"When I was small and Christmas trees were tall, We used to love while others used to play. Don’t ask me why, but time has passed us by, Some one else moved in from far away. Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small, And you don’t ask the time of day. But you and i, our love will never die, But guess we’ll cry come First of May." There's something important to be said.
There may be those of you who know me and my partner and our current "situation" and thinking, why is he writing a blog and not taking care of other more important things? Yes, Sally and I are at the waiting stage, the 'hoping it will start soon' stage! Both of us can be notoriously control-freakish and therefore, us much as one can be prepared, we have planned and set up for the birth. And so at the moment there are long periods of waiting and thus this little entry.Yes, by the time of my next entry (perhaps by the time you read this) I will be a father. Daunting, exciting, terrifying and inspiring all simultaneously, which is a lot to be experiencing. For the last 9 months it's been in my mind whilst trying to carry on with day-to-day business and life. The last month or so has been particularly scattered psychologically, but ultimately I know it will be good!
And I'm only speaking of me, it's not really my place to speak about Sally here, but I cannot possibly imagine what it must be like to be an expectant mother. So here's my utter respect and admiration! Ultimately any words that I attempt to write about something so profound and yet so simple and everyday (which is why it's profound), can potentially trivialise it, so I'll stop there.
So amongst the thoughts of impending parenthood, some other things have taken place and I'll outline them here;
On March 12, I performed a live soundscape/mix at the opening of Chora Choruses at Kings ARI in Melbourne. I had initially produced a surround soundscape for Fiona Lee's work in the show (with Cath Robinson) and was also asked to perform at the opening, using the same audio sources (10 songs chosen by the Kings board). Seemed to go over okay. Images below; two live performance shots (taken by Fiona Lee)
mumble(speak) performed as opener for the Jandek show at the Philip Smith Centre in Hobart on March 26, 2010. All I can say is, it was an honour to be on the same bill as Jandek, a great band and fantastic folks and my set was well received and proved to be a good warmup for the upcoming tour, see below.Thanks very much to Heathen Skulls for bring Jandek to Australia and to Pip and Andrew for organising the Hobart gig with MONA and allowing me to perform. Cheers also to Lee for the mix and to Jason for lights. Below two images from the mumble(speak) set (images by Sally Rees) and below that some live excerpts from the set. mumble(speak) - 'Goodend/Godsend' by MattWarren mumble(speak) - 'storm' by MattWarren mumble(speak) - 'bad' by MattWarren
Untermorast (my dark/drone/psych duo with Tim Panaretos) played a set for the Edge Radio Benefit 'Weird Heavy' night at the Brisbane Hotel on April 14. We played with Evil Goat, The Wizar'd and Traitor. Cool bill, under-patronised unfortunately. Please keep an eye out for Untermorast releases, possibly as split-cassette and a CD sometime in the future.
Coming up soon: May 5: Save 10 Murray Street Presets:'Please Don't Let Me Be Understood' http://save10murray.wordpress.com/I began the Exhalation performance project in 2008 and I intend on performing it every year for the rest of my life. It is an ongoing work about mortality and as I was invited along with 34 other artists, to contribute to this exhibition, I thought it was an apt work to include.So for this version I performed this work in my studio (Dead Letter Office) and on the final breath took a photo, with lens steamed up with breath. The physical work I am donating to the exhibition is a print (the only one apart from the artist's proof) and a CD of the performance recording (again only one apart from the artist archive copy).Opens: 6pm - Wednesday May 5, 2010 at the Waterside Pavilion, Mawson Place, Hobart.
May 29: The Antipodean Homecoming Show. The first Australian show for THRALL in 3 years will also feature local harcore/grinders Traitor, my mate Tom Hall's awesome AXXONN and my projects Untermorast and first gig since February for MOIO. MOIO by the way are currently working on new material, approx. 5 new songs (we will debut some at this next gig). We will be releasing a new recording sometime in the future and have been invite to contribute a track to Julian Teakle's second edition of 'Community' a compilation of Hobart bands/musicians.The gig is at 9pm, Saturday May 29, 2010 at the Brisbane Hotel, Hobart.
June: mumble(speak) tour Thanks to Sound Travellers, mumble(speak) will be undertaking an Australian tour called 'The Good and Band People and Things' tour 2010.Almost all dates/venues confirmed; June 16: Stutter, Melbourne June 18: 6a, Hobart June 19: …., Perth June 20: Serial Space, Sydney June 25: DVVA, Darwin June 26: Browning Street Studios, Brisbane June 27: Feltspace, Adelaide. Hope to see you at one of these!
August: Sönaris - a video and surround sound installation.A new solo work that will be an ongoing exploratory and hopefully evolving work.An in-progress still is below.
That's it for now, take care of each other, see you at the next stage!
Photo: visit to Hell Toupee/Hell Gallery, Melbourne March 13, 2010 - (photo: Cath Robinson on Fiona Lee's camera)
Aching bones, sweating and breathing hard. Drones, crackles and all things in between. And so it comes to pass, end of an era, genuine affection and new opportunities. There is something important to be said.
