JASON VAN GULICK

JIGOKU NOHARA

abstractism / dark ambient / industrial music

JOACHIM MONTESSUIS

Alias: SNOW CRASH

grind / musique concrete / performative art / actionism / abstractism / body art / avant-garde / electroacoustic / field recordings / power electronics / sound art / experimental / noise / contemporary art / nonmusic / abstract expressionism / harsh / drone music

Joachim Montessuis develops an experimental contextual practice mainly around voice, drone, noise and resonance since the early 90′s. His current work is directed towards conceptual experimental processes of the issue of observation and perception of reality through a non-dual approach. His vocal performative work explores various states of trance through the extreme potentialities of amplification and electronic transformations of screams, throat singing, and also words. He designs his actions as processes, “noise poetry-codes reality fertilizers”.
He has shown his work in many festivals around the globe (more than 200 performances) and he has collaborated with more than 100 artists. He also is the editor of the CD label Erratum devoted to art, noise and experimental sound poetry – which he started in 1993. He occasionally curates experimental poetry events and exhibitions. He lives in Paris and teaches sound and intermedia art at HEAR in Strasbourg.

Collaborations with very different artists including Henri Chopin, Charlemagne Palestine, Phill Niblock, Maja S. K. Ratkje, Serge Pey, Master Musicians of Joujouka & Frank Rynne, Junko Hiroshige, Michel Giroud, Gaël Segalen, Julien Blaine, David Larcher, Joël Hubaut, Jörg Piringer, Franck Ancel, Julien Ottavi, Evil Moisture/Andy Bolus, Bryan Lewis Saunders, Horia Cosmin Samoïla, Collectif MU (Paris), Erik Minkkinen, Philippe Simon, Marcello Aguirre, Gomang’s Tibetan Monks, Yvan Etienne, Faustin Linyekula, Ewen Chardronnet, Marko Peljhan, Shu Lea Cheang, Martin Howse, Claudia Martinho, Aymeric de Tapol, François Martig, Wilfried Wending, Tashi Ko, Anne Roquigny, Pierre André Arcand, Eléonore Hellio, Jean Jacques Lebel, Charles Pennequin, Chloé Delaume, Raphaël Charpentié, Gaël Angelis, Cédric Pigot, Crium Delirium, Gigacircus, Michel Collet, Valentine Verhaeghe, Matthieu Messagier, Louis Ucciani, Sylvain Courtoux, Emmanuel During, Antoine Boute, Lucille Calmel, Thierry Théolier, Eric Lin Chiwei, Gigacircus, Philippe Zunino, Michaël Sellam, Nicolas Boulard, Philippe Lepeut, Hellekin…

JOHN BLADES

Alias: THE LOOP ORCHESTRA

spoken word / musique concrete / psychedelic / avant-garde / electroacoustic / sound art / experimental / abstract surrealism / fluxus

John Blades is the founder member of the group THE LOOP ORCHESTRA. 02 Dicember 011 The Australian experimental music community lost one of its finest last Friday when John Blades passed away due to complications associated with cancer. John was best known as a founding member of The Loop Orchestra, the long-time host/producer of the Background Noise radio program , and a tireless supporter of experimental musicians and sound artists around the country. Outside of music, John advocated for people with disabilities (he was diagnosed with MS in 1982) in many ways, most memorably in his Walkley Award-winning radio documentary “The Too Hard Basket” about sexuality and the disabled. John was one of the rare people I’ve met who I know pretty soon that I am privileged to have crossed paths with. His severe disability could not conceal his keen intelligence and broad knowledge of the arts, his humour, and most of all a positive energy and enthusiasm that he brought to his work. Listen to his fantastic radio doco “The Too Hard Basket” and you’ll get an idea of what I mean. If anyone in this world had something to be down and self-pitying about, it was John, who struggled for years with MS, only to finally succumb to cancer. His last email of a few weeks ago, informing his friends of his grim prognosis, agreed with what we all thought – ‘it wasn’t fair’. Yet he was still warm and positive, holding out hope for a final experimental treatment. We come across so many negative, self-pitying people – none of them have had the trials John did, and yet he was one of the most positive, enthusiastic people I’ve ever known (even though he had had episodes with depression the past; very common for people with MS). His personal and professional support for my own work was significant and lifted my spirits on several occasions. I saw reports of John’s passing in social media on the weekend, but didn’t want to post anything here until I had something more official. Rik Rue rang me last night and asked that I inform Melbourne people who knew John, and pass on the details of the funeral service (Monday 5 December at Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney). Even if we can’t attend, I’m sure those of us who knew John and/or were moved by his work, will spare a thought for him. Text by Rik Rue http://exp-melb.blogspot.com/2011/12/vale-john-blades.html

