Jacob Kirkegaard and Pierre Bastien at Science Center NEMO

Jacob Kirkegaard will present his new work 'Labyrinthitis

Our vehicle for the propaganda of new music Viral Radio has contributed to this year’s Discovery Festival, that will take place at Science Center NEMO in Amsterdam this Friday 24 September. The festival is organised to celebrate the pleasure of finding things out, through scientific experiments, art installations and music performances.

For this occasion, we have invited Danish artist and investigator of sound Jacob Kirkegaard, and French composer and architect of mechanical orchestras Pierre Bastien (who recently replaced Darkstar at the Bimhuis during the Viral Radio Festival 2010). Jacob will talk about and demonstrate his recent project ‘Labyrinthitis‘, ‘an interactive sound piece that consists entirely of sounds generated in the artist’s auditory organs – and will cause audible responses in those of the audience.’ Jacob was our first ever guest at Lantaren/Venster in Rotterdam, with Fennesz in 2006. Pierre will install another orchestra of automated instruments, an image straight out of a Gondry film. His work has been shown around the world, and he has worked with Squarepusher, Jaki Liebezeit and Robert Wyatt (and if you are friend or follower of our activities you already know we are fond of him).

We are proud and happy to be part of this inventive festival, and we look forward to seeing you there this Friday. Tickets are available at the door for 10 euros. Please visit www.discoveryfestival.nl or Facebook for the complete line up and more information.

Electronic music, North Sea Jazz and balcony gardening

Another update from Juha, having just recovered from the flu. Michiel has been ill too – way to go Non-fictionites. These past days have been all about the North Sea Jazz Festival, and a little bit of balcony gardening.

Already after the first time I give up writing a weekly update. I admit, I’m not disciplined enough. I will now rename it “randomly timed update of current affairs.” See, much better.

What happened this time? Apart from discovering that it is possible to garden on a balcony on the 4th floor, and by doing so becoming a Foursquare mayor of my local garden supply store, I have spent most of my time on finishing my proposal for this year’s North Sea Jazz Festival. Although I have a background mostly in beat driven electronic music, playing jungle, dubstep and other asymmetric electronic music as DJ at festivals and club nights, in the years of working for Kadir Selçuk and Huub van Riel in Lantaren/Venster and the Bimhuis since 2005, I have developed an interest in electroacoustic improvised music. Early concerts I did were with Jacob Kirkegaard, Christian Fennesz, Philip Jeck and BJ Nilsen, who are all part of the unsurpassed London music label Touch. Later on I collaborated with Yuri Boselie on inviting abstract beat  producers like Flying Lotus and Hudson Mohawke to the Bimhuis on the Beat Dimensions nights. And in between I worked with Alog, Stephen O’Malley and Icarus.

These experiences have led to the invitation by the North Sea Jazz Festival, to programme two stages: one with beat-driven music (Yukon), and one with electroacoustic improvisation (Volga). It’s a great honour to bring my favourite musicians to my old hometown, and I find it incredibly encouraging that such a big and respected festival is open to new developments, and reserves an important part of its line up to these cutting-edge musics. We are in the midst of booking the musicians, and hopefully within a few weeks we can present an allstar line up of stellar artists. The Yukon stage on Friday 9 July will present a new generation of beat makers, the Volga on Sunday 11 July multiple generations of electronically aided improvisors.

As for the garden, it looks stunning. I just hope the grass and bamboo will survive the heavy winds. At least there’s a Moomin looking after them.