Ancienne Belgique

In 1913 Italian Luigi Russolo wrote his futuristic manifest The Art of Noise (L’Arte Dei Rumori). Russolo was also a maker of musical instruments, including the Russolophone and 'intonarumori' o...

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In 1913 Italian Luigi Russolo wrote his futuristic manifest The Art of Noise (L’Arte Dei Rumori). Russolo was also a maker of musical instruments, including the Russolophone and 'intonarumori' or ‘noise machines’. If he hadn't died in ’47 then on this evening in '11 he would surely shamelessly sate himself on noise, black metal and keen electronica (that even have more in common than you think).

8:00 pm - Sightings (us)
“With a deep reach beyond the spirit of their influence from greats like Birthday Party, Dead C and Jesus Lizard, ‘City of Straw’ finds Sightings working at the peak of their creative powers.” (Time Out)
“Like Wolf Eyes trying to cover Joy Division.” (Pitchfork)

Sightings guarantees scorching sensational (at times abstract) noise with punk-rock and industrial influences. Think: Throbbing Gristle, SPK, Wolf Eyes and also Oneida. By the way, it is in Oneida’s Ocropolis’ - their arty multi-disciplinary studio/performance space in Brooklyn – that Sightings recorded their seventh album and high-flyer ‘City Of Straw’. So it was no accident that this album was released on Brah Records, Oneida's label. The trio also lives in Brooklyn, has been around now for more than 10 years and can count Andrew WK and Thurston Moore as fans.

9:00 pm - Liturgy (us)
Even more fine folk from Brooklyn: Liturgy. A quartet that deals in pedigree black metal, without the outward characteristics however. Their debut ‘Renihilation’ was released in ’09 and was praised by both Pitchfork and The New York Times. They cite both minimalist La Monte Young as well as composer Glenn Branca and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan as influences but you can only recognize that in the small interludes between the dirty chunks of black metal. Frontman Hunter Hunt-Hendrix (what a name!) screams about the apocalypse and his lyrics are nihilistic but it sounds in its entirety like a mature garage band or a noise-artist at his peak, one who stretches the boundaries of black metal by means of experimental inspiration. Successor ‘Aesthethica’ will be released early his year via Thrill Jockey. If you have a certain affection for the marriage of Burzum and Lightning Bolt: this is your thing!

10:00 pm - Merzbow (Jap.)
Kneel respectfully. Because Masami Akita aka Merzbow, the Great Japanese Noise God, has the honour of heralding the last notes of Domino # 15. Merzbow – the name is derived from Merzbau, a construction by dadaist Kurt Schwitter – has been active since '79 and has produced a stream of releases. Nobody really who knows how many exactly. And if you do know, then we reckon you're insane. 252 studio albums was what we read somewhere. The counter for live-albums sits at about 60. In ’00 Atika released a 50 CD box-set (‘Merzbox’), an overview of his early period until around the end of the 90's. Last year he released the 12 CD box ‘Merzbient’ with ‘calmer’ material. We honour his album ‘1930’ (on John Zorn’s Tzadik label) and also ‘Satanstornade’ (on Warp, with the catalogue number 666!), a collaboration by Masami Akita with Russell Haswell. Aside from that, Akita is, as vegan, a fierce defender – just like Paul McCartney – of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Let the discussion, as to whether his analogue or his digital period is the best, re-commence…

SOUNDTRACK BY... DENNIS TYFUS @ AB Club

►►► DOMINO FACTS…
Noise, thunderous electronica or drones have never been strange to previous Domino editions, no, they've been more of an underlying constant. Highlight was of course inspirer, legend and (as was apparent that evening) exceptionally amiable man LOU REED, who came to play in the same vein as his much maligned album ‘Metal Machine Music’ from ’75 (which in 2010 sounded more accessible and rhythmic than ever).
But it could be more radical. In '06 WOLF EYES gave a huge uppercut to a sold-out MOGWAI audience. Equally radical was noise fetishist RUSSELL HASWELL who, as warm-up to AUTECHRE in ’10, shattered the glaze on many dentures with his destructive and abstract noise. JOHN WIESE (’05), Vienna's RADIAN (’03) and Switzerland's STEAMBOAT SWITZERLAND (’01) also paid all due respect to the word radical.
It was all more rhythmic with BLACK DICE, who have appeared twice (in ’04 and in ’06). Fuck Buttons (’10), favourites of Portishead, knew how to almost sell their noise as pop too and HEALTH (’09) injected their noise with exquisite rhythm.
SUNN O))) triumphed twice. The first time in the ABclub in ’05, later also in ’06. Stephen O’ Malley also exhibited (with Seldon Hunt) and presented a ‘moog ceremony’ especially for Domino, with as unannounced special guest JULIAN COPE.
Further honourable mentions go to: MAGIK MARKERS in ’06, the impressive set by A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS (’09), Japan's BORIS (’06) and also THE RUINS (in ’99), years before Mike Patton embraced this Japanese duo on his Ipecac label or years before Matt Groening (The Simpsons) invited them to the edition of All Tomorrow’s Parties that he curated in ‘10.
A fine closer: the last gig ever from SOMNABULA (in ’04 as opener for Peaches), the satanic side-project of none less than Mauro Pawlowski (who was also the 'most present' Domino Belgian in projects/appearances like The Love Substitutes, MONGUITO and Mitsoobishy Jacson).