November 2007 Our autumn in motions
First of all with a magnificent concert in the Sugar Factory of Amsterdam (thank you Myra, Inge, Jolanda), a new alternative venue in town specialized in night theatre events.
Our most “complete and powerful “De L’Aimant” performance until today. Magic and osmosis we felt between the characters (Yana & Sabine… outstanding!) on stage but also off stage - as if the pulse of the audience was beating for us – galvanized by that ambient electricity & the special interventions of our cheaky guest Silvatica aka Erik Yaeger who brought again his imaginative flair to colorize our serious dramatic electro flamenco.
Programmed in Nancy for the festival Souterrain Porte 4, we have decided after two weeks of intensive work to launch the very first test of a brand new performance project, drawing inspiration from some of our forthcoming new “Neither Predator Nor Prey” album compositions.
With our accomplice Def by our side, this time actor and singer as well as musician - aiming together for a triangular theatrical attempt. Def made that big step forward, leaving his previous sacred role as sound engineer (for more than ten years now) so to join us as a performer, stamping too his feet along like a maniac.
That venture could be made possible with the coproduction of TOTEM (thanks to Otomo) and the precious help of some of our friends from Materia Prima, Yann “Lilwyt” (set building), Matthieu Hibon (suspensions), Xulfni (video installation), Emmanuel Peltre (lights) & Diane Viacle (assistance).
Performance = Risking. Risking again this time on the theme of the parting, the separation, the division, the split in between the “wall”… between people, religions, couples, cultures, lives.
A strong idea which is held by a strict radical stage design concept, as well as an intricate video artwork (with original footage shot in Israel last summer) & live filming process.
No formatting mode is to be expected here, nothing is gained, anything can or could happen as there is no more “ready to play”, no more “ready to show” but a “ready to live” situation set in a flowing non programmed space time insert.
First of all like amputated, one eyed, half-invisible, trying to guess and detect maybe before the collision or the collusion???
The “clash” or the communion indeed came when our friends, the Gnawa musicians of Fès (Hicham Bilali & Maalem Edkaki from “l’Autre Nuit”) appeared in front of us. Imagine the power of five percussionists entering our stage and challenging our rhythm ; a moment of anthology.
That great festival was also the chance for meeting or rediscovering magnificent artists as well as beautiful human beings : Ron Athey, Lukas Spyra & Satomi, Taketeru Kudo, the Do Theatre Company & of course all the members of Materia Prima… We also collaborated with some of those brilliant artists under Otomo‘s direction for a unique “major” event set outdoors on the front and the balconies of the Nancy Opera building, on the famous Stanislas square… Such a very chic & historically correct surroundings indeed we could disturb that night with a deliciously wild & turbulent performance.
In Lyon for the Borderline OFF Biennal festival in the Abode of Chaos, we have taken the liberty to improvise in haste an odd minimalist concert. Our backs to a black ship entitled “The Aral Sea”, amidst the cataclysmic yard of the Abode, amongst metal wreckages, our sole weapons were made out of wood and courage : a tiny platform, three sticks, a bed, some flamenco shoes & three hearts. A raw and crude mini drama in one act set on a rustic “tablao”, totally contrasting with the energy of the cold visitors, elite voyeurs in for esthetical futuristic thrills. Somehow we were proud to participate to that extreme cyber demonic mass adventure.
http://blog.ehrmann.org/films/blb_ddc2008.html
Patience. Our new C.D will soon be available, not knowing today on which label but nevertheless we will share soon a special “hit” track sang by Flore and Phil which will be released only through internet.
Waiting now for future wanderings.
Soon we will perform “De L’Aimant” in Lille with two very different versions. In May within a flamenco-mutant ballroom evening in conjunction with real flamenco groups from the city and in June for a cross shaped performance inside the old Palais des Beaux Arts.
Blood, Sweat and Tears… Do not look any further, these are nowadays probably the only taboos left in our “Spectacle” society.
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