Open Frame: Room 40

Carriageworks

Sydney, Australia

June 28-29, 2018

2018 saw the third place  Carriageworks bringing back the biannual Room 40: Open Frame Festival, centred around curated offerings rooted in experimental, avant-garde and electronic boundary pushing music and, more interestingly, noise.

Two evenings brought established senior artists alongside young, emerging talents to the fore, with a dedicated focus on transcendence, intense sounds and purposefully aimed at expanding the minds of the audience:

A premiere came in the form of French electronic music composer Eliane Radigue, performing her 24th composition, Occam XXIV, which was commissioned by Carriageworks and performed by Australian composer and musician Cat Hope: Unfolding at a glacial pace, Éliane Radigue’s astral sound that is usually generated from synthesizers has been transformed into a collection of solo pieces with no scores and only verbal instructions. An intimate relationship and a foundation of trust between Radigue and the performing artist is a prerequisite to achieve what Radigue has ever so eloquently declared to be the virtuosity of absolute control.

Most prominently known for his four-volume album The Disintegration Loops, Avant-garde composer William Basinski premiered a piece specifically for the mini-Festival channelling his sound artistry with tape loops.

A Schmuckstueck in many aspects was the incarnation of plush toy enthusiast and iconoclast Charlemagne Palestine, who has been active since the 1960s, and who indulged in his usual manner in the maximal minimalism he has become known for. His intuitive and highly personal approach along with him interacting with his instrument instead of imposing structure on them, underlined his idiosyncratic, non-analytical, involving and boundless approach.

I have always had a weak spot for the emissions of Coil and it was fantastic to experience the last living member of the gang, i.e. Drew McDowall, perform. McDowall created a tapestry of music from the album Time Machines: Fantastic, deep mood-altering, spine-tingling soundscapes resting on a foundation that rest on both psychotropic and esoteric pillars, referencing occult tradition and imagery.

Chinese-born, Berlin-based Pan Daijing showcased after an overly indulgent introduction on the Friday night her industrial music which is heavily influenced by the 1980s, Chinese minority and Tibetan music, field recordings in temples and ritual practice. I guess one could interpret her theatrical approach as a composer and performer as “raw” and “cathartic” and I quite enjoy her focus on sound and expression rather than music and the fact that she manages to infuse noise with a sense of calm, however, the extensive self-indulgent monologue at the beginning proved to be a bit of threshold to get over.

Sydney-based artist Gail Priest delivered a well nuanced, introspective and cerebral performance using atmospheres of quietness, sculpted sound wave and field recordings, along with her processed voice and noise drones to diminish the distance between what seems diametrically opposite.

Another fantastic festival of experimental music in a venue that could not be better fitted.

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Photo by T

Swimming and How to Layer Up in Style

If you swim more regularly, you will be aware that the materials your gear is constructed with can greatly improve not only comfort but also your performance and of course the longevity of your swimwear.

As far as fabrics are concerned, nylon is by far the most common for obvious reasons, it being light and having the ability to dry quickly.

Cotton disqualifies itself for obvious reasons.

Lycra is often found as a component with the most prominent benefit being its elasticity.

Both materials have in common that they do not particularly well hold colour and that they must be treated to become immune to the effects of chlorine, which is usually added to pools in a bid to ward off bacteria.

Polyester proves to be chlorine and fade resistant, which is a major advantage as most swimwear quickly deteriorates due its harsh nature, and is often thrown in the mix, not unlike a fabric called Polybutylene Terephthalate, which is favoured for its ability to enhance aerodynamic performance due to it sitting snug on the body – the old equation that bulkier material slows you down holds true due to drag.

It also minimizes friction, which is an important advantage if you are a regular swimmer.

Needless to say that it depends on your personal preference, i.e. if you would like something functional or a fashion accessory to show off with.

A swimwear manufacturer that meets my criteria is the Australian free-spirited label Smithers, as they have managed to strike the balance between stylish swimwear made from quality materials that is also functional.

