Adrian Utley's Guitar Orchestra – In C

Composed in 1964, Terry Riley’s In C is one of the landmarks of minimalist composition, comprising 53 musical phrases in the key of C; Riley’s emphasis on the role of interpretation and improvisation has ensured that the piece allows for seemingly infinite variations. Here, Portishead’s Adrian Utley brings together an orchestra of 19 electric guitarists, four organists and a bass clarinet, in a sumptuous version recorded live at St George's Hall in Bristol.

While the concept of the guitar orchestra may bring to mind the epic swathes of sound utilised by Rhys Chatham, in Utley’s hands the individual instruments are more pronounced. No waves of distortion or feedback are permitted to disrupt the piece’s gentle progression, although there are passages of ambient noise, which feel dreamier and less structured than in other interpretations. Utley thus succeeds in demonstrating the distinctive potential of the guitar to bring out new elements of Riley’s endlessly-adaptable composition.