Shaker Loops (1978) was a breakthrough piece for the American composer John Adams, proving that the minimalist techniques he used in his music were emotionally flexible, with a sense of humour, too. Marin Alsop’s 2003 recording of the work is one of the finest it has attracted, teeming with meticulously etched detail in the “Shaking and Trembling” opening, and fascinating micro-distinctions of dynamic in “A Final Shaking”. Short Ride in a Fast Machine is another popular Adams piece, and the Bournemouth players attack it with both thrilling precision and a gathering sense of momentum. The Wound-Dresser, a setting of poetry by Walt Whitman, shows Adams’ more reflective side, and baritone Nathan Gunn sings it movingly. This album as a whole is an ideal introduction to the composer’s music.