The Smithers Foundations collection which has slowly infiltrated my wardrobe is currently comprised of six designs across classic briefs and trunks, which show love to detail with a firm focus on providing snug and colourful comfort for the summer:

Not too loose not too tight, quick-dry and with their pattern game on point, making a subtle style statement on minimal real estate – after all swimwear should be fun, comfortable and not merely look the part but perform at a high level as well.

Some of the criteria also goes for underwear and socks: After all, it is the first garment you put on in the morning and the last one that is taken off.

Sure, who does not like a good bargain and that 10-pack of socks and underpants at your local discounter might be the economic way to go, however, you get what you pay for.

See, fibers matter.

You can feel it.

No matter if you are in the office, operate in the great outdoors or working construction – a cut that is both comfortable and functional is essential.

Undergarments being flattering is a welcome bonus that your significant other will surely thank you for.

Manrags covers those bases particularly well for me:

No matter if I go for a run or run a meeting, they are very comfortable by being stretchy yet sturdy and do not leave those ugly marks on your waist at the end of a long straining day.

Even after numerous washes, their happy medium trunks keep their elasticity and stay where they are supposed to be.

I am usually not into silk materials but Manrags feel silky without feeling too delicate, which is due to them using 100% Egyptian cotton, growing on the fertile banks of the Nile river, which is considered the king of all cottons as it is stronger, lighter, more breathable and absorbent.

It is not for nothing that Egyptian cotton is also commonly used for bed sheets and the fact that those cotton fibers are more suitable for solid and resistant colours is an added bonus – something that the colourful Manrags designs take full advantage of.

If you are a collector nerd or enjoy your assortment undergarments being enriched on a regular basis, Manrags offers the opportunity to become part of their own club:

You simply pick your essentials of choice, e.g. socks or underwear or both, determine the frequency of your subscription and curated pairs of socks and / or socks will find their way into your drawer on a regular basis.

Sorted in style and comfort.

For more High Adventures in the Great Outdoors, read T's Part 2: Protein.

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Photos by T

Hearing protection

EarPeace

Music.

Enjoyment.

Loud amps in your face.

Regular exposure to loud noises might have catastrophic consequences if hearing is not protected proactively.

With hearing being a complex system, there are a myriad of complications that can arise from constantly turning the amps to 11, preventable permanent hearing damage being only one of them, i.e. hair cell damage resulting in them no longer being able to carry sounds to the nerve cells.

We all would have experienced the warning signs indicating damage, e.g. the ringing noise persisting long after a live concert.

Others would have experienced tinnitus, which is about four times as likely to occur amongst musicians as with other demographics.

The crux is that once your hearing is gone, there is no real remedy.

Protection is essential in any loud environment, no matter if you are on or in front of the stage.

The first and easiest step to protect your hearing is to get a cheap pair of those foam earplugs.

They are omnipresent and can be easily procured at hardware stores and pharmacies.

While they are better than nothing and do the job of reducing the volume, they also come with the disadvantage of reducing higher frequencies and subsequently produce muffled or muddied sound.

More sophisticated materials, e.g. silicone, in plugs manage to reduce all frequencies equally, which helps to still get an accurate impression of what is going on.

It took me a bit of experimentation with loads of trial and error along with brushes with tinnitus, before I found a high fidelity reusable hearing protection that does not break the bank and yields great results:

EarPeace’s protection system fits the job.

They manufacture hearing protection that makes music still sound good and feels comfortably to wear.

My preferred variant, i.e. the HD triplets, come with three plugs each, three attenuators, i.e. sound redactors - which come in black for maximum sound protection (19 dB sound reduction), red for high sound protection (14 dB sound reduction) or flesh-coloured to provide medium protection (17 DB), and a handy little milled aluminum case with a keyring link that makes it easy to keep them around whenever needed.

What I like about the hypoallergenic silicone EarPeace sets is that they are designed to fit snugly in your ear and virtually disappear, while they are fairly easy to maintain and clean.

The dual-flange system comes with a pull tab for easy removal / insertion and the material even allows for them to be washed in warm soap water without impacting their quality.

