From: darkblue@gopc8.geo.aau.dk (Abstract Blue)
Subject: Apres Nevers
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 20:28:46 GMT
Review of Festival Ultima II, Nevers, 1-2 june 1996
After 2 days hitchhiking problems, getting lost of the highway at Ruhr,
suddenly finding myself in Amsterdam, getting stuck at a petrolstation
near Orleans, I made it to Nevers about 15 minutes before the doors opened.
10 bands performed, here is my impression of these bands. Each band will
be rated with 1-5 earplugs for the audial and goggles for the visual
impression respectively. 1 for a bad performance, 5 for an excellent
performance.
Saturday.
The Revolutionary Amry of the Infant Jesus.
I had never before heard of this Liverpool band, and as they opened the
gig, I found myself in the middle of a performance with a mixture of
films, slides cool ligths where several layers were used and the band was
located somewhere inbetween these layers. Her voice was magnificant and
she was one of these artists who both sing well and handles multiple
instruments. The music was - as I recall it - a mixture of ethical, folk
and ambience, but I do not recall details. They appeared to have nerves
and the breaking down of the scene at end seemed a bit more chaotic than
it should have been. I have the impression that they are excellent on a
studio version and something I will check out in the future.
(Earplugs: 3, Goggles: 4)
Soldnergeist.
'Total Media Control' was written on three man tall crosses on the stage,
and behind was a table with electronic equipment. A screen had some
japanese cartoon running. The noise from the two ppl was absolutely well
made and worth the listening, but neither their stage performance nor the
movie in the background was interesting, and in parts seemed a bit
embarrassing aka 'Lets find a way to perform.' - whereafter the stage
performance made the show worse than it would without anything.
(Earplugs: 3, Goggles: 1)
Daniel Menche
Silence... Daniel Menche, an odd looking american, only missing his cowboy
hat walks in... silence.. The red light... I see the bowl of sand...
Silence... He falls over the sand... NOISE... It is itching..... noise in
layers... Just Noise... Daniel - You just did it. I am impressed.
(Earplugs: 5, Goggles: 5)
Raison D'etre
I was pretty worried about this performance, since everyone was looking
forward for it - maybe except me, as I had my doubts about RD performing
live. Anyway, I found my seat. After 20 minutes I left the show. To
many things reminded me of when I had Morthound playing live: To much DAT,
a video which was uninteresting and for me it looked like RD was sitting
on the stage reading a boring book with a flashlight. I am sorry.. I
left because I like RD and will look forward to play his music just as
often as I usually do. RD's music is for the CD player, not for a live
performance, unless as ambience in a church, planetarium or something
else.
(Earplugs 3+, Goggles 1)
Telepherique
German ambient at its best. I came a bit late for this gig as I went out
for a shave and a 'francaise cuisine'. I was able to see the last three
songs. I felt myself in a nature with lots of ambience and still some
noise. The Video manifested the ambience and they made a good wholeness.
I was told the beginning was noisy, but a must have missed that part. The
three ppl worked concentrated. I positive experience.
(Earplugs: 3, Goggles: 3)
Schloss Tegal
Satuday ended with a strange band. I found myself in noise and ambience.
I think I fell asleep but cannot remember fully as I was comfortably numb.
Parts reminded me of a Hafler Trio / DarkAmbience crossover. The video
was a well made video collage I would like to see again.
(Earplugs: 4, Goggles 4?)
Sunday:
O-Yoki Conjugate + Sons of Silence = S.P.O.K.E.
I was really looking forward to see YOC, and they turned out to so a
really good show. 3 mountain bikes on the stage with contact microphones,
and a well made ambient music made from these bikes. Daniel of YOC added
the ambiences well programmed dub and drums, and the additional sax and
primitive blowing instruments was the sprice to this performance. Even a
'rock' song appeared.
(earplugs: 4, goggles: 4)
Batchas & friends
I have never heard of Batchas, but thier performance made me purchase one
of their releases from noise Museum (a package in beachsand). They started
their gig with water dripping into two buckets, and they had one of the
most relaxing (dark) ambient appearances at the festival. Yes, I fell
asleep and I woke up happy as ever.
(earplugs: 4, goggles: 3)
Co-Caspar
Imagine a 50 years old guy working as an invertor. That was how I felt
this art performance. The repeating 'On the next beep it is...', followed
by a man cutting off his mask but a machete. Odd instruments hanging from
the roof, vacuum cleaners with rubber gloves and his absoulety excellent
performance, though he once in a while appeared a bit absent minded.
Musically, I did not really understand what was going on, but his
performance was brilliant.
(earplugs:?, goggles: 5).
The music is far to different for me to give it earplugs...
Current 93
I guess most people came to Nevers because of Tibets appearance. - And I
must say, he gave what people expected. I was delighted by his stage
appearance and his humor. His songs were mainly from TMP, Of Ruine and all
the pretty horses. He ended the show with an excellent version of lucifer
over london, with Julie Woods and son backing hi, up with bells. Michael
Cashmore proved to be an excellent guitar player, whereas Karl Blake (?)
tended to lag a bit with the bas. I hope I will see C93 once again, it
was worth hitch-hiking 2000 km for this.
(earplugs: 4, goggles: 3)
That was all. I will thank all the people I met at the place and noise
Museum for this initiative. I hope I will be able to be there next year...
Darkblue And Camilla (with the green hair)
Back
FrankenStein
Mail to Pri