counterpoint has been described as "bracing" and devoted. Steve Reich, the composer of the piece, first heard Greenwood's rendition at a festival in Poland, where Greenwood was playing Reich's Electric Counterpoint with Ensemble Modern. Reich was impressed by Greenwood's performance, as well as his varied interests as a composer and viola player.
Electric Counterpoint was originally written for Pat Metheny. Jonny Greenwood's version, included on the album Radio Rewrite, has a distinct feel to it, with more space between the guitars than in the famous Pat Metheny version. Greenwood's phrasing is more choppy, and you can hear almost every pick strike. Greenwood's performance of Electric Counterpoint has had a significant impact, with Reich creating Radio Rewrite, a piece inspired by two songs by Greenwood's band, Radiohead: Jigsaw Falling into Place and Everything in Its Right Place.
Radio Rewrite premiered in London in 2013, performed by the London Sinfonietta, to a generally positive reception. The piece has five movements, alternating fast and slow tempi, and is scored for clarinet, flute, two violins, viola, cello, two vibraphones, two pianos, and electric bass guitar. The three fast movements draw from "Jigsaw Falling into Place", and the two slow movements from "Everything in Its Right Place".
The album Radio Rewrite, released in 2014, features recordings of Electric Counterpoint (1987) and Piano Counterpoint, performed by Jonny Greenwood and Vicky Chow, respectively. The title piece, Radio Rewrite, references two songs by the English band Radiohead and was composed in 2012.
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Frequently asked questions
Royksopp's Electric Counterpoint is on the album *Radio Rewrite*, released in 2014.
Yes, there are a few albums with Electric Counterpoint as a track:
- *33 RPM* (2020)
- *Steve Reich, Music Square* (2021)
- *Guitar Hero. Santiago Quintans Plays Steve Reich* (2021)
- *New York City Tracks* (2022)
- *Electric Counterpoint, PeerSouthern ITALY/Bridging the gap* (2023)
Yes, in addition to the albums mentioned above, there are a few other notable versions of Electric Counterpoint:
- Röyksopp's "True To Original Remix" or "RYXP True To Original Edit" (2010)
- Röyksopp's "Milde Salve" (2010)