While EarPeace might not be as well-fitting as custom made ones, once you get used to them, they are borderline unnoticeable plus they come at a much more reasonable price tag.

They do an amazing job at dialing down the volume while maintaining nuances, which is essential for musicians and the option to have three levels of sound protection to fit the occasion along with a spare plug is a nice touch.

Summa summarum:

A highly competent, discreet and comfortable system with a solid presentation made of high-quality materials offered at a reasonable price, which democratize professional grade hearing protection.

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Photos by T

Sydney Film Festival 2018

Winter in Sydney is not devoid of event highlights: ViViD Festival is blossoming in all its glory illuminating the Sydney in all its glory literally and with a high calibre of an eclectic international festival line-up.

Then there is the Sydney Film Fest for the cinema-philes.

While previous incarnations have never lacked highlights, the 2018 instalment made it particularly difficult to feel like you are not missing out on the offerings from the realm of local and international cinema. In numbers this meant well over two-hundred and fifty movies from sixty countries in more than one-hundred and sixty languages.

Yup, that is quite a handful and I shall try to focus on personal favourites to give an idea of the territory covered and the wide range on offer:

Terror Nullius is a must-see: Video installatiors Soda Jerk’s innovative exercise in taking cut and pasting techniques to a whole new level by recontextualising and reframing classic texts to infer new dimensions of meaning and making them relevant to seemingly irrelevant current events and developments. In essence, DJ-ing, sampling and remixing techniques applied to movie making with a great electronic soundtrack to match. It was about time that Terror Nullius emerged out of the confines of Melbourne’s ACMI cinemas, where it was first released.

The Pure Necessity is – as you might have not guessed – a take on Disney’s Jungle Book with the twist of extracting all human characters from each individual frame. Director David Claerhout thereby gives the classic movie a whole new dimension, making it more of a nature documentary and what you as a viewer make of it and take away from.

The Iranian movie Three Faces is a political drama shedding light on limitations, lack of freedom of expression and individuality following the Werdegaenge of three actors at different points of their lives and careers.

Joaquin Phoenix, known for his experimental approach to movie projects, makes an appearance in Gus Van Sant’s Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot and You Were Never Really Here as a former soldier and law enforcement officer who tracks down missing teens in the hands of sex trafficking rings on behalf of wealthy parents. A role that won him the 2017 Cannes Best Actor Award.

Half the Picture tries to find answers to the question as to the gender inequality in the movie industry, especially when it comes to directors along with the trials and tribulations that come with the territory of being a female leader.

Mektoub, My Love: Canto Uno is Tunisian-French film-maker Abdellatif Kechiche’s three-hour long LGBT drama, which is a bit tedious at times but an enjoyable take on the topic.

Searching by director Aneesh Chaganty proved to be an interesting flic as it was shot entirely from the point of view of computer screens and smartphones.

Julian Burnside’s 'Graveyard of dreams' focuses on the heartbreaking plight of refugees – a touching piece of cinema to say the very least.

Foxtrot is Israeli writer-director Samuel Maoz’s movie is an intense, absorbing oeuvre that sheds light on the implications of bureaucracy, grief and the many difficulties of living in a state of perpetual conflict.

Not being big on Japanese animation, I found Mamoru Hosada’s Mirai an eye-catching, entertaining spectacle that makes me want to delve deeper into the genre.

Another outstanding offering was [Censored], which zeros in on what is being cut out when, well censors decide that the general public should be spared from it: A documentary focused on the compilation of clips that fell prey to the scissors of censorship from 1951 to 1978 in Australia.

Paraguayan director Marcelo Martinessi's film, The Heiresses!, won the Sydney Film Festival's official competition and Sydney filmmaker Ben Lawrence took out the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary with the complex and dark Ghosthunter, which was rewarded for its storytelling approach that did not lack in the suspense department without sacrificing ethos.

2018’s sixty-fifths Sydney Film Fest was another step up from previous incarnations of the festival catering to both a mainstream audience, Arthouse aficionados and an array of nuanced special interests in-between – be it Japanese animation, documentaries or crowd pleasers.

