Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Rare Frequencies: Magic and accident

Esteemed electronic-music composer HANS TUTSCHKU often performs his work, which is based on very precise sound spatialization — as in the amazing 32-speaker Hydra-loudspeaker orchestra at Harvard, where he is a professor and the director of the university’s electro-acoustic studios. This Saturday he’ll slum it in stereo (so to speak) at the Open Sound experimental-music series, for which he’ll perform an improvisational set with violinist HILLARY ZIPPER, a veteran of the avant-experimental group Onda. The two are part of a stellar line-up that includes ERNST KAREL on modular synthesizer and the duo of TIM FEENEY (percussion) and VIC RAWLINGS (cello and cracked electronics).

Local multi-instrumentalist Kevin Micka is the sole member of ANIMAL HOSPITAL, though his music is so expansive and intricately textured, it often sounds like the product of a full-on band. Micka’s kicking off a three-week US tour to support his latest release, Memory (Barge Recordings), with a show at P.A.’s Lounge this Wednesday. Also on the bill is Chicago’s LINELAND (a/k/a Malcolm Gelder), whom Micka will accompany on guitar and electronic gadgets. Beyond simply shaking your head in wonder at his intricate hodge-podge of a set-up, you’ll also get to view 16mm films accompanying the performers, as well as some live surveillance-camera video to provide an added sense of security during the proceedings.