If you’re a fan of ambient music, you’re probably already aware of William Basinski’s iconic album, “The Disintegration Loops,” and its historical significance. However, if you have yet to experience the music and its tragic context, perhaps the upcoming documentary, “Disintegration Loops,” will help shed some light on how one man was able to tap into the cultural zeitgeist during a tragic time in US history and release one of the most acclaimed albums of the past two decades.
With “Disintegration Loops” debuting at the upcoming SXSW Film Festival soon, we’re thrilled to give our readers an exclusive look at the trailer for the film, which helps explain how William Basinski was able to use a tape loop and make 63 minutes of music that will go down in history. The musician’s album, “The Disintegration Loops,” repeats a section of taped music over and over, as the tape itself begins to fall apart and the music, well, disintegrates. And adding to the mystique of the music is how the recording of the project ended just as the terrorist attacks on 9/11 were happening right outside Basinski’s window, forever linking the looped recording with one of the most tragic days in US history, with the musician using his own view from his balcony on 9/11 as the cover art for the release.
In an interview with filmmaker David Wexler, we asked about the origins of “Disintegration Loops.” The director explained how experiencing the beginning of the pandemic in New York City started this journey to contact William Basinski and tell this story. Though, interestingly enough, Basinski and Wexler have yet to actually physically meet in person.
“In mid-March, 2020, Pitchfork posted an article on William’s new music coming out – I believe it was ‘Hymns of Oblivion’ at that time,” explained the filmmaker. “I had just gotten back to NYC, and everything was changing, and no one knew what was going on, and here was this beacon – something that had been there for me 20 years prior.”
He continued, “I tried to contact his management and record company, I wound up finding some email address and repeated these sentiments. I always find it’s best to speak from the heart that way, and I guess it must have resonated because Billy reached back out himself the next morning. It’s hard to believe we’ve never met in person – I feel like I know him so well, but we’ve just spoken at length on the phone, Zoom, email… we were supposed to finish the film in person in August when we assumed this would all be over! Little did we know… one of the first people I will travel to meet is William as soon as I can!”
“Disintegration Loops” debuts at this year’s SXSW in the 24 Beats Per Second section. You can watch the exclusive trailer for the film below.