Everyday we wake up and as we get older our bones ache, there are more seemingly pointless forms to fill in. We sweat in our clothes and our deep breath quickens. The items on the lists we write never all seem to get ticked off at the end of the day. The eyes grow bleary and we still have more to do. And sometimes what we do are thankless tasks, some just have to be done. Some we've put before ourselves to undertake. We want others to know how hard we work, we complain about how there's not enough hours in the day. And in the final analysis, it's all relative. I get tired, I groan under the weight (wait) and I feel like the tasks are mounting up. But I realised recently, that I would much rather be able to wake up in the morning and have something to do than to not wake up or wake up with no aim in sight. A great guy known as Beta Cloud (aka Carl Pace) who's a cool electronic experimental musician (and fellow expectant father) is in the process of producing a music release with all proceeds to go to cancer treatment/research.
"i'm doing a new release on relaxed machinery, and i'm proud to convey that ALL proceeds will go directly to cancer research/treatment. the label- http://relaxedmachinery.com/ the foundation- http://www.roswellpark.org/ it's in the mastering phase now by mr james plotkin. "
It bought to mind a very good friend who was taken way too soon a couple years ago, who really had only just begun bringing good things into the world. It bought to focus that there is much we can achieve while we are alive. Of course we need to rest and take in the good stuff around us, (working towards putting good things in the world is not always about physical undertakings either), but to complain about what we have to do, what we have before us, seems to me to be somewhat of a crime, when the alternative is to not be alive to have those burdens. When I think about that, the idea of them being burdens, for the most part fade somewhat.
Speaking of a bit of chore(!) at times, MOIO played a support gig to Ghost and The Storm Outside's final show on Wednesday February 3rd. Due to some (still) unexplained technical hitches, it was quite an undertaking of drudgery, but keeping in mind the chance I might contradict my above paragraphs, I will say that with a fair degree of fortitude we pulled through it. In the end it seemed the audience appreciated our set and it's most of yourself who realises the bit's you screwed up the most. We greatly appreciated the audience's patience and the guys in Ghost for allowing us to play.
Just recently finished was the Hobart incarnation of the two person (myself and Ms Rees) exhibition Of Heaven and Earth at 6a, (see previous blog post for more info). We included re-workings of the two pieces that were original shown in Montreal in 2008; 'Snowglobe' (Rees) and 'The Lull' (Warren) as well as works that were begun there, but completed here recently. These were three short sound works I produced called 'Five Roses and an Incorporeal Voice', 'We No Longer Speak' (Rue Bridge) and 'Between Frontenac and Pie-IX (singing man)', Sally's single channel video loop 'Rue St. Pierre' and our collaborative widescreen video projection with stereo soundscape 'The Great Escape/La Evasion Grande'. Here are some documentation images and an excerpt from the 'The Great Escape'.
'The Lull' by Matt Warren
'Snowglobe' by Sally Rees
'The Great Escape/La Evasion Grande' by Sally Rees and Matt Warren
This Friday (March 12) is the opening of Chora Chorus, a two person exhibition by Cath Robinson and Fiona Lee at King's ARI in Melbourne. I created a remix-surround soundscape for Fiona for her contribution and will also be performing a cross between a DJ set and a electro acoustic performance at the opening on Friday night. On the Saturday will be a artists talk that will include Lee, Robinson, myself and Ms Rees who wrote a wonderful piece of text for the show.
There's another gig at the end of the month that is incredibly exciting for me. I as mumble(speak) was very fortunate to land the opening slot for Texas-based bleak avant- folk (is that a genre?) musician Jandek. Not until 2004 had Jandek appeared live, but had since 1978 released a multitude of eccentric and incredibly personal/unique recording, sometimes 3 albums a year. So although the live appearances of late have increased, it's still quite amazing that he will be on our shores. For someone I only discovered in the past 18 or so months, to not only be able to witness the great man here in Hobart, but to be playing on the same bill, well my head swims. Very thankful. Big cheers to Heathen Skulls for bringing Jandek to Australia and to P and A for having me on the bill along with the great Hobart guitar genius Greg Kingston. This will be a night! March 26, 2010 at the Philip Smith Centre, 2 Edward Street, Glebe, Hobart.
DJ Broken Tiny will be on the bill, performing a set for DJ BTC's monthly 'Brand New Second Hand' nights. This month's theme is '60's' - expect some garage punk, psychedelia and all things in between. March 27, 2010 at the Brisbane Hotel, Main Bar, Brisbane Street, Hobart.
Other things coming up… Gigs for MOIO and Untermorast in May, mumble(speak) on tour in June and a solo exhibition called Sonaris in August. Oh and of course….parenthood in late April!!!!!
I'd like to finish by saying how nice (yes I'd like to rescue that word from the clutches of banality) it was to be at Pip and Andrew's nuptials in Swansea a couple of weekends ago. There was genuine affection in the air, a sense of community and a real sense of hope that is rare in an overly cynical environment. I think a lot of people felt it. It was nice (yes I said it). There are many photos of the happy couple floating around that capture the happy moments better than any of mine. However, here's an image taken the next morning that somehow captures the general sense of goodness that was there. Take care all.
