Evening focusing on unique Belgian label
Admittance is free of charge according to the principle of ‘first come, first served.’
Opéra Mort
Opéra Mort is Parisian-Brussellian duo Fusiller and Élg (El-G). Both artists already have an impressive track record and have released work on labels like Tanzprocesz, Kraak, Spleen Coffin & Nashazphone. As Opéra Mort they present a dark mix of electronica, ambient and avant-garde music. Their new album will be released in September on B.A.A.D.M.
Mathieu Serruys reintroduces the main themes of classical Romanticism to the electronic avant-garde.
But whereas that electronic avant-garde instated a non-art aesthetic and thus prepared the way for formal experiments and deconstruction, Serruys uses the innovations of modernism to inject humanity and melancholy into the current age.
On his debut album On Germaine Dulac, he has succeeded in reinventing both the phraseology of Romantic fuga’s and the tape collage of the 60’s. Doing so by means of the serendipity of tape-machines and vintage analogue synths, which are not always consistent but do provide surprising results.
B.A.A.D.M.
This Belgian label is run by 2 graphic designers, Joris Verdoodt and Mathieu Serruys (also known for his wonderful tape-music). Their primary interest lies in investigating music as a medium in which meanings, references, obsessions or strategies (that are external to the music) can be hidden within the sound. Their releases are beautifully designed because, as they say: ‘We aim to cultivate B.A.A.D.M. as an extensive aesthetical universe, where artistic freedom is galvanised by the presence of conceptual triggers without being jeopardised by constrictive narrative traces.’
Screening: Living, Frans Zwartjes, Nl., 1971, 15min.
Living is Zwartjes' masterpiece and also his own favourite film. 'Living vind ik wel een rare, ondefinieerbare sfeer hebben. Dat eigenaardige gedraai en dan dat gedrein van die muziek erbij...' The film demonstrates Zwartjes’ virtuoso camera work. He operates the handheld camera that is directed upon himself while simultaneously playing the leading role. He wrote the soundtrack as well. Zwartjes: 'Ik was beresterk in die tijd'. Zwartjes' wife Trix also plays a role in Living. The two figures move restlessly through the house. This film is a part of the series Home Sweet Home, in which the various rooms of Zwartjes' own house in Den Haag are explored. The film was shot with an extremely wide-angled lens (a 5.7) that evokes an intensely alienating atmosphere.