The Thing Inside the Thing

A musical argument in five movements: repetition → variation → accumulation → recognition. Bach bookends a journey through Reich, Fela, Coltrane, Miles, Can, Bowie, Eno, Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, Radiohead, Beck, Fiona Apple, Devendra Banhart, Nick Drake, Talk Talk, Nina Simone, Alice Coltrane, Philip Glass, and Gorillaz. The idea: a small musical cell, pulse, riff, harmonic shape, or emotional premise gradually reveals a much larger world.

Context: A cross-era, cross-style listening arc about small musical ideas becoming larger through repetition, variation, accumulation, atmosphere, and transformation. It begins and ends with Bach, moves through minimalism, African groove, jazz, art rock, electronic music, folk, and spiritual intensity, then returns home..

1. Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude in C Major, BWV 846
2. Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians: Pulses
3. Ali Farka Touré - Savane
4. Fela Kuti - Water No Get Enemy
5. John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
6. Miles Davis - In a Silent Way / It's About That Time
7. Can - Halleluwah
8. Talking Heads - The Great Curve
9. David Bowie - Station to Station
10. Brian Eno - St. Elmo's Fire
11. Kraftwerk - Computer Love
12. Aphex Twin - Xtal
13. Radiohead - Everything in Its Right Place
14. Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
15. Beck - The Golden Age
16. Beck - Paper Tiger
17. Fiona Apple - I Know
18. Devendra Banhart - At the Hop
19. Nick Drake - River Man
20. Talk Talk - I Believe in You
21. Nina Simone - Sinnerman
22. Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda
23. Philip Glass - Opening
24. Gorillaz feat. Beck - The Valley of the Pagans
25. Johann Sebastian Bach - Goldberg Variations: Aria