Of Heaven and Earth is a collection of works, solo and collaborative, by Hobart artists Sally Rees and Matt Warren, produced or begun whilst on residency in Montreal, Canada in 2008.
Stranded in Montreal for a month after original art-making plans fell through, and feeling like aliens in a strange, but beautiful city in the dead of winter, the pair were inspired to make these works.
The resulting videos, soundworks and installations are both a portrait of the the city and an antidote to the alienation and homesickness sometimes felt whilst there. They portray a desire for an imagined sanctuary, created using the materials available at the time. Comforting snippets of ‘home’ (the Australian night sky, the beloved pet rabbits left behind) conspire with signifiers of ‘the other place’ (captive exotica, endless snow, a foreign electrical hum) to speak of the isolation of the alien and the toll of the willing exchange of comfort for adventure.
The original incarnation of the exhibition featured only two installation works, Rees' Snowglobe and Warren's The Lull and was shown in the tiny artspace in the Auberge Alternative in Old Montreal (an alternative hostel/accommodation where the the pair were given refuge), founded and run by Tasmanian native Angela Reeve, whom the pair gratefully acknowledge.
This extended version of the exhibition features re-worked versions of both Snowglobe and The Lull and also includes a collaborative piece The Great Escape that was begun in Montreal in 2008 and completed in Hobart recently. With these works now being shown in their hometown, the artists consider this exhibition to be the closing of a challenging but pivotal chapter.
The time has come, the 1st month over, much done, much still to do.The world is an exquisitely arranged soundscape, it's an exquisite corpse.We have to wait and see or hear the response. We need to be patient. We must be silent to hear it. We need to stare through to see it. And a chapter will close, and maybe I will forgive, but I won't forget. I won't say any more, but,There's something important to be said.
This will be a short blog (readers breath a sigh of relief). Just a brief catchup of the past, first month of 2010.
Throughout January in Kelly's Garden at Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart I presented the work The Last Beach Movie. I was pretty happy with it. Responses were quite positive. It felt like a rather light-hearted work for me, which isn't bad, but it quite surprised me. Even though your work may come together pretty close to your original vision, you don't always know what the work is until it's there. Despite some issues with folks seemingly wanting to check how secure the toy piano was (often lifted out of the sand exposing the lock) and the 'stool' incident, (it going missing, then being found damaged), the work remained fairly intact. There were even some nice additions in the form of shells and driftwood that punters had made. Thanks for those who came and enjoyed it. Thanks to SAC for hosting it and MONA for including it in the festival. Now if I can get rid of the sand.
Also part of MONA FOMA was a wonderful fellow Mani Neumeier, (of Krautrock legends Guru Guru) whom I had the pleasure of meeting back in 2003 on my research trip to Germany and his partner Etsuko Watanabe, performing percussion and vocals. Mani did a few other side performances as well. It was great to catch up with him again after nearly 7 years and I was happy to have played a small part in getting him to Tasmania to play and he bought his own unique style to proceedings. Glad S got to meet them both!
I started my new position as Gallery Coordinator at Inflight ARI. Bit of a learning curve at the moment, but it will settle in to my brain soon enough. I'm proud to be working for something that over time has become a bit of an institution and I look forward to the years program and the continued challenges.
The psych/black/drone project that was forged in later 2009 with former Soundtracks Will Dissolve member Tim Panaretos called UNTERMORAST now has a web presence. There is a track up now, we are looking at more gigs and recordings in the future.
Ipresented a sound art/listening work shop up at 6a ARI on Saturday Feb 30.I essentially spoke about listening to the layers of sound that make up the world, how to make your own performed sounds and mixing, manipulating and arranging your own soundscapes. Everytime I do something like that, a lecture or workshop, I learn something as well. Although sparsely attended, it was well received. Thanks 6a.
This Wednesday night; M.O.I.O (my slow noisy sludgey/rock project with Aaron Metcalf) is doing a support gig for The Ghost And The Storm Outside final gig. Will be interesting to be slotted amongst a slew of faster bands. The proverbial dogs balls, in a good way though I think. We are also currently working on a couple of new songs that we are quite excited by. Not quite ready yet, but soon.
I received a couple of copies of the Concrete Lung CD EP. Very happy to have been part of it and Aaron is also happy to have engineered my drum track. I think we did good.
Finally; Ms Rees and I have a two person show at 6a ARI opening on Feb 12.It's an extended incarnation of the Montreal show from 2008 called Of Heaven and Earth. This will close a chapter of our lives that was a bit of a test, but we are really keen to see the works here at home.
