UPDATE 9/21: TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT FOR THIS EVENT

For this year’s second OPTICAL showcase, we’ll be highlighting some of the world’s most respected experimental composers, all of whom are masters at manipulating traditional musical instruments (guitars, keyboards, etc) in very non-traditional ways.

Over the past decade no other experimental music composer has received as much praise as Christian Fennesz. A prolific studio engineer and guitarist, Fennesz has produced and recorded on dozens of albums for some of the most prestigious experimental labels in the world (Mego, Touch, Fat Cat). Fennesz has also collaborated with a diverse array of artists including Mike Patton, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sparklehorse, Keith Rowe, Jim O’Rourke, Toshimaru Nakamura and Oren Ambarchi. His 2001 Endless Summer album beautifully exemplifies Fennesz’s emphasis on guitar as a texture and the burying of pop melodies under layers of effects, both of which are common features of his music.

Oneohtrix Point Never is the most acclaimed artist in a burgeoning movement of experimental composers. His past two albums, Returnal (Mego – 2010) and Rifts (No Fun – 2009) received rave reviews from Pitchfork (8.2 and 8.0), which described his music as being “in love with technology but finds it nevertheless a source of sadness, anxiety, and gleaming fatigue, as well as redemption.” OPN utilizes analog synthesizers, effects and looping devices to create an ocean of sound that engulfs the listener. A recent 7 on Mego enlisted Fennesz and Anthony Hargerty (Anthony and the Johnson and Hercules and Love Affair) to reinterpret OPN’s single off Returnal, which is quite an honor for an artist who just started releasing music in 2007.

Noveller is the solo project of Brooklyn-based guitarist and filmmaker Sarah Lipstate. Similar to Fennesz, Noveller is a guitarist who uses various looping devices and effects to create dense sound sculptures. She has performed in Rhys Chatham’s Guitar Army and as a member of Glenn Branca’s 100 guitar ensemble. In March 2008, Lipstate joined Brooklyn art-rock outfit Parts & Labor as their guitarist. Noveller has toured supporting Xiu Xiu, the Jesus Lizard, Man Forever, and Emeralds. Lipstate is currently working with Carla Bozulich (Evangelista) on an improvised duo release for No Fun Productions.