Cat No HECD002

o “Shift” is a series of mesmerising ambient/electronic variations on Steve Reich's early compositions by musician-producer Chris Hughes. It was originally released on the Fontana label in 1994, to significant critical acclaim - and is now reissued on his own Helium label.

o Chris Hughes is a leading, long-established record producer who has worked with Robert Plant, Tears For Fears, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Tom McRae, Cooper Temple Clause, Electric Soft Parade, Gay Dad, Clare Teal, Wang Chung, Lloyd Cole, Jon Bon Jovi, Bill Nelson and many more.

o The Shift project had been germinating as an idea since 1972 when, as a young gun, his father took him to see the European premiere of Steve Reich's ‘Drumming’ at the Hayward Gallery, London. The trip had a deep impact on Chris, and he explored Reich's work with increasing fascination.

o In the early 70s Steve Reich had yet to be widely acknowledged as a major creative force. Only in the last ten years has serious and overdue attention been paid to his all-pervasive influence.

o In the mid-80s, Chris initially had the idea of producing the record for Reich himself, however a meeting with Reich in the late 80s served to intensify Chris' enthusiasm to record his own versions.