Last month, Erik Hall announced the highly anticipated release of Solo Three, the final album in his groundbreaking trilogy of reinterpretations of contemporary classical pieces, set to arrive on January 23rd through Western Vinyl. As with the previous albums in the trilogy, 2020’s Music for 18 Musicians (Steve Reich) and 2023’s Canto Ostinato (Simeon ten Holt), on Solo Three the Chicago-born and Michigan-based composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer reimagined iconic pieces from visionary composers, this time extending to four composers: Glenn Branca, Charlemagne Palestine, Laurie Spiegel, and again Steve Reich.

Along with the announcement, Hall had shared a majestic, dazzling and exuberant reimagining of Reich’s ‘Music for a Large Ensemble’ as a first single. Now he is treating us to a brand new single, his gorgeous and exhilarating take on Laurie Spiegel’s ‘A Folk Study’. With his trademark hands-on approach, layering each instrument with no loops or sequencers, Hall brings an entirely new warmth and depth to Spiegel’s minimalist classic. Speaking about it, Hall comments:

“‘A Folk Study’ comes from an era of Laurie Spiegel’s work that used relatively-early electronics as a vehicle for music that is entirely expressive and lifelike, and I’ve always been drawn to that contrast in her recordings. As a means to engage with this music that I love, I decided to flip this idea on its head and attempt an overlay of acoustic performances that embody that certain set of limitations; essentially playing like a machine while inherently conveying the swift emotional course of the piece.”

With January 23rd just around the corner, this new single gives us good reasons to count down the days. Listen to ‘A Folk Study’ (Laurie Spiegel) now.

Photo: Nolis Anderson

We’re over the moon to hear that Chicago-born and Michigan-based composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Erik Hall has a brand new album on the way, following his 2023 Canto Ostinato, which was one of our Album Picks of the Year and remains an absolute favourite. The eagerly awaited follow-up has been announced, Solo Three, marking the third and final release in his groundbreaking trilogy of reinterpretations of contemporary classical works. Like in previous releases, 2020’s Music for 18 Musicians (Steve Reich) and 2023’s Canto Ostinato (Simeon ten Holt), the upcoming Solo Three finds Hall reimagining iconic pieces from visionary composers, this time expanding to several composers: Glenn Branca, Charlemagne Palestine, Laurie Spiegel, and a return to Steve Reich.

As we’ve come to expect from Hall, his process is inspiring and incredible. He performs and records every part himself, with focus and feeling, layering keyboards, guitars, and synths, with no loops, programming or sequencers. “It’s just so much more compelling to actually play every note,” Hall explains, “Those micro-differences between takes create a sort of living, breathing magic.” And that’s exactly what we hear throughout Solo Three, an utterly rich and evolving sound that feels deeply human, even as it explores complex minimalist structures.

Solo Three will see the light of day on January 23rd through Western Vinyl, and ahead of it Hall has shared the first single, a majestic, dazzling and exuberant reimagining of Reich’s ‘Music for a Large Ensemble’, clocking in at over fifteen minutes. Speaking about it, Hall comments:

“‘Music for a Large Ensemble’ is another treasured composition by Steve Reich and the closing piece on this record. I wanted to conclude this series of albums the way it began, as a sort of bookend and an ode to the process of making them. Beyond the interest of his concept or experiment, Reich’s music also simply imbues a gratifying emotional arc that’s accessible to any ears; something akin to a pop sensibility. The CD of his 1980 recording has lived in my car for years, and it was a total joy to transport this work into the sonic world of my studio.”

January can’t come soon enough. Now lend your ears to ‘Music for a Large Ensemble’.

Today sees the release of Erik Hall‘s Canto Ostinato, the second album in his trilogy of reinterpretations of classical minimalism. A magnificent and radiant album, it finds the Chicago-born and Michigan-based musician and producer reinterpreting to dazzling effect the iconic minimal composition written for four pianos from 1976 to 1979 by Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt. Comprising 106 short sections, Canto Ostinato lends itself to repetition as most of the sections can be repeated spontaneously as many times as a performer wants. “There is a pseudo-meditational benefit to working on a long-form piece that’s built on repetition,” Hall explained. “Every stage— from internalizing the music, to executing the performance, to editing and mixing the record— requires deep and sustained presence of mind. I’ve always been drawn to a hallucinatory combination of harmony and repetition, and I found the entire process addictive.”

As for instrumentation, Hall chose to perform on a 1962 Hammond M-101 organ, a 1978 Rhodes Mark I electric piano, and his 1910 Steinway grand piano. “This particular piece brought the added challenge of rekindling my dexterity as a pianist, something I haven’t maintained in earnest since I was a teenager”, he said.

Canto Ostinato is out through Western Vinyl and for a bewitching taste of what’s on offer, listen to ‘Sections 74-87’ below.