This is the musical work that inspired Frank Zappa to pursue a career in music, included in the first full-length album he ever bought just because, according to a magazine article, it is “nothing but drums. It’s dissonant and terrible; the worst music in the world”. To which he thought “Ahh! Yes! That’s for me!”.

“Ionisation” was written between 1929 and 1931 by French composer Edgard Varèse for percussion ensemble alone, featuring 38 percussion instruments (including piano, two sirens and string drum, a.k.a. “lion’s roar”) played by 13 percussionists. This version was recorded by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Craft, and released in 1960 as the opening track of the first of two albums dedicated to Varèse’s music. In 1972, both albums were released as a two-record set by Columbia Masterworks. This is an original US pressing of that double LP, called “The Varèse Album”.

Numark TTXUSB turntable – Nagaoka MP-500 phono cartridge – ART DJPRE II phono stage preamp – Vinyl record vinilo LP