Ancienne Belgique

9:15 pm - José Gonzalez & The Göteborg String Theory (Sweden)This encounter between José Gonzalez & The Göteborg String Theory is, without a doubt, a unique project. Or rat...

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9:15 pm - José Gonzalez & The Göteborg String Theory (Sweden)
This encounter between José Gonzalez & The Göteborg String Theory is, without a doubt, a unique project. Or rather: José González accompanied by a twenty-member Swedish ensemble. The Göteburg String Theory is an art- and music-collective that resides in Berlin half the time and is mainly known for their collaboration with Sweden's most visionary musical performers. This unique project experienced its première during a festival in Gothenburg last year and combined the strikingly beautiful songs of González and the innovative orchestration of the String Theory. Curious to hear how his versions of ‘Teardrops’ (Massive Attack) and ‘Heartbeats’ (The Knife) will sound with this line up. For those who want to prepare themselves: just surf to the impressive www.kningdisk.com (see: Nils Frahm, Peter Broderick,…) and listen to a few tracks from this ensemble's untitled album with guest appearances from Midaircondo, Wildbirds & Peacedrums and José González. Nice that this project, aside from the prestigious London Barbican, will also be stopping at AB.

7:00 pm - SCREENING OF… ‘The Extraordinary Life of José Gonzalez’ (première!)
(2010 – 74 min. - directors: Mikel Cee Karlsson & Fredrik Egerstrand)

Belgian première of this excellent documentary about José González. The makers of this docu – Karlsson is also the man behind the González clips ‘Killing For Love’ and ‘Down The Line’ - certainly avoided all the clichés familiar to music documentaries. Chris Boeckmann from the True/False Film Festival (US) says of it: ‘a universal art documentary’ and also ‘a beautiful, sly and radically intimate portrait of a quietly eccentric musician’. ‘The Extraordinary Life Of...’ is at the same time interwoven with fine animations by Per-Isak Snälls. In the meantime, view the trailer here to get into the mood and you're sure to be sold.

8:15 pm - Little Scream (Can.)
Little Scream is the alter-ego of Canadian singer songwriter Laurel Sprengelmeyer, who possesses a remarkable voice. This spring she released her first real feat - ‘The Golden Record’  named after the recordings that were sent into space with the Voyager in '77 - via the eminent Secretly Canadian label (see: jj, Suuns, Antony & The Johnsons,…). Her debut was recorded in both Montreal and New York, in the home studios of The National, who at the same time also played along a little on the album. Just like members of A Silver Mount Zion, Stars and Arcade Fire did. To be situated musically between Scout Niblett, Patti Smith and Cat Power.

Sob. Domino's final curtain now really has fallen…

►►► DOMINO FACTS…
Aside from innovative beats, keen electronica and sensational noise, Domino has always offered a platform for intimate songwriters. Just remember LAMBCHOP (in ’02) at the time of their breakthrough/classic ‘Is A Woman’ and also impressive Belgians like TOMMIGUN (’10), THE BEAR THAT WASN’T and THE BONY KING OF NOWHERE (’07), two years prior to his acclaimed debut ‘Alas My Love’ seeing the light of day.
PHOSPHORESCENT and SOUTH SAN GABRIEL (both ’08) also made an impression on one and the same evening. Scott ALASDAIR ROBERTS (‘05) zestfully opened for Joanna Newsom and the French/Finnish duo MI AND L’AU did the same for Isobel Campbell.
Songwriters PATRICK WOLF (who appeared in ’04 and in ’05) and GRUFF RHYS (’07) were definitely eccentric by nature (Rhys worked a few years later on the megalomanic project of Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse: ‘Dark Night Of The Soul’). The most eccentric of all was without a doubt lo-fi God DANIEL JOHNSTON who appeared in ’07 (with Das Pop as backing band even) and also Holland's Beam Orchestra in ’10.

Views of Montreal _ LITTLE SCREAM from Vincent Moon / Petites Planetes on Vimeo.