For the third installment of this year’s OPTICAL showcases, Decibel enthusiastically brings a very recently coined genre of cutting-edge electronic, electric and acoustic music that draws on far-flung and older strains of American folk, classical and early traditional musics, combined with very advanced electronic and digital compositions. Coined AMERITRONICA, this is a pastoral, expansive music that is evocative of nature, with wide-open vistas that are simultaneously compellingly modern, technological and abstract.

There is no better example of this sound than that of the New York duo Koen Holtkamp and Brendon Anderegg (Mountains). Through their own exceptional works and the releases on their Aperstaartje label, Mountains have established themselves as the forerunners of a new hybrid sound that situates itself between the plucked acoustic guitar techniques of Americana legend John Fahey and the subtle electronic textures of labels like Raster-Noton, 12k and City Centre Offices.  A rare west coast performance from this duo will undoubtedly be a memorable part of this years’ program.

Sharing the bill, Decibel is proud to present Kranky Records recording artist Benoit Pioulard and his own particularly gorgeous merging of acoustic song writing with electronics.

Opening the showcase is none other than Type Records mainstay Goldmund (aka Helios) who will be performing muted, elegiac, shimmering neo-classical piano works that suspend themselves in the air and the listeners mind.

Accompanying video artists for AMERITRONICA include Christina Vantzou of The Dead Texan, 12k/Anticipate Sawako and Seattle’s own esteemed Scott Sunn of Tracer Visuals.