"Of Heaven and Earth is a collection of works, solo and collaborative, by Hobart artists Sally Rees and Matt Warren, produced or begun whilst on residency in Montreal, Canada in 2008.Stranded in Montreal for a month after original art-making plans fell through, and feeling like aliens in a strange, but beautiful city in the dead of winter, the pair were inspired to make these works. The resulting videos, soundworks and installations are both a portrait of the the city and an antidote to the alienation and homesickness sometimes felt whilst there. They portray a desire for an imagined sanctuary, created using the materials available at the time. Comforting snippets of ‘home’(the Australian night sky, the beloved pet rabbits left behind) conspire with signifiers of ‘the other place’ (captive exotica, endless snow, a foreign electrical hum) to speak of the isolation of the alien and the toll of the willing exchange of comfort for adventure. The original incarnation of the exhibition featured only two installation works, Rees' Snowglobe and Warren's The Lull and was shown in the tiny artspace in the Auberge Alternative in Old Montreal (an alternative hostel/accommodation where the the pair were given refuge), founded and run by Tasmanian native Angela Reeve, whom the pair gratefully acknowledge. This extended version of the exhibition features re-worked versions of both Snowglobe and The Lull and also includes a collaborative piece The Great Escape that was begun in Montreal in 2008 and completed in Hobart recently. With these works now being shown in their hometown, the artists consider this exhibition to be the closing of a challenging but pivotal chapter."
If you will indulge me…there is something important to be said…
This has been an interesting year, better than last year. Ups and downs of course like everyone. A year of healing, lots of music produced, opportunities arose, some undertaken, some missed out on. Oh and the beginning of the parenthood adventure (though we won't actually be parents until April 2010, the news arrived this year!!!). So as a means of re-capping what happened (mainly good, some bad) here's a heartfelt thanks and no thanks;
For all the live music gigs;Thanks to Scot Cotterell and Tom Hall for playing with me as both DÜO and Triad, Aaron Metcalf for playing with me as M.0.1.0, Tim Panaretos for playing with me as Untermorast, Scot C (again), Tim P (again), Leigh Hobba, Lisa Rime, Julian Teakle and especially Damo Suzuki for playing with me as part of the Damo Suzuki Network. Also thanks to Ben Crothers for giving me a DJ set at one of his 'Brand New Second Hand' nights. And to Concrete Lung in London for letting me play on their 'Waste of Flesh' CD. Also thanks to all the great acts we played with at 'Black Sunday' (Evil Goat, Axxonn, Spheres and Cycle).
For the live music venues;Thanks to the following venues and the staff for letting myself and my associated acts perform; 6a-Hobart, The Glitchfest stage-Dover, Inflight-Hobart, The Brisbane Hotel-Hobart, Salamanca Arts Centre-Hobart, Devonport Regional Gallery-Devonport, Make It Up Club-Melbourne, Stutter-Melbourne, Don't Look-Sydney, Club Zho/Tura New Music-Perth, The Step Inn-Brisbane, Tom's House/Sonic Boom-New Farm, Centre For the Arts-Hobart (thanks John V Grad Show) and ONO # 2 at former Fitzgeralds Millinery Dept-Hobart.
For the 2009 Exhibitions;Thanks to the following venues and/or curators for showing my work during the year: Victor Medrano/Inflight and MOP Projects Sydney for including my work Twoot in the 'Limbic' group show, Lucy Bleach and CAST gallery (despite some issues it was an absolute pleasure working with you) for including my work Exhalation 2009 in the 'Lust For Life' group show, Ellie Ray and Devonport Regional Gallery for including me in the 'Tidal' competition with my work Whitepinkblack Noise (Moment), Andrew Harper, Tricky Walsh and the 6a crew for inviting me to install Haunted Micro Voices in Princes Park Battery for the 6a/Amplified 'Sound Art' showcase, Pat Brassington and Plimsoll Gallery, Hobart for housing my PhD submission - Suspension of Disbelief and Pip, Kate and the ONO crew for inviting me to setup my ex-X (Phase 10hz) ritual in that cool old building!
During the year I spent quite a bit of time at the Centre for the Arts on Hunter Street, Hobart both as a student and as a staff member. A sincere thank you to both of my wonderful PhD supervisors Mr Leigh Hobba and Prof. Jonathan Holmes, it was a pleasure. As a teacher; thanks to all my students who strived and had a bit of passion, it's rare and it really made it worthwhile. Sorry I won't be back for a while if ever. And to Bill Hart who gave me many chances to be employed and Neil Haddon who supported me during a tough encounter!.
Some random thanks:Marisa Mastrocola for including me in the credits, it wasn't necessary, but much appreciated. Deborah Pollard for continued support, awesome chats inspirations and somewhere to stay in Sydney. Felix Ratcliff for the ongoing chats in cockney accents and his love for descending arpeggios. Cat Hope for the letter of support and appreciating Scott Walker. Joshua Santospirito for the interest in mumble(speak) and good music chats. Susie, Dale and Charlotte (Edward wasn't born then) for putting me and Scot up and for your continued friendship. Brother Nick and Delta for putting me up in Melbourne and just being nice. My father Graeme and sisters Jayne and Mel and niece Abby for coming down to my graduation, it meant a lot. Thanks to Inflight ARI for taking me on for 2010, I'll do my best.To finish, thanks to Sally for being there and for being her.
