Much of contemporary society is centred around the idea of new things. A never ending pursuit of new information, new clothes, new gossip, new music and so on. One thing that music can do well is to champion the opposite: repetition. Everything you need to hear already exists, you simply need to keep hearing it again, absorbing it and repeating the message to yourself and others.
Music itself is defined by repetition. Through repetition, sound, speech and noise are turned into music. The exercise of listening to music is to practice repetition. To listen to a song again and again and continually find new meaning or simply remind yourself of a feeling and experience it again. The culture of re-winding a track is all about repetition to both celebrate and try to understand something that is sonically powerful. So repetition is at the heart of all music, however some artists have focused in on repetition more than others. Here is a brief history of repetition used in music which has inspired tracks like ‘Look’ from my new album Help.
Pianist and multidisciplinary artist Duval Timothy’s new LP Help explores his experience of the music industry, mental health and healing, and includes collaborations with Mr Mitch, Lil Silva, Melanie Faye and more.
Charlemagne Palestine – Strumming Music (Shandar 1974)
Two notes repeated one after the other gradually turning into chords. The building repetition generates beautiful overtones that seem to float in the air like a delicate fine-scented mist. Over the 54 minute track the two notes transform into lush chord and falls back to the bare notes a few times. While Palestine’s music is very pared back it is still extremely expressive in contrast to much of the minimalist/ conceptual artists he is often compared to.
‘…our works have elements that are similar, many of the same notes, we are from different worlds. I’m more into waves, I’m into the sexuality of rhythm. One of the most natural rhythms on earth is the rhythm of masturbating for example which is nothing to do with all the metronomics of Steve Reich or Phil Glass, they are metronomic, not masterbonic.’
Julius Eastman – Gay Guerilla (New World Records 1979)
Repeated piano chords played with a galloping rhythm that drives the track forward whilst repeating the same notes. The occasional note or chord is gradually added in shifting the atmosphere slightly. After a while other parts falling away out of the composition imperceptibly. The effect is transformative and anxiety inducing at times as if the song itself in panicking but cannot escape itself.
Pete Rock – The World is Yours (Instrumental)
Pete Rock sampled a solo piano part from Ahmad Jamal’s 1970 track ‘I love music’ to create the celebrated track ‘The World is Yours’ for Nas’ certified classic album Illmatic. It’s a single loop running for the length of the track. For me it’s as an example of the value of sampling and how simplifying or taking away can be bring so much to the development of existing ideas. Ahmad Jamal’s ‘I love music’ is an incredible track in it’s own right but Pete Rock chopping a tiny part of it, looping it and saying lets just pay attention to what’s going on in these few seconds of solo piano is extremely powerful.
Charles Hayward – 30 minute snare drum roll
Charles Hayward plays the same repeated rhythm on a snare drum for 30 minutes straight. The sound produced is surprisingly soothing. The endurance and simplicity of the piece means that as a listener we are able to focus in on the feeling of the playing. The overall outcome is intense and tender.
Dean Blunt – Stalker 2020
Through repetition, the sampled vocal ‘I’ve been watching you’ brings more and more meaning to the title Stalker. It’s bold, clever, playful and just sounds good.
Pianist and multidisciplinary artist Duval Timothy’s new LP Help explores his experience of the music industry, mental health and healing, and includes collaborations with Mr Mitch, Lil Silva, Melanie Faye and more.
