Subsonics
November 22 December 6 2003
Oren Ambarchi, together with Alison & Brendan Walls have co-produced an experimental TV series called SUBSONICS (6 episodes). Featured artists include Harry Partch, Faust, Francisco Lopez, Keith Rowe/AMM, Sachiko M, Leif Elggren, Masonna, Scott Horscroft, The Thai Elephant Orchestra, Otomo Yoshihide, Fuckhead, Sun Ra, Gcttcatt, Fahalim Ooshcasky, Sue Harding, Phill Niblock, Joyce Hinterding, Ai Yamamoto and others.
(Listening to Oren Ambarchi : November 27 20 :00)
Episode 1
The Subsonics journey starts in New York with Mulatta Records led by Dave Solider and Ayo Osinibi, whose challenging and bizarre label include the sounds of the Thai Elephant Orchestra, an ensemble of improvising Asian elephants and The Tangerine Awkestra, an avant-garde orchestra of five year-olds from Brooklyn.
This program also features the digital computer art of Japanese visual media designer Ukawa Naohiro and profiles NSW composer Sue Harding, who creates music from the dulcet tones of dot matrix printers.
The harsh and barbaric jumping noise music of Japanese physical performance artist Masonna and the sounds of 70s African-American experimental jazz musician Sun Ra complete this episode.
Features: Mulatta Records, Ukawa Naohiro, Sue Harding, Masonna, Sun Ra
Episode 2
The abstract electronic melodies and digital animation of Japanese artist Ai Yamamoto opens this program, followed by the touching performance art of Uzbekistans Fahalim Ooshcasky who creates music from unlikely sources, his work includes a Symphony for Sticky Tape.
Sydney based video and sound installation artist Scott Horscroft showcases his computer manipulated trance-inducing work for eight guitars, while psychedelic rock outfit Reynols also perform. Their diverse repertoire includes The Symphony of 10,000 Chickens recorded in a battery house.
Subsonics also looks at the groundbreaking music of 70s German experimental rock band Faust
Episode 3
The third episode profiles the work of the Swiss duo Voice Crack who have created a small orchestra out of cracked everyday electronics. This program also follows Jon, a mysterious dog suit clad Japanese woman, who has developed a cult following playing organ and singing about her dog in a teeny-tiny voice.
Subsonics showcases the work of Sydney based artist Jim Denley who explores new frequencies for Saxophone. In addition this episode celebrates the music of Harry Partch (1901-1974), one of the most individualistic composers of all time whose innovative theories challenged the notion of all western instruments being tuned by one system.
Episode 4
Episode 4 opens with the work of Sachiko M and Toshimaru Nakamura, two of the most prominent members of the Onkyo (or Sound Vibration) movement who produce and manipulate sound through electronic feedback circuits. Also profiled in this program is the chaotic free-jazz punk rock music of Baltimore artists The Dramatics and collaborating film maker/installation artist Martha Colburn. The performance work of frenetic Melbourne actionist hip-hop outfit Curse ov Dialect and new hope for the guitar with Keith Rowe
Episode 5
The amplified music of weather storms and electro-magnetic fields created by Sydneys celebrated composer Joyce Hinterding is profiled in this episode, alongside the work of Tasmanian based guitarist Greg Kingston. Kingston creates disturbingly speedy improvised music influenced by his condition of Tourettes syndrome.
Episode five profiles the collaborative work of GCTTCATT, featuring leading turntable artist Martin Ng of Sydney and digital artist Mathias Gmachl from Vienna. Through an interactive multimedia network the duo devise live performances based on converting computer images into sound and vice-versa.
Subsonics also looks at the work of renowned minimalist composer and filmmaker Phill Niblock whose music experiments with the texture of multiple tones in very dense tunings.
Episode 6
The final episode of Subsonics reflects on the adventurous music of turntable artist and guitar player Otomo Yoshihide of Japan.
Swedens eccentric performance installation artist Leif Elggren experiments with drone like sounds created from copper pipes in collaboration with a long dead Swedish Monarch, while the minimal electro acoustic soundscapes of Francisco Lopez from Madrid are also explored.
The Subsonics series concludes with the black humour and electronic operatic-punk music of the all male band Fuckhead. The Austrian based band whose naked, tattooed members dive head first into the football scrum of male behaviour
