Notes on Aural Alchemy
2009/11/14 9:09 | category: Xtraneous | tags: dreams, live, memories
Destination: Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu festival, Oulu, Finland. We hit the road early in the Monday morning. Just a few hours earlier I was still sitting at the computer, applying the last tweaks to the visuals to accompany the live sound of the performance. The weather was snowy and somewhat foggy, but traveling went smoothly since, for once, we were not in a hurry. Upon arriving in Oulu we were informed that the venue was moved from the second floor club stage to the basement. Apparently the owners of the building, the local Freemason lodge, were not fond of having our racket as background music for their clandestine rites upstairs above the club stage… After all, the move was probably for the good since the basement was way more intimate, and the sound was good nevertheless. The set, about 40 minutes this time:
{monogram} X
Teonanácatl
NeitherSphere
Through the [evolutionary] Ribcage
The Dream that Awakes You
An illuminist set, reflecting certain themes and ideas I’ve found myself exploring more and more in the last year or so. Teonanácatl recycles some themes from Psilocybe Necrophila in a rhythmic setting. NeitherSphere and {monogram} are used to vary live quite a bit from the studio versions heard on Half Born in Half Light. Through the Ribcage had the old curse replaced by a spoken word by Yrjö Kallinen, a humanist, pacifist, theosophist and a former secretary of defense of Finland (1946-48). Hence, evolutionary. The Dream that Awakes You is a work in progress that may mutate somewhat in the future.
I’ve found a fine (if not perfect) balance between improvisational elements and previously prepared material so that the set is not tied to a strict timeline yet it won’t collapse into complete chaos (unless by decision…). In other words, it sounds good and is fun to perform. This time I was happy to also have Ovro, a trusted partner in many crimes, on bass & effects to make it a more complete experience. Something we’ll definitely explore further for future performances, should chances allow.
Kehoruoska also performed the same night, delivering a hectic bombardment of breaks & noise flavoured with fierce delivery of vocal rage and anguish on top.
I was happy to meet and talk to Jukka Mikkola, the radio producer who has, among other things, run the Avaruusromua (“space junk”) radio show for electronic, experimental and ambient music on a national channel since 1990 or so. The next broadcast is supposed to include something from the UML festival, possibly bits from our conversation/interview too. Those in Finland should tune in this Sunday evening. Avaruusromua was quite influential to me in the early & mid 90′s (along with Jatzofrenia and Kauriin kääntöpiiri that were broadcast one after another every Sunday evening). Back then the Internet was quite different from what we’re used to today, especially as far as hearing new music was considered. These radio shows were almost the only way to hear new (and old) experimental, avant-garde, jazz, world music and other kinds of sound that you were unlikely to otherwise discover. These days the importance of radio may not be the same but a well made radio show is always worth listening to. Tune in! (Streams are available to Finland only, I’m afraid…)
On our long and somewhat exhausting way back via slush, icy roads, crazy truck drivers on speed and amazing Ostrobotnian _flat_ landscapes of swamps, fields and forests, we grabbed a box of red wine and a variety of cheese and, once finally back home, spent the rest of the evening and night doing our best to simply enjoy ourselves and take it easy for a change.
A souvenir from the trip, the new double album by Arktau Eos called Ai Ma Ra, has served as nocturnal music for a couple of nights now. I’m not entirely familiar with all of it yet, having spent most of the playing time somewhere between half sleep and deep slumber, but I’m confident that here’s another fine album of northern evocative sounds from the Aural Hypnox label. What fascinates me the most here is the organic timelessness of the sound, somehow bearing both very earthy and otherworldly qualities. I had dreams of wondrous ever-unfolding fractal worlds, whether provoked by the music, or things I’ve studied recently or both. Nevertheless, recommended stuff to check out.
If there’s anyone with photos from the Aural Alchemy performance, I’d be happy to see them and put some up on this site, please get in touch. Thanks!
