Random Number | DARKNESS EXTENDS: Norwegian Music Now

DARKNESS EXTENDS:
Norwegian Music Now

Monkeytown, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

On the occasion of the exhibition DARKNESS DESCENDS: Norwegian Art Now (Chashama, 217 E42nd Street, March 5 – March 8, 2009), the Norwegian invasion continues with a weekend-long musical extension at Monkeytown. The uniquely Norwegian preoccupation with darkness is the common thread uniting the musicians and artists included in this showcase.

The event is organized by Signe Prøis and Christina Vassallo.

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2009

ALEXANDER RISHAUG VS. MARIUS WATZ

Alexander Rishaug is a sound artist, producer and musician. Using minimalistic electronics, abstract beats, glitches and digital noise, he explores tones to create a textured sound, always with a sharp focus on structure, rhythm and melodies. Marius Watz works with visual abstraction through generative systems that are realized as pieces of software. For live performance he creates visual software instruments that use the live sound signal as a parameter, mapping image to sound.

Together Rishaug and Watz present an encompassing atmosphere of synesthetic union. The sounds and sights will be an immersive experience for the audience when presented in stereo and on four screens.

HÅKON KORNSTAD

Kornstad is a central figure in the new Norwegian jazz scene. The saxophonist has worked with everyone from the jazz heavyweight Bugge Wesseltoft to Norwegian folk singer Unni Løvlid and vocal avantgarde pioneer Sidsel Endresen. At times nuanced and subtle, Kornstad’s melodies can transform within seconds to moody expressions of raw emotion. Kornstad will be releasing his new album this summer.

DJ ARE MOKKELBOST

Are Mokkelbost lost his record-spinning virginity during a collaboration with Londoner-turned-Norwegian, Spykidelic. The duo noticed sonic similarities between grime instrumentals and death metal intros and started a semi-regular night of improvised DJing called Deathstep/Dausteg. Mixing and matching crude and dark music from opposing genres and demographics, Mokkelbost & Spykidelic favored misanthropists, luminaries and the lonely avant-garde.

Are Mokkelbost’s solo DJ set will explore a similar attitude, mixing sweetness and darkness into a sticky molasses tar.

SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2009

EIVIND OPSVIK

Bassist/composer/record label owner Eivind Opsvik moved to New York City from Oslo in 1998. He blends a daring variety of jazz, progressive rock, classical, ambient and electronic influences — from Neil Young and Pink Floyd to Brian Eno — in his music. His main projects these days consist of his band Overseas, his duo Opsvik & Jennings, and his solo bass project. He’s also currently a member of a number of other cutting-edge New York bands like The UP, Kris Davis Quartet, David Binney’s Out of Airplanes w Bill Frisell, Tone Collector, Tony Malaby’s Paloma Recio, Rocket Engine and Ben Gerstein Collective

DJ HALVOR BODIN

Artist and graphic designer Halvor Bodin is known for his visual work with Satyricon, Darkthrone, Thorns and Bjarne Melgaard. His DJ set will be accompanied by live mixed black & white excerpts from his own video works and found imagery. Combining a fierce visual aesthetic with a danceable and eclectic mix of electronic music, dubstep, nu jazz, dub and electro, Bodin turns anything he touches into gold.

Beathe C. Rønning

The music will be accompanied by Concretizations, a projected slideshow of photographs by the artist Beathe C. Rønning. The work explores the hidden narratives and associations between everyday objects.

In the Bathroom Sound Series

Thora Dolven Balke’s The Wave, a surround sound installation in which the banal chore of grooming is disrupted and finally drowned out by sounds of uncontrollable nature.