JULIAN BONEQUI

Alias: MATARRATAS / ULTRA SPIESSER

doom / avant jazz / grind / performative art / psychedelic / minimalism / avant-garde / electroacoustic / experimental / noise / constructivism / abstract expressionism / harsh / drone music

Julian Bonequi (born December 27, 1974 ) is a Mexican artist working mostly with Noise and Improvisation and 3d computer graphics[1] He plays the drums, and experiments with electronics and voice to create a rhythmic environment much richer in atmospheres and harmonic flow situations. He plays in the FOCO Orchestra, and create with Dave Tucker[2][3] and Ricardo Tejero the project Machinations of Joy Julian Bonequi established himself in Barcelona within the Spanish improvisation free jazz music scene since 2004, but has since also performed with a wide range of musicians working in diverse musical areas since he lived in Mexico. He has performed as guest with the London Improvisers Orchestra as electronic voice, attracted by the roots of free improvisation From 1995 to 2000 he participated in several projects of folklore, Rock in Opposition and psychodelia in Mexico City. Since 1995 he played in a lot of punk, psycodelia, stone rock and progressive rock projects, but always trying to give 100% importance to the freedom that improvisation gives to music. He played with Humus (band) that was founded in 1987 by Jorge Beltrán (guitar, keyboards) and Victor Basurto the full fledged bassist. Both of them, are formers musician of many other important Mexican bands, as Frolic Froth, Smoking The Century Away, Euphoric Darkness, Loch Ness and Semefo. Since 1997 Westminster became more or less the permanent drummer of Humus, who was preceded by Julian Bonequi (1998–2000) when Jorge Beltrán invited Bonequi to made important contributions to different albums(not yet released).[4][5] In 1999 he met Decibel (band).[6] Decibel were a rare exception to the prog acts of the 1978 period in Mexico, and were well versed in European groups such as Faust, Magma, Gong, and the Italian prog masters Il Balletto di Bronzo. The lineup centered around keyboardist Carlos Robledo and the bassist Walter Schmidt. So he found finally a place for improve his skills and experiment more. With them Julian Bonequi perform in the First International Festival of Progressive Rock in Mexico City, with Magma and Gong also in the program. And the next year, in March 2000 in a concert in the Museum Ex-Teresa Arte Actual in the historic centre of Mexico City, they celebrated the 25th anniversary and present the CD release named Fortuna Virilis, in addition to a retrospective with the work done since 1974. This concert is included in the three-disc box Fiat Lux, and it was the last time Decibel, this legendary Mexican band of Rock In Opposition play together without Javier Baviera, or Jaime Castaneda, but with Julian Bonequi on drums and Juan Carlos Ruiz on bassoon, former musician of Nazca, and leader of Culto Sin Nombre The same year, in 2000, the Israeli Label, MIO Records produced a 3-disc box called Fiat Lux. The complete recordings. 1977 - 2000, which contains all the studio albums of Decibel, and plus live material and rarities of unedited material. And a small booklet of 28 pages with pictures of the beginnings of the band. Also this box contained the 25th anniversary concert at Ex-Teresa Arte Actual. With Metaconciencia Julian Bonequi recorded the first album "Bestiario" in 2003 published by the French record label MUSEA Records. The critics received well this music work. A rhythm section perform a colourful and warm instrumental rock with multiple influences: Seventies Progressive rock, jazz-rock, Mexican music The music presented in Bestiario is quite intensive all of which is accompanied by quite an extraordinary drumming. Since 1995 he played in a lot of punk, psycodelia, stone rock and progressive rock projects, but always trying to give 100% importance to the freedom that improvisation gives to music. He played with Humus (band) that was founded in 1987 by Jorge Beltrán (guitar, keyboards) and Victor Basurto the full fledged bassist. Both of them, are formers musician of many other important Mexican bands, as Frolic Froth, Smoking The Century Away, Euphoric Darkness, Loch Ness and Semefo. Since 1997 Westminster became more or less the permanent drummer of Humus, who was preceded by Julian Bonequi (1998–2000) when Jorge Beltrán invited Bonequi to made important contributions to different albums(not yet released).[4][5] In 1999 he met Decibel (band).[6] Decibel were a rare exception to the prog acts of the 1978 period in Mexico, and were well versed in European groups such as Faust, Magma, Gong, and the Italian prog masters Il Balletto di Bronzo. The lineup centered around keyboardist Carlos Robledo and the bassist Walter Schmidt. So he found finally a place for improve his skills and experiment more. With them Julian Bonequi perform in the First International Festival of Progressive Rock in Mexico City, with Magma and Gong also in the program. And the next year, in March 2000 in a concert in the Museum Ex-Teresa Arte Actual in the historic centre of Mexico City, they celebrated the 25th anniversary and present the CD release named Fortuna Virilis, in addition to a retrospective with the work done since 1974. This concert is included in the three-disc box Fiat Lux, and it was the last time Decibel, this legendary Mexican band of Rock In Opposition play together without Javier Baviera, or Jaime Castaneda, but with Julian Bonequi on drums and Juan Carlos Ruiz on bassoon, former musician of Nazca, and leader of Culto Sin Nombre The same year, in 2000, the Israeli Label, MIO Records produced a 3-disc box called Fiat Lux. The complete recordings. 1977 - 2000, which contains all the studio albums of Decibel, and plus live material and rarities of unedited material. And a small booklet of 28 pages with pictures of the beginnings of the band. Also this box contained the 25th anniversary concert at Ex-Teresa Arte Actual. With Metaconciencia Julian Bonequi recorded the first album "Bestiario" in 2003 published by the French record label MUSEA Records. The critics received well this music work. A rhythm section perform a colourful and warm instrumental rock with multiple influences: Seventies Progressive rock, jazz-rock, Mexican music The music presented in Bestiario is quite intensive all of which is accompanied by quite an extraordinary drumming.

