Written for string quartet, two pre-recorded string quartets and pre-recorded voices, WTC 9/11 is the new work written by Steve Reich. Commissioned and recorded by the Kronos Quartet, it integrates recorded words about the event itself (9/11), from the air traffic controllers to people on the ground, over three continuous movements. The jarring harmonic ideas and off-set rhythms are disturbing and extremely unsettling, to say the least. Magnificently put together, it is a work that reflects this tragedy as accurately as music possibly can. It also includes the Mallet Quartet and Dance Patterns, which are more familiar to those who are Reich fans. This is a CD for people with an ear for contemporary music, who can appreciate challenging artwork in this form.

Kate Rockstrom is from Readings Carlton