A Circular History of the Loop

“Without repetition, I wonder if music is meaningless.”

A Circular History of the Loop is a truly immersive sonic journey that tells the story of the loop is told using loops themselves. Voices repeat, overlap, decay and return.

“Loops can be revolutionary – they can also be soporific.”

Beginning with the physical manipulation of recorded sound and the pioneering musique concrète experiments of Pierre Schaeffer, the programme explores what happened when musicians discovered the possibilities of magnetic tape. Tape loops lead us through music concrete, minimalism and the studio experimentation of the 1960s and 70s, before sampling, digital technology and looper pedals opened up entirely new ways of making music.
“Looping is the best way I know of making a lot of noise with one guitar.”

Robert Fripp, Cosey Fanni Tutti, FM3’s Christiaan Virant, Son of Dave, Paul Cousins, Pippa Reid-Foster, Lewis and Suzy from Free Love, Barry Cleveland, David Stubbs, Dusty Ohms, John Cavanagh and Jonathan Morton, David Singleton and youtube influencer Hainbach contribute thoughts, demonstrations and specially recorded performances. In this immersive collage, their voices don't simply tell the story - they become part of it.

Available in both stereo and binaural versions, the programme surrounds the listener with voices, music and loops, creating a three-dimensional sound world in which the subject is experienced as much as explained.

“A good loop is one that you can sit with for hours – there’s a whole world in there.” A Circular History of the Loop enters that world.

Unique musical contributions from Pippa Foster-Reid, Son of Dave, Paul Cousins and Free Love.

Technical assistance in ambisonics from Ronan Breslin

Produced by Angus McIntyre