Now, some no thanks:Those with a lack of manners, common sense and respect for others. Those who don't reply to messages, emails, letters or have the common decency to be polite. Those who play it safe and don't recognise something unique when it's in front of them. Those who are close-minded 'experts', ("I don't get it, it must be crap" types).Those who wish to censor such as the 'Clean Feed' brigade, those who stifle free thought and expression, those who want to make Mid-wives and homebirth illegal.Pokies in pubs. Those who are ignorant by choice, stupid by design and bigoted by nature (you can break into the cycle). I'm not always above some of these, but I'm trying my best.
A recap of the music of 2009. In 2009 I discovered/rediscovered/purchased some excellent music. Not all of it contemporary, some of it released this year. All of it impacted on me in some way and not that I think I have impeccable taste (as some may think after witnessing this list), but I would happily recommended checking at least some of it out.
Amon Düül 2 - 'Carnival in Babylon' (1972) Kraut-rock classic. Hadn't heard it till recently, not quite as essential as the earlier ones, but pretty good. Axxonn/Tom Hall/Ambrose Chapel - 'Masters Of The Epic Day' (2009) three-way split of subby, droney electronics by a couple of great guys. Battle of Mice - 'A Day of Nights' (2006) - incredible so-called 'postrock' supergroup, angst noisy, scary. Black Sabbath - 'Black Sabbath' (1970), 'Paranoid' (1970), 'Master of Reality' (1971)Fantastic special edition reissues of these essential classics. CAN - 'Unlimited Edition' (1976). Never heard this mixed bag compilation. It's pretty great though a little bitsy! Alice Cooper - 'Dada' (1983). Only ever had an incomplete cassette dub of this. Always had a soft spot for this odd little Ezrin produced album, apparently Cooper doesn't remember recording it. Council Estate Electronics - 'Kitsland' (2009). One of Justin Broadrick's myriad of side projects, droney bleepy atmospheric, but less ambient than Final. Miles Davis - 'Pangaea' (1974) Live in Japan, free jazz meets funk, incredible grooves, this is a period of Miles I'm still quite new to. Earth - 'Extra - Capsular Extraction' (1991) early Sub Pop era, drone metal material, some good moments. EyeHateGod - 'Take As Need For Pain' (1993) US post-rock/doom metal. Evil Goat - 'Evil Goat' CD-r single (2009) Naughty local lads duo, electronics/guitar doom. Final - 'Infinite Guitar 3/Guitar & Bass Improvisations 3' (2009) Broadrick's longest operating project, lots to digest here. Has it's moments, drones and ambience. Final - 'Reading All the Right Signals Wrong' (2009). Close to my favourite Final release, gets the balance between meandering and dynamic shifts right. Jandek - 'Chair Beside the Window' (1982) - 'Telegraph Melts' (1986) - 'Modern Dances' (1987). A major discovery for me. One of the most unique, enigmatic, haunting, and abstract 'folk' (for want of a better word) performers around. He has a vast catalogue, there's no-one or nothing quite like him. Think Skip Spence's 'Oar' meets Daniel Johnston and you're still not quite there. Jesu - 'Infinity' (2009). Broadrick's current 'rock' project. A 40 plus minute track, some beautiful textures and guitar lines, improves greatly in the second half. Jesu - 'Opiate Sun' (2009). Raw, descending arpeggios, melodic slow guitar power pop. Like Husker Du through molasses. My favourite Jesu release thus far. KISS - 'Sonic Boom' (2009) So shoot me…old habits die hard. Not bad, but certainly not nearly as great as reviewers or KISS themselves would let you believe. Sounds like a fairly convincing pastiche! Krackhead - 'From Hell' (1997/1999/2009). Previously unreleased album of Broadrick's distorted Drum n Bass project available now as a download. Pretty good, great grooves, noisy! Love - 'Love' (1966) Nice remastered edition of the late Arthur Lee's band Love debut album, psyche rock/folk/garage. Essential! Craig McElhinnery - 'You and Me Are Young and Brutal' (2009) - Perth based, very atmospheric soundscapey, but musical. Good stuff. Meat Loaf - 'Bat Out Of Hell' (1977) Again shoot me, this is something I grew up listening to. I'm too old to worry about if I'm hip or not. First time I've had it on CD, think I prefer my crackly old vinyl. Max Weinberg and Todd Rundgren play like maniacs! Oh yeah that Marvin fellow can sing okay! Napalm Death - 'Noise For Music's Sake' (2003) Compilation of essential tracks, rarities and B-Sides. Killer live cover of 'Avalanche Master Song' featuring JK Broadrick. Lee Scratch Perry and the Upsetters - 'Psyche & Trim' (2004) cheap compilation, not as dubby as I'd hoped, some good material though. Scorn - 'Plan B' (2002). This is one that slipped by the collection. Mick Harris is a master at subby/dubby beats and wobbly bass and drones. Sorry but this was done earlier and way better than any of the contemporary 'dustup' pretenders. They have their place, but this paved the way and he doesn't get the props! Scorn - 'In The Margins'/'Pin Down' (single 2009) - huge tracks, on par with the material on 'Stealth' (2008). Solaris BC - 'Submerged Technology' (1996/2009). Another beauty minimal Broadrick project, unreleased until now (as a download). Slightly underwhelming, but has it's moments. Voivod - 'Infini' (2009). Metal with a slightly quirky experimental edge, for those who don't know. I've been a big fan of these guys since the mid 1980s. The final (?) album based on the late Denis D'Amour (Piggy) demos. It's way better than the last album and has some great moments. Quite raw in places, lacks a bit of the interplay that could really only come from all playing together, which is sadly, impossible. They have recently been touring with Dan Mongrain (Martyr) on guitar and original bassist/founder Jean-Yves 'Blacky' Theriault (an old sparring partner of mine in the now defunct D-Group). They don't appear on this record. Various Artists - 'Adventures in Dub' (2006). A double CD of dubby reggae. It's a bit hit and miss, bur anything that has King Tubby, Scratch Perry and Prince Jammy has got to be good.
