5 Facts About Terry Riley’s A Rainbow in Curved Air

Terry Riley played every instrument on the album himself. He used overdubbing to layer parts for electric violin, electric harpsichord, organ, and percussion.

The album was recorded in 1967 but released in 1969. It was Riley’s second studio album and a landmark in minimalism.

The title track runs 20 minutes and uses a steady pulse. Riley builds the piece by adding and subtracting instrumental layers over a repeating rhythmic foundation.

The B-side, “Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band,” is a 21-minute organ piece. It features Riley’s trademark tape delay and improvisation techniques.

The album influenced both classical minimalism and early electronic music. Its all-overdubbed, one-man-band approach was unusual for its time and inspired later artists.