The Powerhouse - Fri Oct 3

It’s a celebration of the avant-garde this evening, the second night of Room 40’s Open Frame Festival. It’s a unique performance space with cushions all over the ground for punter comfort and mysterious desks of equipment in each corner. First off are Canberra duo Spartak. Constructing a collage of sound with subtle guitar effects and gentle percussion, it culminates in a hugely impressive drum climax from Evan Dorrian. Mere seconds after the applause dies down New Zealand’s Birchville Cat Motel begins his set – a dense, pulsing dirge of noise, rhythms appearing and disappearing as he makes minute adjustments to his equipment. After a brief intermission it’s the endearing US male and female duo Lucky Dragons, who embark on some very interesting experiments including handing rocks to audience members and inviting them to wave them over a device to create noise, and another where people held wires and joined together, using their own electrical fields to influence the ebb and flow of the music. Concluding the evening from Japan is KK Null who on his own desk of tricks takes the audience through a noisy, intense and physical set. He builds layer upon layer of sound to induce an almost hypnotic lull into the audience who, as they have all night, sit respectful and captivated.

MICHAEL PINCOTT

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