Aimé Dontigny (1975) is a Canadian composer, also a contributor to projects such as Napalm Jazz and Ensemble Camp. This is his first solo release, and despite not presenting anything really unexpected it sounds interesting for its large part, with a quantity of selected emotional moments as a bonus. The author figures that this work would achieve maximum potential “in the margins of electroacoustic music, electronica and audio art.” It must be said that nowadays the no man’s land comprised by these definitions can accept loads of elemental artistries that aren’t always worthy of consideration, often just made of pre-existing snippets. Dontigny avoids the typical annoyances of the “overly intellectual,” in premise by keeping things short and concise (all tracks last a few minutes or less), then enclosing parameters from distinct worlds and styles, sometimes in full-mix mode, somewhere else deepening a single concept. Thus, some parts of this record might recall a “more accessible” John Oswald, while other sections — perhaps we should call them the most lyrical ones — could be associated to a kind of nostalgic turntablism in the vein of Philip Jeck. Still, Geisteswissenschaften remains a pretty personal statement sounding like a hundred different snapshots — lo-fi and hi-fi, convulse yet linear, physically tolling and coldly digital at once. An apparent gathering of contradictions whose balance is exactly the necessary key to penetrate the creator’s vision. For sure one listen is not enough, and I’d also suggest beginning with an attentive scrutiny, then trying this blend as a stimulating alternative ambient. Those momentary presences and interferences will mesh with life’s soundtrack without a problem.

Milliseconde topographie is a Canadian duo formed by Nicolas Bernier and Delphine Measroch, two artists who have made it a point to go beyond merely sonic creations and have wholeheartedly embraced an audio-video artform of their own, in which multiple layers of footage of outdoors scenes, dripping water, orchid petals, sea and beaches, bits and pieces of phrases in different lettering and other more artsy and surreal clips are synched (or not) with minimalistic and glitchy electronica under or over imposed on field recordings and the occasional acoustic instrument (it wouldn’t be a record from a french-speaking country if there was no accordion, would it?;-)). The DVD contains four videomusic pieces totaling over 30 minutes as well as almost 20 minutes of “musiques fossiles” (fossil music) made with ancient instruments (organ, dulcimer and harpsichord), which are offered in mp3 format as well.

The duo is on to something very unique and special. I personally like some parts of this DVD very much (the photography and the vivid colors of Treelogy 2: This is a Portrait and the audio/video sync of Treelogy 3: Orchid are beautiful and of the highest caliber) and some film festivals have taken due noticed and issued a awards. The duo is currently working on underwater musical installations, musical urban posters and soundwalks.

Definitely cutting edge and original!

«Sur le même principe et dans le même format vous pouvez également vous procurer un DVD-Audio de Gilles Gobeil. Intitulé Trois songes il regroupe trois créations sonores écrites et interprétées lors d’une résidence au Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie à Karlsruhe entre 2005 et 2007. Chacun de ces songes est inspiré par une œuvre littéraire la première par un ouvrage de Jacques Lacarrière, la seconde par un poème de Dante et la troisième par un scénario non réalisé de Tarkovsky. Gilles Gobeil utilise des sources sonores puisées dans les musiques du passé ainsi que le fameux Daxophone [interprété par] René Lussier, un instrument avant-gardiste inventé par Hans Reichel fabriqué en bois précieux et joué avec un archet et qui produit des sonorités proches des sons émis par l’homme ou l’animal.»

«Je tiens également à vous signaler l’intéressante initiative du label empreintes DIGITALes qui vient d’éditer quelques DVD-Audio sur lesquels ont peut trouver les œuvres d’artistes en format numérique haute définition. Parmi ces nouveautés vous trouverez un album de Laurie Radford. Intitulé Les ponts de l’espace cette nouveauté discographique est une réunion de pièces multipistes diverses composées entre 2001 et 2005 et magistralement transformées en formats stéréo, Surround 5.1 (MLP, Dolby Digital ou DTS) mais également disponibles en format mp3 et acc sur un échantillonnage de 320 kb par seconde. Un traitement artistique et technique donc très académique d’une écriture savante par une figure incontournable de la musique acousmatique canadienne.»

A retrospective concert with the music of alcides lanza will take place on March 10, 2008 at Tanna Schulich Hall in Montréal. The launching of the book alcides lanza: Portrait of a Composer by Pamela Jones will precede the concert.

Åke Parmerud will take part in the Other Minds Festival 13 taking place from March 6-8, 2008 at the Kanbar Hall of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (California, USA). He will present his works La vie mécanique and Dreaming in Darkness.