Friday, September 10, 2004

Andrea Parker, dj set, UK
Certainly, Andrea's musical past is a wildly varied one. Her early explorations with Inky Blacknuss and Two Sandwiches Short of a Lunchbox (a collaboration with David Morley) were at the cutting edge of experimental leftfield electronica. Even then, she was also showcasing her vocal skills.
In "Kiss my Arp", her latest album, Andrea paints the bigger picture, drawing on her experience as an experimental DJ at clubs like Lost and the legendary, defunct Megatripolis, her love of hard dancefloor techno and her ear for a classic song, in equal amounts. Which might well be down to growing up in Yalding, Kent, initially divorced by geography from the club scene until she grew up and she discovered funk in London hip-hop jams.
Following the release of 'Kiss My Arp', there were tours of Germany and America which led to Andrea opening for Radiohead on the West Coast leg of their US tour this year.

Saturday, September 11 2004

Mitchell Akiyama, Canada
A multimedia artist (he teaches visual arts at the University of Quebec), Mitchell Akiyama is interested in the urban space seen as a natural habitat, an ecosystem, in the fashion of the encyclopedists of the 18th century. His videos represent for example empty spaces or urban spots filmed close up with the help of a micro-surgery camera, and through the subtle interplay of slow motion and superimpressions he manages to invoke a flowing sensation, something between hypnosis and extreme lucidity.
The same organic dimension prevails in his music, although it pours out of the circuits of a laptop. Whether recorded or live, his music is realized through processing instrumental sources played by himself (piano, guitar) or other musicians on his latest album "If Night Is A Weed And Day Grows Legs" released by the prestigious Brussels label Sub Rosa. Seeking to capture and invoke through various effects the multiple resonances of his instruments, he manages to create fascinating sonic landscapes, occasionally evoking the music of Sylvain Chauveau and Christian Fennesz, Erik Satie and Steve Reich (his favorite musician), My Bloody Valentine and Brian Eno...

Friday, September 17, 2004

Ramon Bauer > Tina Frank, Austria
Ramon Bauer is the founder of Mego - the most important record label in Austria, which has played a definitive role in establishing and popularizing the Viennese electronica scene. He has collaborated with Pete Rehberg, and their work has been published by famous British Touch label, while he is also a member of General Magic. A pioneer laptop composer, Ramon Bauer in his live performances seeks electronic improvisation often materializing through a subtle sense of humor.
Established as one of the most important designers in the world since the mid-'90's, Tina Frank has created some of the most emblematic electronic CD covers, logos and t-shirts, while she increasingly focuses on the production of videos as well as of visuals meant to create "design for music." She regularly cooperates with musicians such as Chicks on Speed or Mathias Gmachl, with whom they have established the audiovisual group Skot.
In Athens, Tina Frank is in charge of the visuals for Ramon Bauer concert.

Saturday, September 18 2004

Robin Rimbaud > Scanner
Scanner is one of the most eccentric and groundbreaking personalities in the international electronic scene. Seeking sounds from the most unexpected sources is his main source for inspiration for "democracy in music," as he terms his main creative obsession. Characterized as a "sonic terrorist," Robin Rimbaud heralds future techno-data sonic landscapes whose transformation and visual flow he personally sees to, creating a multiple sonic and visual effect that shocks listeners-spectators.