Japan’s Open Reel Ensemble rethink what an instrument can be by building a performance entirely around reel-to-reel tape machines and the physical act of sound itself. With six decks linked by looping magnetic tape, the group generates rhythm and texture by striking, pulling, and agitating the tape as it moves across playback heads, turning motion into music. The result feels precise and unpredictable at the same time, a hands-on experiment where mechanics, timing, and listening all share equal weight.