What are the Disintegration Loops?

The Disintegration Loops are a series of tape loops that were originally recorded in the 1980s. These loops became historically significant when they physically disintegrated during a transfer process that occurred on September 11, 2001, creating a unique artistic work that captures deterioration and loss.

When did the tape loops physically disintegrate?

The tape loops physically disintegrated on September 11, 2001, during the process of transferring them to digital format. This date coincided with the September 11 attacks, which added significant contextual meaning to the work.

Why did the tapes disintegrate during transfer?

The tapes disintegrated due to their age and deterioration over time. Recording tape from the 1980s is susceptible to decay, and the physical stress of the transfer process caused the degraded magnetic tape to break apart, resulting in the fragmented audio that became the final artwork.

Liner Note · April 11, 2026

Disintegration Loops

William Basinski · 2002–2003 Spin it Again - Magnetic tape eating itself alive on September 11th, 2001, and Basinski just let the recorder run.

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