RASTER-NOTON SHOWCASE :: Thursday, May 15, 2008 :: SIGNAL + solo sets by Alva Noto, Frank Bretschneider, and Byetone :: Presented by Non-Event, Basstown, and the Goethe-Institut, Boston ::Middlesex Lounge :: 315 Massachusetts Avenue :: Cambridge, MA :: (617) 868-MSEX :: Doors: 9pm, Show: 10pm :: 21+ Admission: $10

SIGNAL is a Raster-Noton supergroup, featuring Carsten Nicolai (aka Alva Noto), Olaf Bender (aka Byetone), and Frank Bretschneider. The trio performs intense, hypnotic music to a spectacular backdrop of graphical information that reveals the complex geometry of the sounds in play. Most of their sound sources are taken from a huge memory bank of music from long jamming sessions dating from the earlydays of Raster-Noton. These are processed and folded into a taut and energetic web of rhythmic clicks, bristling static, and deep bass pulses that are unexpectedly sensuous and undeniably funky. Their most recent album, Robotron, was released in 2007 on Raster-Noton. This will be SIGNAL’s Boston debut.

mp3 of Signal, Robotron: http://www.raster-noton.net/download/rn-69_robotron/02_Ermafa.mp3

Video of Signal Live in Copenhagen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2kyrrtVy_c

Musician and visual artist CARSTEN NICOLAI (aka ALVA NOTO) works in the transitional area between art and science. In his intensely dynamic work, Nicolai plays with the rules of physicality. Clicks and glitches are not used as ornamental additions, but make up the essential elements of the work, which is often structured around the rhythmic grooves of hip-hop and R&B. Nicolai has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious spaces including The Guggenheim, MOMA SF, MOMA Oxford, NTT Tokyo, Tate Modern, and Venice Biennial. His latest album, unitxt, will be out this summer on Raster-Noton.This will be Nicolai’s Boston debut. Website: http://www.alvanoto.com

FRANK BRETSCHNEIDER is a founding member of Raster-Noton and one of the pioneering figures in ultra minimal post techno. Using the most basic sound sources (sine waves and white noise), Bretschneider creates minimal, flowing pieces with delicate textures and complex rhythmic patterns. Described as “abstract analogue pointilism,” “ambience for spaceports,” and “hypnotic echochamber pulsebeat,” Bretschneider’s subtle and detailed music is echoed by his visuals: perfect translations of the qualities found in music into visual phenomena. His most recent album, Rhythm, was named one of The Wire magazine’s Top 50 Records of 2007. Website: http://www.frankbretschneider.de

Video of Frank Bretschneider Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rb9IGRaOF4&feature=related

OLAF BENDER (aka BYETONE) is a founding member of the Raster-Noton label, as well as its lead designer. Bender creates his music digitally, assembling sine tones into complex sound fabrics of deep sub-bass and rhythmic clicks and crackles. He creates abstract animations to support his abstract music transforming the rhythm of the music into
a graphic equivalent, which he controls in real time. His new album, D.O.A.T. (Death of a Typographer), is due out this summer on Raster-Noton.

mp3 of Olaf Bender, “Plastic Star”: http://www.raster-noton.net/download/rn-81_plasticstar/plasticstar_original.mp3

Links:
Raster-Noton: http://www.raster-noton.de
Basstown: http://basstown.blogspot.com/
Goethe-Institut Boston: http://www.goethe.de/boston
LEF Foundation: http://www.lef-foundation.org/
Non-Event concerts are supported in part by a grant from the LEF Foundation.