Joshua White is considered the forefather of VJ culture, and his Joshua Light Show as an initiatory spectacle of image-sound synaesthesia. As early as the late 60s, Joshua Light Show’s visual worlds revealed entirely new perceptual spaces in which rock and roll could begin to become transcendent beyond the world of hallucinogens. Now, at the invitation of tranmediale and CTM, the Joshua Light Show ensemble turns its projections on the potential of contemporary avant-garde sound, with all the profundity and delirious sensuality this implies.
Supersilent with Stian Westerhus provide accompaniment in a collaborative improvisation that transforms the concert into an overwhelming multimodal experience. Moreover, the ensemble of up to ten players uses a whole arsenal of devices such as film, slide and overhead projectors, color wheels, prisms and mirrors, to conjure a seemingly endless and breathtaking diversity of colors and shapes.
Supersilent is a Norwegian improvisational band formed in Bergen in 1997. The band came into being when the free jazz trio Veslefrekk (Arve Henriksen – trumpet, Ståle Storløkken – keyboards, Jarle Vespestad – drums) was joined by producer Helge Sten (electronics). 1998 saw the launch of the esteemed label Rune Grammofon, which featured Supersilent’s debut 1–3 as its very first release. The three CD set also established the band’s minimalist approach to titles and album cover art: a linear, numeric system with a monochrome layout and plain font, which has accompanied the group ever since. Supersilent 6 is considered by many to be a particular highlight. While the band’s earlier work was often propelled by drums and harsh electronic treatments, its sound has gradually become more meditative and expansive. The departure of drummer Vespestad was announced in 2009. Undeterred, Supersilent have continued to perform extensively as a trio and have meanwhile released the albums 9, 10 and 11.
Stian Westerhus is one of Norway’s most in demand young musicians playing in bands like Monolithic (with Kenneth Kapstad from Motorpsycho), Puma, Nils Petter Molvaer Group and more. For the last few years Stian Westerhus has put more and more energy into challenging the electric guitar alone on a stage. Having been blessed with little or no respect for the instrument his performances balance raw expressiveness, virtuosity and melodic instinct utilizing his Norwegian heritage as well as growing up listening to Slayer. With a soundscape far beyond the standard guitar he seeks to push the boundaries for improvised music across the muddy waters of genres.
Supersilent's performance is the first of a three-part concert series entitled The Ghosts In the Machine, co-presented by CTM and transmediale.
Supersilent - 10 (album preview) by experimedia
