Performances

In conjunction with the University of Brighton and Bang & Olufsen of Brighton and Hove, Artist collective Partial Facsimile presented a LIVE site-specific surround sound visual and sonic performance in an underground World War 2 air raid shelter.

Based upon the development of communication technology through warfare, 5 musicians, 2 visual artists, a performance artist and a conductor lead the audience through a culturally loaded tunnel system.

Bang & Olufsen’s Beolab 14, a 5.1 home cinema surround sound system, helped the audience explore the sonic properties of the reinforced concrete walls. Those speakers projected the sounds of a telegraph, telephone, radio, an effected electric guitar, cocktail drum kit and an electric double bass.

The musicians listed below improvised to filmic scores and the visual artists in return improvised to the sounds played.

Alex Merron aka Atomsphere: montron/radio/vinyl player
Andrew Booth (Helsinki, Broken Republic): electric stand up bass
Ben Baxter (Cranes, Broken Republic): telegraph/telephone
Jo Henderson: Multi-disciplinary visual, improvising musician and writer
Jamie Gillett (The Pohuron Statement, C.O.W): effected electric guitar

Charlie Kininmonth (Rivermonkey): vocals/iPhone
Felicity Thompson (Bearded Loon Festival): live chalk drawing on original blackboard
Cassettelord: live oil painting

Laila Hansen: conductor/curator

The occasion was the private view of the pop up space, The Warehouse Gallery. The exhibition hosted Brighton’s finest stencil workers, collectively known as the Beastie Toys; Cassettelord, ZeeZee22, Funky Red Dog, Chum 101 and Archi Ram.

The band had set up to create like a living room atmosphere with a view to provide the sonic backdrop for the event. Laila had just finished creating her electric bottle xylophone and Alex had brought his new toy, the Monotron hooked up to a radio alarm clock. Benjamin set the tone of the gig as he launched into the haunting ‘She Said…’ and the evening was set for a rather dark, yet engulfing sonic experience. The contrast between the visuals and sounds were beautiful!

Partial Facsimile; Benjamin Baxter on guitar and vocals, Laila Hansen on guitar, vocals and production, along with Alex Merron aka Atomsphere, on radio statics and bass.
Credit: Kant Rathord www.kantrathod.com