What a week and what a year. And there is still 2 weeks to go. And last night Alex and i went to a sabbatical Christmas party at the Horse Bazaar and there were many artists playing their noise - i wont say "for" the audience... not even "at" the audience. They were making noise and an impressive crowd of young hip groovies congregated at the scene to pay witness to anti-musical establishment in its current guise. I recall going to see Danmatsuma, back in 2000, before noise was in with the groovies. Back when vehement distortion and object sounds would send a pub crowd scuttling, whole pints of beer left as relics of a once inhabited venue. Danmatsuma were banned from every venue they played - i guess Melbourne just wasn't ready for that kind of stuff... but the kids were gonna love it.
Aside from enjoying being a part of the who's who of local noise and experimental shit - i think we took a few lessons home with us. For starters, and perhaps this is my theatre background talking, it is very easy for musicians of any type to loose sight of the fact that people have come along - in this case paid - to see them do what they love doing. Some of the artists looked like they loved what they were doing. There was a girl in a white dress writhing away as she provided vocals. She looked like she was into it - at least. And then there was a pretty hardcore display of drumming from Rob Mayson (who i was friends with in primary school). But something was lacking and i'm not sure what it is. Anti-everything punk derivatives can make a point of being disrespectful and i am glad that there is music that does that... but i found it difficult to maintain my attention while the musicians were "playing" last night.
I used to think that the brain might shut off when accosted with overwhelming and brutal sound. That, as a self defence measure, the mind would put up barriers - as one goes into denial during or after traumatic violence. But i am not so sure. I was watching and listening and trying to focus and i kept thinking of things to say to my friend. There was no real impulse to leave... i just wasn't that interested in what was happening on stage. I don't know why some music seizes my attention immediately, any more than i know why some paintings demand one's full attention the moment they present themselves. Certain sculptures, photographs and performers immerse you in their form and offer no release. After witnessing the profound presence of Goya, Velasquez and Picasso, i can honestly say that great works have haunted me for days after the experience of their intimacy. In contemporary music, Ben Frost held me by the frontal lobe for a sustained 45 minutes this time a year ago. Ollie Olsen has made me want to dance when i thought my brain was leaking out through my nose. Eye from the Boredoms is always full of suprises and when i feel like relaxing Thomas Koner and DJ Olive lull my imagination in before painting delicate images and nudging my soul.
But the stuff last night... didn't really affect me so much. Some nice ideas and some nice sounds. But it all sort of seemed like that naked plinth at a 1st year VCA exhibition, inviting the observer to make what they can of an empty packet of crisps in an art gallery. Here is a sound, or a whole bunch of sounds - all at once - you do the math. Yeah... nah... To get on stage, whether you want to challenge the conventions of that stage or not, demands a genuine gesture of communication. It demands an honest moment of giving. Little was offered to me last night. Little was taken. As i walked down Lt Lonsdale Street, a young dude in tight black jeans swaggering with the poise of disabled pigeon asked/declared "that was great music right?" Right... it might have been the constriction on his abdomen, or his insecurity hiding like a vesuvian zit behind three strands of hair. When i said i wasn't convinced, he loped off into the night. Even the determined consumer seeks, desires in fact, affirmation.
The night before was the final group rehearsal for Chotto Matte. David goes north to be with family for Christmas, while Alex and i will spend the season with our respective tribes in Melbourne. We all continue to lay the foundations for our new baby. The next performance will most likely be on a Thursday in mid/late January. The 22nd i think... I have provided the last recording we made at the head of this entry. It starts kinda glitch electronica before building and droning and descending into a flat out rock jam at the end. You may notice that the bass is really dominant and that the vocals kind of disappear a bit. This was unintentional and something we will keep in mind for the next time we are adjusting our levels.
If i don't see you before, have a great Christmas and New Year. I look forward to whatever correspondence we may have in the near future.
Regards,
Benjamin
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