Blog — Page 167 of 279

Masters of Modern Sound

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Sydney, Australia

January 10, 2019

The Art Gallery of New South Wales has a history of continually challenging the things are traditionally done via reinvention as well as the expansion of existing and new mediums.

The after-dark experience in art, space and sound extravaganza under the umbrella of Masters of Modern Sound is no exception in that regard as it is an extension of AGNSW’s pursuit to redefine and disrupt the way art is meant to be traditionally encountered by its recipients.

In essence, the enables visitors to gallivant through Sydney’s first and foremost gallery to encounter an eclectic melange of accomplished locals but also renowned talent from other necks of the global woods, not limited to any style but sourced from the realms of composing, music in all its variations, sound design, and performances from the multi-disciplinary boundary pushing local dance theatre company Force Majeure.

Sonic soundscapes were specifically created by luminaries of the calibre of David Lynch’s partner in crime and Asymmetrical Studio owner Dean Hurley, flanked by the ambience endeavours of William Basinski and Lawrence English, who in tandem created an exclusive live performance of what simmers down to “lives lived in transit”, i.e. Selva Oscura.

Freely roaming original movement and interventions were serenaded by experimental electronic music of Caterina Barbieri, who channelled her minimalism, counterpointed by maximalist Del Lumanta, which helped in creating a seamless transition to the meditation aiding sounds of Chris Abrahams.

An added bonus of MoMS is that it includes access to the formidable current exhibition “Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage”, which was further enhanced by an exclusive live performance set in scene against the backdrop of paintings by Matisse, Kandinsky and other grandmasters of impressionism.

What AGNSW produced and contributed to this year’s incarnation of Sydney Festival is an example par excellence for a carefully calibrated and curated event, the total of which results in something much bigger than what the already fantastic individual components would have you think, i.e. the artworks at display that make the DNA of the AGNSW.

One can only hope that this will become an annual occurrence.

David Lynch

Someone is in My House

Prestel Publishing

With a myriad of projects spanning across a plethora of disciplines and media, David Lynch has established himself to be a bit of a renaissance man, who idiosyncratic approach to art pervades every emission no matter if it is film, music or paintings.

“Someone is in my house” sheds light on Lynch’s multimedia endeavours, the common denominator of which is his visionary imagination and his own language that is translated via visuals – be it paintings, still photos from his movies along with other photography, doodles and works on paper, sculptures, proper paintings, sound installations and pretty much everything in between.

Heavily tinged with surrealism, what is covered in this book is an extension of what most have come to love with his often macabre and dark cinematic works. What makes this book interesting is that humorous nuances emerge in places where one would least expect it

Framed by a thought provoking introduction by music journalist and Lynch biographer Kristine McKenna, the book bridges over to Lynch’s current exhibition at the Bonnefantenmuseum, the curator of which elaborates further and Lynch’s significance at large as well as the rationale behind the exhibition.

“Someone is in my house” is an ode in book form to a man, who has never ceased to grow and evolve and whose multifaceted and versatile approach to art keeps engaging, enlightening and surprising his fans as well as new audiences. It is an oeuvre that fits both the aficionado as well as those who for whatever reasons have not come across Twin Peaks or Eraserhead yet.

Interpol

Opera House

Sydney, Australia

January 5, 2019

Joy Division. A band whose legacy and focus on mood, melancholy and expression has never ceased to reverberate through the realm of alternative music. Musically, it would be difficulty to deny that Joy Division’s sparse eerie spatiality and illusion of physicality, i.e.  Hook’s trademark physical high lead bass lines, the distorted guitars that intentionally left gaps and the non-traditional passive drumming along with Curtis’ laconic, baritone vocal delivery has had a major influence on Interpol’s approach to channelling their angsty alchemy.

Incarnating underneath an illuminated disco ball, Interpol’s silhouettes with their trademark tailored suits were set in scene by a sophisticated and at times powerful light show, that not only added to their atmospheric performance but was at times expertly used not merely as an amplifier – specifically when it comes to their subtle yet seismic tempo changes - but as a counterpoint, which certainly aided the enthusiastic audience to get lost and fully immerse themselves in a setlist that spanned their fifteen year long career.

Interpol creates hauntingly beautiful big music that creates a canvas for recipients to project and infuse their songs with their own sentiments, which creates a sense of intimacy and their live show is a natural extension of that dislocating and at times both alienating and unifying experience.

Deliberately understated, the dark glamour and ennui of Interpol is warmer than Joy Division’s desolated, noir-ish existentialism – there is something comforting, romantic and uplifting glistening through the gloom which is framed and set in scene with the timeless melange of spectral vigour and haunting shadow play.

