Ancienne Belgique

ANNB (Alva Noto + Blixa Bargeld) (DE)Einstürzende Neubauten meets Raster_Noton or: Neubauten frontman Blixa Bargeld meets Raster_Noton chief Alva Noto (Carsten Nicolai). Bargeld and Nicolai hav...

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ANNB (Alva Noto + Blixa Bargeld) (DE)
Einstürzende Neubauten meets Raster_Noton or: Neubauten frontman Blixa Bargeld meets Raster_Noton chief Alva Noto (Carsten Nicolai). Bargeld and Nicolai have been a 'fan' of each other's work for a while now. They've been working together on various projects since '07 but it was only last year that the duo finally got around to creating something to leave for heredity, together. Result: the album 'Mimikry' on which Bargeld's penetrating voice (sometimes screaming, sometimes crooning) perfectly blends with Carsten Nicolai's minimal electronica. Alva Noto has worked previously with the likes of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Mika Vainio and also Michael Nyman. Following a unique two-dayer with Neubauten, last year celebrating their 30 year existence, now Bargeld is to be experienced in a unique collaboration with visionary electronica artist Alva Noto.

"Crystalline noise formations. phrases, words, syllables of pure sound isolated until normal sense disappears, leaving new, unexpected abstractions to emerge" (The Wire)

Cindytalk (UK)
Cindytalk has been active since '82, with transgender Gordan Sharp as only constant. In the early years Sharp was associated with the 4AD label and could also be heard on recording sessions by The Cocteau Twins and This Mortal Coil. Following a long silence, 'The Crackle Of My Soul' (09) and also 'Up Here In The Cloud' ('10) suddenly appeared on the eminent Editions Mego (see too: Emeralds, Oneohtrix Point Never, Bill Orcutt,…). It was admittedly our first encounter with Cindytalk but was instantly one which left a lasting impression. Sate yourself on esoteric electronica, ambient, noise & drones and Gordan Sharp on piano, laptop and minimal vocals.

Intangible States (BE)
Intangible States is an audiovisual performance by electronica duo Stray Dogs and Swiss video-artist Legoman (aka Yannick Jacquet). The décor in which the musicians (cello/drums/electronica/guitar) almost seem to be hidden seems unique right away: projections upon several cubes result in an apparent amalgamation of projection screens. The music (just like the sober 'white' projection) often reminds us of the Raster_Noton collective, so it's no surprise that Raster_Noton originator Alva Noto has twittered about Intangible States. Just as it becomes too minimal, an excursion to 'postrock land' is assured. A veritable experience live.

Meat Beat Manifesto (UK)
We have to admit that we'd already lost sight of Meat Beat Manifesto – the vehicle of Jack Dangers – quite a while ago. Dangers has been active since '87 and inspired performers like The Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim to make the first breakbeat records. He's also mixed Depeche Mode and also Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie in the past. In '08 he suddenly appeared on Planet Mu (Venetian Snares, Mary Anne Hobbs,…) with 'Autoimmune', thus joining the then growing wave of dubstep. Dangers about that: "I feel like dub has always been part of my sound".  Meat Beat Manifesto will be backed with a video-installation by video director Ben Stokes, known from the likes of DJ Shadow's 'The Hard Sell' tour.

SOUNDTRACK BY... THE WIRE SOUNDSYSTEM (uk)

►►► DOMINO FACTS…
Blixa Bargeld is certainly no unknown to Domino. His flagship EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN played twice under the Domino banner. The first time in '04, the second time in '05 when they celebrated their 25th anniversary. Neubauten last year marked their 30th anniversary with a two-dayer in the AB.
Alva Noto is one of the founders of the RASTER_NOTON label that at Domino '07 received carte blanche by way of an expo ('Archiv Für Ton Und Nichtton) and presented shows by KANDING RAY, OLAF BENDER and also FRANK BRETSCHNEIDER. The latter two names are the remaining 2 of this minimal electronica label's 3 founding fathers.
Just one last thing: Cindytalk resides on the Viennese Editions Mego that once sent Japanese laptop-artist Tujiko Norika along to us. Cindytalk is not alone as transgender, BABY DEE was also made-to-measure for that status at Domino '08.