JULIAN PERCY

Alias: MATARRATAS / ULTRA SPIESSER

avant jazz / musique concrete / abstractism / avant-garde / experimental / noise / drone music

Julian Percy wurde 1978 in Melbourne Australien, geboren.
Für die Erstellung seiner Klänge bedient er sich verschiedener Materialien, wie z.B im urbanen Raum gefundene Objekte, selbst gebauten Instrumenten , individuell preparierte Guitarren, klassischen analogen Effekten , Sampler .
Seine Projekte sind RATBAG, LAST DOMINION LOST, MATARRATAS, ULTRA SPEICER, HELAAS, SKULP, NK.
RATBAG on ZHARK INTERNATIONAL

JULIEN OTTAVI

Alias: SNOW CRASH

abstractism / abstract symbolism / minimalism / avant-garde / electroacoustic / sound art / experimental / conceptual art

Julien Ottavi aka FORMANEX, aka THE NOISER, is part of the sound/activist collective APO 33 in Nantes, has moved recently to London where he has set up up a media lab in the artist space Area 10. APO 33 produced the GNU/Linux audio-media distribution Apodio, which is the one that Julien uses. Ottavi is likely the most intense laptop performer, always ready for new challenges and finding new ways of experimenting and this new work is a continuation of his extreme engagement in sound. Since 1997, he develops a composition work on the voice and its transformation by computer. Active developper of audio/visual programs with Puredata, he has also developed since many years DIY electronics (radio transmitters, oscillators, mixers, amplifiers, video transmitters...etc) in the perspective of knowledge sharing on technological development. Main developper for the Gnu/Linux operating system APODIO for digital art and A/V & streaming manipulation http://www.apodio.org His practices is not limited to the art spheres but crosses different fields from technological development to philosophy research, biomimetic analysis & experimentation. Since many years he reflects on the relations between experimental practices and collective practices within the creation of autonomous collective groups, putting in question the authorship strategy of the “art ideology”. As a sound composer he works on « programmatic compositions », producing computer series of solos : “Nervure Magnétique” - “séries du bruit blanc et rose” , « série métapercussions » “étudesauxhertz” ...(concerts in Europe - 2000/2001, United states 2002/2003/2005). Develops all his researsh with computer and Puredata software and Gnu/Linux operating system. - For these series, he works with some limited sound materials (noise, frequencies, sinus, percussions samples...etc) and uses the computer as an instrument to play music and modify space. -founders and member of FORMANEX, electroacoustic quatuor of chamber music from XXe and XXIe century, which plays graphic scores and others kind of scores from composers like Cornelius Cardew, John Cage, Christian Wolf, Morton Feldman, Earle Brown, Jerome Joy, Kasper T. Toeplitz, Ralf Wehowsky… etc. -Founder, artistic programmer, audio/video computer researcher (network and audio research) and mix-media artist of APO33: Art, technology and research laboratory based in Nantes working in the fields of sound art, free software, collaborative practices, micromedia and urban and environmental mutations. It is at the initiative of several collective projects linking research, experimentation and intervention in social contexts. APO33 develops several activities : creation to facilitate the development of experimental sound creation practices. APO33 with its own CIA (Cell for Intervention in Art/apo33), created a collective for sound/radio creation (artistic research, participation in festivals, residences, publications...). Technological Research on digital tools (web-radios, server networks, collaborative plate-forms...) and electronic devices. Theoretical research (organizing seminars, colloques, workshops with an interdisciplinary approach). Educational activities (teaching and workshops). Diffusion, Apo33 frequently invites artists from all over the world to present their work, set up collaborations or exchanges.