It Took Seconds

Five minutes and fifty-nine seconds: I’ve generally thought of Glassworks as Philip Glass’ poptastic smash hit sellout album and Wiki backs me up on this - first for Sony, meant (apparently) for the walkman. So by Glassian standards - or by my ignorant impression of same - the short pieces on Glassworks are high-impact and accessible, catching your ear quickly before unfolding a little more. The album came out just after his soundtrack for Koyaanisqatsi and you can play the imaginary-film game with “Floe” if you like, its sad crisp bustle making me think of the old view from my office window on winter evenings, a scurry of commuters wrapped up in coats and evening plans, criss-crossing Tooley Street and Bermondsey Street to find buses and trains and a way in from the cold.

What 5’59 track would you have chosen?