!!!cancelled!!! Jef Mertens, Nickolas Mohanna + Sitka, Hellvete
saturday 25 november 2023
!!!cancelled!!! Jef Mertens, Nickolas Mohanna
Sitka, Hellvete
Jef Mertens
Geel-based has been researching, documenting and subtly exploring the experimental music scene in Belgium and beyond for the better part of two decades. As a filmmaker, he’s dug deep in the realm of Flemish primitive fringe (Dronevolk) and chronicled the makings of giants like Sonic Youth and Borbetomagus. After running the now-defunct free tape label Dadaist Tapes, Mertens comes with a release of his own: NO MATHEMATICS, the first record collab between KRAAK and Feeding Tube. This entrancing debut sees shruti box and guitar conjoining to create circling ragas of solemn yet resounding force. Additional contributions from US composer and multi instrumentalist Nickolas Mohanna provide an orphic sheen to the whole, amplifying its psycho-sensorial energy through ringing zithers and pulsating electronics. In essence, NO MATHEMATICS fosters a portentousness that is tenuous and vibrant, completely in line with Mertens’ work so far and proving that the heart of Belgian dronevolk is alive and very much beating.
Many Chants a Trapped Secret is a solo project by Jef Mertens trying to evoke sounds for imaginary films and images. The music here serves more as soundtracks opposed to the more noisy/textural music under his own name.
https://kraak.bandcamp.com/album/no-mathematics
https://jefmertens.bandcamp.com
Nickolas Mohanna
New York-based artist and composer Nickolas Mohanna deploys various media to fade the borders between music,
sound and sculpture, producing works from environmental and internet sounds to guitar and percussion.
He also operates the publishing project Run/Off from which he has released audio objects & artist books.
https://nickolasmohanna.bandcamp.com/
https://www.nickolasmohanna.com/
Hellvete
is the solo moniker of Glen Steenkiste. Previously active in Silvester Anfang and Sylvester Anfang II and one of the founders of the Funeral Folk label. Hellvete draws influences from early Minimalism and old folk music and with the use of harmonium, bowed banjo, electric tampura and analog synth he creates probing intense sounds that try to undo notions of time and place. Steenkiste’s music is like taking an endless shower of sunbeams, warm, comforting and mind-altering. Music that makes time stand still and focuses on shifting details and textures, but massive in sound and presence.”
https://morctapes.bandcamp.com/album/droomharmonium
https://aguirrerecords.bandcamp.com/album/voor-harmonium
sitka
Ben Van Houdt is a Belgian musician releasing solo work as SITKA since 2015. Inspired by the sound of tape machines and reel to reel recorders, manipulated guitar textures stutter and distort through layers of runaway loops and broken sounds. Crippled oscillators surface hissing and blaring along steady streams of faded noise, echoing a withered image of decay.