So that's it for now. I realise this may have come over as I'm accepting some award, but being that 2009 was quite a year, I thought this was good way to recap this year's activities. Hope it was a good one for you and that 2010 will be even better.Thanks for reading, see you next year.
Changes as good as holidays. After I speak will you please reply. There is something important to be said.
Glimmers of hope and slaps in the face
One of the things I've come to realise, (what, only now?), the life of an artist and musician, the life I lead is one that fills you with a psychological dichotomy. That is to say, there is certain degree of feedom that comes with not having a 'regular' (whatever that means), secure (again whatever that means) job. A job you know will be there for you on a Monday morning, so you can be fed and feed those near and dear to you. The freedom of not being tied to a specific timeline and place, means that one can journey through life and experiment with what you do and when you do it. So no complaints.
The security that comes with a more traditional (again, that's a slippery slope there) existence means that you can relax and not worry about where your next meal might be coming from. The ability to not worry has a wonderful freedom of it's own. Now I should point out here, that not in anyway do I consider that my life style is any more 'alternative' than anyone else. But I've not really ever had a 'real' job. Again no real complaint, ultimately this was my decision, I don't really regret it and I'm reasonably happy to live with it. Very often, one makes one's own opportunities. Again I'm not claiming to be bucking the system, but as I see it, we do live in a fairly conservative country, where the arts are not really considered a valuable contribution to society. Sport is though...I missed a trick by not pursuing my superb hockey skills!
So what's this got to do with anything? Well the nature of what I do often means I'm a dog looking for bones. Every so often an opportunity comes up where one applys and waits by the phone or for an email, or as Pip mentioned, hopefully not on the receiving end of a skinny envelope (a fat one is the one you're after). A few little moments of luck over a period give you a little bolstering of confidence, that is just as often followed by a slap or two in the face. These come very often without explanation (see the next rant) and are a real blow. There are some very illogical decisions made out there in the world and you are sometimes at the receiving end of them. So one has to re-boot one's attitude every so often which is what I'm trying to do. While I don't think you should be in the constant mindset that you are owed something by your very existance, you are the best at what you do and eveyone should realise that, it's also not good to be always down on youself, in constant denial of your abilities and value or always worrying.
Now I realise that people everywhere must experience this sometimes, but from my experience trying to balance these states in an environment where one is sometimes pulled wildly from one extreme to another is very difficult. But I realise as I get older, (oh yes our little Matt is growing up), that I need to be mindful of how I take on criticism as well as praise, failures and successes.
I must realise that not everyone in the world knows or understands or even cares about the value of culture and what it contributes to society, but I also shouldn't shy away from speaking about what I do and can bring and contribute to that culture.
Manners and etiquette
I'd like to talk a little bit about etiquette and I'm not talking about the of 'Laddette to Lady', kind of thing, but something more basic and to do with common sense. I'm the first to admit, I can improve my communication skills, I don't always speak clearly and I ramble a bit sometimes. Often my inherent shyness gets the better of me and I'm silent. But one thing I am very mindful of is respect to others around me. It seems to me that with the advent of speedy, instant, portable communication, we have lost the ability to have basic manners. This may sound like an old man thing to say, but for Christ's sake you don't have to talk that loud on your mobile, or speak on it at all in certain circumstances. There would be a generation of people who would not have experienced a life before mobiles and email, but there was and people got by. Yes we are all busy and things need to be communicated, sometimes right away, maybe excuse yourself and get out of the queue. Also, I don't want to hear about your private life at the top of your voice.
In specific reference to the above subject; There are a lot of elements to our communication that are virtual, there is a lot of traffic moving back and forth online and also still in the world of analogue post. One is not to know if something has reached it's destination or not. One shouldn't assume. So
I don't expect an essay, but it would be nice if there were more of the 'Yes I got it thanks, I'll be in touch soon' messages. Especially via email, it's so quick and easy. Why wouldn't you?
Old man rant # 2 over.
Impending parenthood and the midwife issue
So being that I'm now an aforementioned old man, most of you would know that I'm soon to be a father, which fills me with so many different thoughts and emotions, I don't know where to start. Mostly joy, but a bit of fear thrown in too, but of course I'm not the first to experience that.
Although it was more Sally's call than mine, we were both agreed that a homebirth is what we wanted to do. There are many reasons, but first and formost, the comfort and security of a familiar environment is important to the wellbeing of the person doing the hard work - the mother.
