It was a labor of love - intense, obsessive love - and they not only learned to play the piece, they learned to play it well.' - John Schaefer, New Sounds 'The result is a hyper-propulsive and yet silkily beautiful, entrancing and utterly alive interpretation that more than holds its own.' - Anastasia Tsioulcas, Billboard Music for 18 Musicians, one of Reich's most popular works with its creamy orchestration and trippy patterns, has found new roots in the heartland. A band of Michigan students and volunteers led by Bill Ryan has devoted the last year to perfecting it; in the process, turning it into something of a lifestyle. Originally released as a hybrid SACD/CD audiophile, surround recording, and now as a regular CD, it captures every phrase of the work, as though you were hearing it for the first time in your life.