Ancienne Belgique

9:00 pm JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON"Just as Sigur Rós, Jóhann Jóhannsson exploits the area between pop and classical, emotional depth wins over technical ability and music finishes be...

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9:00 pm JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON
"Just as Sigur Rós, Jóhann Jóhannsson exploits the area between pop and classical, emotional depth wins over technical ability and music finishes before language. Jóhannsson has delivered a true masterpiece with ‘Fordlândia’ ." (De Morgen)
Jóhann Jóhannsson is known as composer for theatre and film, musician with APPARAT ORGAN QUARTET (with his predilection for dilapidated organs) and the darker electronica project EVIL MADNESS (with the likes of Curver), and also as co-founder of the Icelandic think-tank Kitchen Motors (see too: Kira Kira and Hilmar Jensson). On his track record you can find a series of film scores and now 5 solo-albums, the most recent of which being ‘Fordlândia’. This record deals with the failed dream of Henry Ford who, in the 20's of the previous century, tried to establish a new country in the Amazon. Jóhannsson's combination of strings, piano, electronica and percussion is rarely equaled. His slowly constructed, emotional melodies leave few unmoved. Silent splendour? Oh yes! Something more – and we quote – "Although his music is rarely, if ever, played on the radio, Iceland's Jóhann Jóhannsson has succeeded in winning a large audience with little media attention.", according to De Morgen. Basically: be there on time!

8:00 pm FENNESZ
"There's a warmth in Fennesz's work, an emotional integrity." (David Sylvian)
They're rare: laptop-performers that surpass their own, often extremely hermetic, world. The likes of Matmos can claim to have achieved this (their collaboration with Björk), Jim O' Rourke (his production work for Wilco or Joanna Newsom and his collaboration with Sonic Youth), Alva Noto (his collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto), Jon Hopkins (see: above) and also the extremely talented Christian Fennesz from Austria. Fennesz has already worked in the past with Mark ‘Sparklehorse’ Linkous (from which an album is to be released shortly), Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sylvian and Mike Patton. Fennesz calls his masterpiece 'Endless Summer' his personal reflection on The Beach Boys, a group that he counts as one of his great influences. Humo wrote of it: "Glitch-pop has never sounded more lyrical, timeless and accessible". His electronic sound variegations are also full of warm noise and emotional subtlety. The album 'Venice' (from ’04) also contains a brilliant highlight thanks to David Sylvian's vocal collaboration. Last year the actual successor to 'Venice' was finally released, ‘Black Sea’, still on the ever qualitative Touch label and as always Fennesz deals in beautifully purified electronica. He also presented at his best at the latest edition of All Tomorrow’s Parties.

7:00 pm JON HOPKINS
Jon Hopkins - barely 28 springs old - at first appears to be a noble unknown, but in fact possesses a (very) impressive track record. He's worked together with the likes of Brian Eno, Coldplay (with whom he has also toured America and acted as co-producer on their latest album ‘Viva La Vida’), Herbie Hancock and Massive Attack. He's already made his mark with the impressive track ‘Vessel’, available for months now via his MySpace page. A perfect mix of electronica, classical (Hopkins is also a classically trained pianist) and distorted sounds from the Aphex-school. A mix that can also to be heard on his third album ‘Insides’, due to be released in spring (but already available on iTunes), a stunningly beautiful album that already now adorns our end-of-year charts. No wonder then that well-respected choreographer Wayne McGregor has, musically, largely graced his latest dance production ‘Entity’ with Hopkins’ ‘Insides’. Indeed: Domino immediately opens in style, with a formidable discovery.

7:00 pm SOUNDTRACK BY… JOHN TWELLS (Type Records)

7:00 pm PRE-LISTENING SESSION:
SOAP & SKIN ‘Lovetune For Vacuum’
(Couch Records/[Pias Recordings – release: mi avril)

Jon Hopkins Visuals (Excerpt)

Jóhann Jóhannsson - The Rocket Builder

Fennesz - Shisheido