Giving birth in the majority of cases is not a medical condition. When it becomes a medical problem, of course you seek medical assistance. Giving birth at home doesn't cause a medical problem. It may in fact defuse one, being that the mother may well be more relaxed. You wouldn't call eating a medical problem, When you choke, it becomes one. But we don't go to the hospital to eat a meal. Over 60% of births in the Netherlands are homebirths. This seems to me to be a good solution here where there is an overcrowding in hospitals and overstretched staff.
And so this simmering little problem that has arisen over the potential illegalities of midwifery is a touch alarming. Sally has already eloquently laid this out on her blog. I urge you to read it if you care about homebirth or even if you have an interest in civil rights. It can be read here.
Recent activities
Myself and Scot Cotterell performed a DÜO no-input set, (that is to say, no external sound sources were used, mixers and the input of a cassette deck feeding back into themselves) for the Graduate Show at Centre For The Arts in Hobart on November 6. Response was pretty good, although we were essentially background ambience, most were there (quite rightly) to see family and friends artworks and congratulate each other for achieving a degree. It was a lot of fun and we got some interesting sounds out of the gear. Here's some images and to hear some of the results go to:
Top image courtesy of Matt Warren, bottom image courtesy: Aaron Horsley.
MOIO performed our second live performance at the Fringe Festival's 'Heavy Noisy Things' night. We ended the night, response was great. Even sold a few CDs. Don't have any images or audio from this appearance, but here's the poster for the event.
You may have noticed the name on the bottom of that poster, Untermorast. That was myself and Tim Panaretos' new improv duo, myself on effected voice and Tim on effected electric bazouki. More details as they come to hand, but keep an eye out for a myspace page down the line and hopefully followed by more gigs.
MOIO's third gig was on 26th of November at ONO # 2 and we were greeted by a very positive response to our set, especially considering we followed the completely maniacal and impressive Lightning Bolt. Cool place to play, (a disused floor of what was once Fitzgeralds in the Hobart CBD), big and boomy room, suited us well. We will now be working on new material for a while before going out to play again, but rest assured we will be back. I can't speak for Aaron, but I'm pretty sure he would agree, I greatly appreciate that MOIO is so appreciated.
Image at ONO # 2 courtesy Rebecca Fitzgibbon.
Also at ONO # 2 (amongst many other wonders) was a performance/installation ritual piece I conceived and directed (a performed with 9 others) called ex-X (Phase 10hz). It was work about catharsis and each participant contributed wonderfully, thanks all. The whole ritual part was 10 minutes with the 'aftermath' as an installation being ongoing (well until closing time). Here is a condensed video document of the piece.
An extra curricular activity that I did a few months back was contribute some percussion (drums, cymbals, shakers and chime) to a track called 'Waste of Flesh' by London-based industrial metal band Concrete Lung, for an EP, also called 'Waste of Flesh' which is due out on December 12. It was great to be a part of, the wonders of file-transfer across the web! I look forward to hearing the result.
Oh I finally officially graduate on December 15!
Upcoming in 2010:
Jan 8 – 31. I will be presenting a slightly interactive/participatory surround sound and object installation at Kelly's Garden at Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart as part of their program and the annual MONA FOMA festival. The piece is called 'The Last Beach Movie' and references the popular mythology about Brian Wilson's compositional environment.
Image mockup by Matt Warren
Feb 12 -March 5. 'Of Heaven and Earth' is a two person exhibition of light, sound, collage and video works by Matt Warren and Sally Rees (some solo, some in collaboration) produced mainly whilst on residency in Montreal, Canada in 2008. This will be shown at 6a ARI, in North Hobart.
Image: The Lull by Matt Warren in 'Of Heaven and Earth', Auberge Alternative, Montreal Canada, 2008.
On March 12 I will perform a live soundscape for Fiona Lee's work in the two person show (with Cath Robinson) called Chora Choruses at Kings Gallery in Melbourne. The plan is that I will also be part of the artists floor talk the following day. My soundscape (a pre-recorded surround piece) will also feature in Fiona's installation throughout the remainder of the show's run.
My solo ambient/drone/mood project mumble(speak) is going to be touring in June 2010.Thanks to Sound Travellers, mumble(speak) will present the 'Good and Bad People and Things' show (a narrative) on tour throughout the country. Full confirmation of venues and dates are still to happen, but the planned schedule is:
June 17 - Hobart
June 18 – Brisbane
June 19 – Sydney
June 20 – Melbourne
June 25 – Darwin
June 26 – Perth
June 27 – Adelaide
Late November; a three week performance/installation laboratory at Salamanca Arts Centre, collaborating with Sally Rees and Deborah Pollard for a project with the working title of 'Decay'. More on that later.
Eyes and ears are open wide, some things don't go in. Trying to catch up with sleep. Disappointment at what I see around me. Grounded, making noise, things coming to an end and a very important beginning about to start. There is something important to be said.
An open letter to the rest of the world.
