Review: William Basinski- Cascade

I'm sorry for finally getting around to this. As a pretty big Basinski enthusiast, I was waiting with a lot of anticipation for his next project. It came as a great surprise when it was revealed that Cascade would be the first part of a two part project with a companion piece to be released later. I have since pre-ordered The Deluge, and am now eagerly awaiting that release.

For the uninitiated, William Basinski's work is largely based on tape loops, consisting of generally small piano figures that loop over and over, while subtle differences in the loop reveal themselves. This work is no different, but it always seems to win me over. The small melody played here has a very sad feel about it, and these figures always have such a dusty and archaic feel about them, as if they have existed before the dawn of time. The piece has an extremely hypnotic quality, and the subtle differences and how the piece slowly progresses really immerse you in the piece to try and hear the changes. You can be listening and hear a slight hum or a piano note in the background, and be questioning whether that was always there. The piece has been going on for twenty minutes, you think you'd know for certain, right? All in all, this piece is just another emotional roller coaster in the William Basinski discography, that really makes you question your life, and gets you in that existential and philosophical mood.

The description of The Deluge really has me intrigued, in which this piece is modified by feedback loops that will harmonize the piano and loop it endlessly. It sounds like it can be a really amazing experience. As for this piece, I find it to be a really immersive record whose loops can enthrall and captivate, and leaves me eager for its companion piece.

Out of a total of five stars, I give this:

Check in later for my opinion on The Deluge, and check in even sooner for my opinion on the new Earl Sweatshirt, which I promise won't be much longer.


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