The queen of drone & tape music, Eliane Radigue is now 78 years old. Junkmedia had an article on the occasion a few weeks ago:

Radigue’s music is frequently described in terms that may make it sound like equal parts ether and airy space-bliss, a fair characterization of many of the current drone artists Radigue has influenced. In fact, she creates her sounds in a labor-intensive process of imperceptibly measured sonic increments, moving her hands between knobs, patches, potentiometers and a stop-watch, paradoxically creating the sensation of luxuriant drones outside of time with precision and a famous perfectionism. She has tried and rejected the digital way. She believes the labor required of the ARP 2500 results in elements of her sound that cannot be created otherwise.

Important Records has reissued two of her earlier works, Triptych and Vice Versa, so that younger droneheads can experience the intensity of her sounds. 1970’s Vice Versa predates even her usage of synths and it’s composed of tape feedback!.

In their issue of the piece, Important Records have selected four playback speeds (one disc with the tape going forwards, the other with the tape spooling backwards) corresponding to the settings on tape recorders of the era. Boomkat

Don’t miss this piece of music history, kids. Here’s an amazing documentary of her found thanks to Radioolio.