I personally kicked off the festival a day early, by catching the preview of James Webb and James Sey’s (above, left to right) ‘The Utopia Travelogues ***,’ which premiered at the trendy Tokyo Star in Melville. I have to say that it was beautiful; I understand the complaints by some that the text was a bit pretentious, but I took it to be extremely ironic (and was close enough to catch the smirks on the James’ faces). Intended for radio (and so best if you sit in a corner by yourself, and close your eyes), the music was experimental enough to create amazing visuals, but accessible enough that even a sonic luddite such as myself enjoyed it. I saw the last in their series when it was here a few months ago, and this is, by far, superior. It’s on again as part of the festival on Sunday evening (programs available online), so check it then.
To me, the two highlights of yesterday’s festival, then, were the improvisational collaboration between JoaÃÉo Orecchia and Carlo Mombeli, and the kinetic-sculpture-installation-performance thing by Maxime Rioux. The former was a loop masters experimental noise jazz electroacoustic yumminess, while the latter used about 30 sculptures of speakers attached to noise and musical instruments on springs, and triggered by electrical impulses to the analogue devices.
not quite a still of -part of- unyazi 2005 by maxime rioux
Man, it was hot. More….