Protein

Yup.

Need to get it in, especially when being on the road in places less traveled.

Let’s look at the basics.

Aight, protein is one of the pillars of your humanly vessel, being an integral component of literally every cell you are made of with extensions like hair and nails being almost completely made of it.

No matter if you are a gym junky bulking up or laying low when it comes to physical exercise, protein is needed for its ability to repair tissue and to build bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.

The problem is that one’s body does not store protein, which means that you need to constantly replenish to remain a functioning unit and to prevent muscle loss, maintain a healthy weight while curbing hunger and ensure speedy recovery.

Some ways to ensure that your protein levels are in the green region are more fun than others.

Sure, you can scoop various flavours into that unsightly shaker of yours, but one of the more delicious and palatable ways I’ve found is ice-cream!

As the telling name FroPro suggests, this ice-cream is high in protein and natural ingredients and as an added bonus 99% sugar free, i.e. it has a fraction of calories that regular ice-cream contains.

There are a lot of novelty protein items crowding the market but what makes it a preferred treat for me post-workout is the range of flavours:

The Chocolate variants clocks in at 81 calories per serve while not damping the delicious dark chocolate taste and creamy consistency, which is enhanced by the use of whey protein isolate and a hint of coconut cream.

The FroPro Green Tea & Mint derives its flavours from the adage of 100% pure peppermint oil. Made with the antioxidant Matcha Green Tea, it promotes fat metabolism and only has 71 calories per serve. It might be the best thing next to eating celery, where the act of eating it actually consumes more calories than what you are devouring.

Now, my favourite flavour is by far the decadent tasting Peanut Butter Chocolate, which despite its rich name only has 87 calories per serve. It is made of whole Kingaroy nut butter mixed with chocolate.

Sure, you can tell that it is not as rich as a tub of Ben & Jerry’s or as flamboyant as an emission from the local ice-cream designer powerhouse Messina, but it is surprisingly flavourful and makes the perfect treat either by itself or after dinner.

I do like a bit of trekking and hiking, preferably in areas off the beaten track where you find yourself at times in the particularly challenging situation that chow is hard to come by, especially the variant with nutritional value for what Diamond Dave referred to as a “result oriented performance”, i.e. ones low on sugar and carbs and a bit easier on the jaw than beef jerky and a bit less perishable than fruit.

Chief Bar tends to tick quite a few boxes in that regard: Despite being devoid of what is commonly considered to add flavor, e.g. enhancing yet hormone destroying chemicals, dairy, a truckload of sugar and gluten, cheap bulking agents.

The aforementioned ingredients are being replaced with natural, whole food, nuts, minimally processed essential amino acids, nuts, dried fruit and grass-fed meat with some of the variants of their protein centric range.

After doing a bit of homework on the brand, it was reassuring to see that the design of Chief Bar’s emissions is based on a sound nutritional basis and evidence-based science along with the Chiefs’ intrinsic interest in creating a product they would first and foremost like to consume themselves.

It might not sound particularly enticing but some bars contain hydrolysed collagen, which aids in decreasing joint pain after exercise, helps with skin elasticity, makes cartilage more dense, and basically keeps tendons, muscles and bones together along with firming the tissue in skin – in layman’s terms: Collagen is the fundamental cornerstone of the protein family and you want it in your system especially as the protective lining of the gastrointestinal tract stars wearing thin.

Vegetarians avert your eyes:

Chief Bars meat containing flavours are surprisingly flavoursome and enjoyable:

They comes as 100% Australian grass-fed and hormone free lamb, with the adage of  almonds for their good fats to stabilize blood sugar levels and dried currants for the benefits of their   phytonutrients, antioxidants, fibre and calcium.

The 40g Beef bar is the big whopper of the family and the hint of chili add a bit of a kick to the game.

I am currently en route to Tibet and got a stack of Chief Bars with me to get me through when the going gets tough.

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Photos by T

Read High Adventures in the Great Outdoors: Part 1 -- Weathering the Elements.