A live show that is cinematic and puts one in touch with the anonymity of being lost in a dark metropolis, which is more often than not the essence and one of the driving themes of Interpol’s narrative.

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Photos by Daniel Boud (provided)

Mind Over Matter – Cryo

Every now and then it is perfectly okay to let go and cry, unrepressed and unhindered -- after all showing emotions is what makes us human and crying provides relief from inner weight you are lugging around.

What?

No?

Oh, Cryotherapy it is?

Gotcha.

Now, per definitionem cryotherapy is the cold equivalent to a sauna. Cold as in icy, i.e. below artic temperatures.

Benefits include improvement of sleep, boost of immunity and elevation of mood by exposing your corpse to extremely cold temperatures, we are talking up to -160 degrees Celsius for up to three minutes.

One of the benefits is that your body releases endorphins, which results in an energy boost followed by a state of relaxation as after the treatment, filtered, oxygen-rich blood flows back through your body helping to combat the affiliated pain of swelling and redness.

Now, how does it feel?

You disrobe, step into a chamber in your underwear with your extremities covered in UGG boots and gloves and as soon as the temperature drops, you feel an incredible rush, which has been credited to the release of endorphins and adrenalin coursing through the blood as the brain attempts to find an adequate course of action to combat the cold.

Imagine switching a pleasantly warm shower to an ice cold on steroids.

A friendly little reminder of what being alive feels like.

One of the original purposes of Cryotherapy aims at elevating pain from limbs and joints. Running long distances on a regular basis and just having arrived from a long-distance flight, I felt muscle and joint pain subside immediately even during the cold process, specifically in the ankle and knee regions and the relief lasted for the rest of the day.

Best thing is that despite the ridiculously low temperature, it is not piercingly painful at all and certainly intense yet borderline enjoyable experience due to the absence of wetness and the use of dry cold. Cue walking into a butcher’s which is a very pleasant scenario given the scorching heat during summer on terra australis.

The whole experience usually only lasts for three minutes and it takes about the same time for your body to return to its previous equilibrium.

Given the intense nature of the cryotherapeutic treatment, an LED light session proves to be a pleasant book end.

Luckily CRYO offers both -- state-of-the-art Cryotherapy machinery that emits extremely fine cold particles as an FDA approved LED light bed. The fact that CRYO’s ambience and location is one stylish operation par excellence adds to overall experience.

18,240 LED bulbs a quarter of an inch away from your body expose your bodily shell to a soothing and natural glow to promote wellness and physiological function, as it stimulates ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) production, which is deemed necessary for almost every immune function. In other words, it heals your body inside out, improves blood circulation and builds collagen.

Sounds odd and weird?

Well, I dare you to try both and not feel like it is something that you need in your life on a regular basis.

Read more of T's Mind Over Matter blog series here.

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Photos by t and Cryo.com.au

Water of Life – Chivas The Blend

Bell & Brio

Sydney, Australia

Chivas is an interesting one.

In layman terms, Chivas represents the epitome of an amalgamated whisky as the traditional expression is a melange of over forty germinated cereal and regular grain whiskies that make the DNA of it.

If there is a range available, I usually go for the Chivas Regal Ultis as it is a reliable malt blend made using five of the main single malts Chivas employs in creating their whisky, i.e. Braeval, Strathisla, Allt A’Bhainne, Longmorn and Tormore and matured in hand-selected casks.

Chivas Regal Ultis is a rich and complex aroma mix with fruity honey as well as a bit of malt being predominant, which extends to the palate with hints of nuts and char and culminates in a citrussy toffee finish.

A solid premium everyday drop that is accessible even for those who normally do not dabble in whisky.

Now, Chivas being a blended whisky, a guided blending session allowing you to learn about the craftsmanship while demystifying the world of whisky in a fun and informative way was the natural next step and we were able to attend The Blend session at Bell & Brio recently.

Apart from learning more about Chivas’ history and merits, one got to create one’s own idiosyncratic, unique two-hundred ml bottle of whisky.

Inspired by your very own palate, one was able to mix and channel the blending alchemy by using five different flavours ranging from fruity to smoky to aim for the perfect harmony between smoothness and flavour.

The fact that the base components were carefully chosen and curated might have played an integral part in my very own liquid emission ended up being quite an enjoyable drop.

Not saying that what resulted from The Blend session is anything to compete with what the Chivas brethren have perfectioned, but it certainly has a distinct character and crowned an enjoyable evening that was expertly hosted by Chivas ambassador extraordinaire Emily Andrew.

Read more Water of Life entries here.

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Photos provided