Please don't think the actions and attitudes of contestants on "Hey Hey It's Saturday" represent me! The pro of the web is that information can be delivered quickly and effectively, the con is that if that information is an extremely unfortunate example of human ignorance, everyone sees that too. One would hope that this kind of racist 'entertainment' doesn't represent the attitudes or entertain the majority of the country, but I sometimes wonder. Australia has a bit of a reputation around the world has being racist, for example, just look at how we treat our students from India. When I lived in Canada around 10 years ago, an Asian fellow who worked in the Uni said to me; "Oh you're from Australia, do you know Pauline Hansen?" "Not personally" I replied. I was extremely embarrassed that her shit travelled so far.
So for those who don't know the story, a 1970s/80s family variety TV show called 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' recently presented two 'reunion' shows. The second one included a kind of 'gong show' talent competition, featuring a re-showing of a skit from about 20 years earlier called 'Jackson Jive' a collection of guys in black face (ala The Black and White Minstrel Show') and frizzy wigs and a leader in Michael Jackson ('Thriller' era) getup, with a pale face. It was a bad idea back in the 80's, it's a bad idea now. American crooner Harry Connick Jr was a judge on the show and he called them out on just how dodgy the whole thing was. Presenter and producer, Daryl Somers, to his credit, apologised to Connick for the offense and gave him the opportunity to say why he was offended, which he eloquently did. However, why the hell was this even aired/allowed on the show? (on the repeat, the skit and it's aftermath were removed).
'It's all a bit of fun, no harm done, no offense intended' some might say. 'It's Political Correctness gone mad'. Screw that, I say. To a degree, what's correct politically is subjective, one's morals and ethics are your own. However, when a majority of society agrees that racism is a 'bad thing' then you should really think about it.
Somehow certain parts of popular culture become acceptable, regardless of the problematic nature of them. Football machismo (excessive alcohol consumption and sexual molestation) although slightly frowned upon is excused because 'these elite athletes need to let off steam. 'Shock jocks' like little ol' Kyle Sandilands or that wally Sam Newman are still on the air because it's just their schtick. It's like the bull runs, just because because something is tradition, doesn't mean it should continue. I'm opposed to censorship, but when you talk shit, you should expect that someone will call you on it.
Back to 'Hey Hey it's Saturday'. Satire is all well and good, however there were a number of reason's this was a bad idea. Michael Jackson has just died for one. A sense of irony, about a period of TV entertainment, that was naive in it's attitudes would be one thing, a 2009 perspective on an 1970s/80s mindset. However, there was complete lack of irony or wit and it reminded us all that the show had (and seemingly still does - perhaps to be authentic) a general tone of racism and mean-spiritness.
Rant over, but all this shit needs to be wiped out, I'm fed up with it. I'm also not looking at 'blanding' out society with no controversial art or entertainment. This is not conservatism. This is a hope that elements that perpetuate bullshit are shown the door. It's so easy NOT to be ignorant, why is it still happening.
There are good things around though. Me and Aaron as MOIO did our first gig at the mini-fest 'Black Sunday', organised by myself and Scot Cotterell with assistance from Jason James and co-presented by Sound Klub and Salamanca Art Centre. It was held on Sept 27, a rainy blustery afternoon and we are appreciative of all who braved the weather and came along. A special thanks should go to Spheres who ventured down from Launceston to do the show. It was great to finally see Tom and Ian's act AXXONN as well. TRIAD opened the proceedings, followed by a wonderfully 'vibratory' performance by CYCLE, those naughty EVIL GOAT boys also appeared and impressed! Here are some images of TRIAD and MOIO. There are sounds up on the myspace pages too. Thanks all it was great and hopefully there will be more.
On August 29, I performed a DJ set as DJ Broken Tiny for Ben Crothers monthly themed - evenings called 'Brand New Second Hand'. The theme was 'Europe' and so played a lot of Krautrock and a bit of French and Swiss industrial and a bit of Italian prog. DJ Mamoo (aka Lisa Rime) did a wonderful French pop set as well. Thanks Ben, it was a lot of fun, keep me in mind for the future!
There's a few visual arts/installation things on the horizon coming up, but things still need to be confirmed, will let you know.
What I can say is that myself and Scot Cotterell have been invited to perform at the UTAS Artschool Grad Show. This is on Friday November 6. We are looking at doing a DÜO 'no input' set, mixer and devices feedback noises. Here is Scot's mockup poster.
Also MOIO have been invited to perform in the Hobart Fringe Festival 'Noise/Metal' night at the Brisbane Hotel, on Friday November 20. It is curated/organised by my mate Tim Panaretos (of Soundtracks Will Dissolve) who should put together an interesting lineup. We've also been jamming a little of late, not sure what will come of it, but it's been kinda doomy, creepy and noisy!
And to end and give a sense that I'm still amazed by the majesty of nature; I saw a shooting star, arching over a very clear night sky, whilst listening to 'Silver' by JESU on Oct 11, 2009 at approx 8:33pm, Cressy Street, New Town, Tasmania. I'd love to be able to suggest you try it for yourself, but when can you expect to witness that? Keep an eye out, watch the skies!
