Diamanda Galas called this the most terrifying song she had ever heard. This song uses the UPIC composition system - it essentially translates shapes into sound. The Y axis refers to sound frequency, and the X axis time. Basically, instead of using even a microtonal scale, you have note continuums, which was also used by composers like Ligeti. The result is indeed one of the most terrifying and powerful things I've ever heard - and also stands as excellent visual art too. If you want to compose like this (I myself occasionally use something similar for graphic scores), there is a modern recreation available here. You can even get it for iphone/ipad. I'll likely be using it more as I learn it. Anyway I love Xenakis. And not just because he is one of the greatest and most innovative composers of the 20th century. And not just because I owe so much of what I do to him, especially as he went into outright noise music. And not just the fact the was a fantastic architect. But also the fact he had his face disfigured fighting british imperialism, and was part of the armed resistance against fascism during world war 2.
Fuck yeah comrade.
