The second night of a two-day festival from cult German label Denovali Records, who since 2005 have drawn a loyal following for their roster of experimental sounds, ambient, drone, indie and electronica to darkjazz, jazz or piano and string driven modern compositions. Denovali have been running their Swingfest events since 2007 in Essen, Germany - featuring performances from the likes of Tim Hecker, Sunn O))), William Basinski and Andy Stott - before expanding to host events in London and Berlin last year.

Tonight sees performances from 4 varied artists on Denovali's roster, with pioneering German multimedia artist (and one half of seminal techno duo Porter Ricks) Thomas Köner, electronics and classical arrangements on baby grand from Piano Interrupted, striking and immersive audio-visual performance from Origamibiro, and caustic-melodic string noise from Petrels.

The first night or the festival takes place at Village Underground and features performances from Porter Ricks, Anna von Hausswolff, Hidden Orchestra, Ulrich Schnauss, Witxes and John Lemke.

Denovali Swingfest website

SCHEDULE

:: 10.40 pm - 11.30 pm Thomas Köner
:: 09.45 pm - 10.30 pm Piano Interrupted
:: 08.50 pm - 09.30 pm Origamibiro
:: 08.00 pm - 08.35 pm Petrels


THOMAS KÖNER

Thomas Köner (b. 1965) is a pioneering multimedia artist whose main interest lies in combining visual and auditory experiences. Over his long, much celebrated career, he has worked between installation works, sound art, minimal soundscapes, and as one half of Porter Ricks. He attended music college in Dortmund and studied electronic music at the CEM-Studio in Arnhem. Until 1994 he worked in the film industry as editor and sound engineer. Thomas has extended his concept of time and sound colour to images, resulting in video installations, photography and net art. His point of departure was composition of sound in which aspects of a performance and visual language were gradually integrated. At first in the collaboration with film artist Jürgen Reble and the live performance Alchemie (1992). Following this, he started to compose film soundtracks and music to accompany historic silent films for the Louvre Museum and the Musée d'Orsay, Paris, who called him a major innovator in the contemporary music scene, as well as noted his collaborative practice which has led to his working with musicians, filmmakers and visual artists on installations and sound performances, and to his creation of six video works produced in two cycles, starting in 2003.



www.denovali.com/thomaskoner


PIANO INTERRUPTED

Piano Interrupted is the brainchild of London-based pianist and composer Tom Hodge and French electronic producer Franz Kirmann. Coming from two very different musical worlds (electronica, pop and techno for Franz; classical and minimalism for Tom), the two musicians had been friends for a long time before deciding to make music together.

"Mixing electronic elements with classical arrangements on a baby grand piano, duo Tom Hodge (on piano) and Franz Kirmann (electronic extraordinaire) have created a soundscape laden with emotional depth. The mix feels like a series of hymns performed in a discotheque, transforming a club-like atmosphere into an experience both spiritual and mind-expanding." - Slug Magazine (review of 'The Unified Field')

www.denovali.com/pianointerrupted


ORIGAMIBIRO

Origamibiro is a collaborative project consisting of three core members: musician, soundtrack composer and producer Tom Hill, visual artist and filmmaker The Joy Of Box, and multi-instrumentalist Andy Tytherleigh. Originally started as a solo project for Tom, Origamibiro has since evolved into an audio-visual collective, producing studio music, art objects, interactive installations and hauntingly original live audio-visual performances. Origamibiro like to create work with an array of unorthodox processes and contraptions, found objects, video feeds and multi instrumentalism. Their aim is to create works of texture, lyricism and intensity.



www.denovali.com/origamibiro


PETRELS

Petrels is London-based musician and illustrator Oliver Barrett. Having put out several releases under his 'Petrels' moniker on various labels internationally including Denovali, Tartaruga, and Patient Sounds, he recently performed cello on Duane Pitre's latest album, Bridges. As a composer he has had work commissioned by the BFI, London Word Festival and the Southbank Centre amongst others. A multi-instrumentalist, Barrett's musical practice spans solo electronics, acoustic improvisation, band work, and sound art, to orchestral arrangements and song, drawing influences from a broad spectrum.



www.denovali.com/petrels


DENOVALI RECORDS

Denovali Records is a Germany based independent music label founded in 2005. Not confined to a specific genre the label supports worldwide sound researchers. The program of Denovali Records varies from sometimes improvised darker experimental sounds, ambient, drone, indie and electronica to darkjazz, jazz or piano and string driven modern compositions.

Since 2007 Denovali Records has curated and organized an international music festival called Denovali Swingfest. The first editions took place in Essen, Germany - since 2013 Denovali presents similar events in London and Berlin. The name Swingfest is an homage to the the Swing Kids being active during the Nazi dictatorship. Focussed on various forms of experimental and adventurous music the lineup offers a wonderful opportunity to discover a wide range of international Denovali artists live and is rounded off by various renowned non-label guest artists. A hallmark of the festival is the renunciation of the headliner principle: all artists are receiving the same attention - the length of each artist's concert is equal. In addition to the musical program the festival features yearly changing specials like an experimental film cinema, installations or lectures.