In modern times, you can find a stray cabaret or goth club in most modern metropolitan areas. But back in the late 19th century, your options were limited, albeit merrily deranged.

Paris of the 1890s had several supernatural nightlife options, each of them with marvelously outlandish gimmicks. In the 1899 book Bohemian Paris of To-Day by William Chambers Morrow and Édouard Cucuel, the authors visit several of the City of Lights darker drinking destinations, such as the Cabaret du Néant (“The Cabaret of Nothingness”) in the neighborhood of Montmartre.

At this gothic nightspot, visitors pondered their own mortality as they drank on coffins and were served libations (named after diseases) by monks and funeral attendees …

… But Cabaret du Néant wasn’t the only creepy nightspot in Paris. Later in Bohemian Paris of To-day, Morrow described his evening at the Cabaret de l’Enfer (“The Cabaret of the Inferno”), a Satanically themed nightclub in Montmartre that abutted another cabaret. And according to the author’s account, it was perhaps the trippiest hangout of La Belle Époque …

Read the full story by Cyriaque Lamar on io9.com

Matthijs Munnik Citadels
A performance about brainwave interference, using flickering light, inspired by Brion Gysin’s dream machine.

“We must storm the citadels of enlightenment. The means are at hand,” William S. Burroughs wrote to his best friend Brion Gysin. The means, he was referring to, was the invention of the dream machine.

A rotating cyllinder lamp-like device, which produced a stroboscopic light. You would see beautiful patterns, shapes and colours, while looking at this device with your eyes closed. Even full hallucinations have been reported.

The trippy experience provided by the dreammachine fascinated the two beat-generation artists immensly, as well as a wide range of other artists and performers, mainly in psychedelic circles.

The effect produced by the dreammachine, however was not something new. In fact it has fascinated people since the begin of time. Flickering lights and repeated sounds have always been important for spiritual rituals, to induce a trance like state. Shamans, prophets and ordinary people used the effect as an aid for meditation and expanding their conciousness…

The first time this happened, according to one theory, was when a shaman stood under a tree, when a flickering shadow fell on him, created by the leaves slowly moving the wind. When he looked up and closed his eyes the flickering of the shadows gave him a visionary and spiritual experience. This could be the reason why trees take a really important place in all religions worldwide.

There are also stories about prophets, Nostradamus for example, waving their hands in front of their closed eyes, while looking at the sun. This would give them the ability to vision the future.

The first scientist to report it was the great Jan Purkinje, 200 years ago, when he was still a child. He found out that, by looking at the sun with his eyes closed, and waving his hands in front of his eyes, ‘beautiful figures’ would appear, which gradually became more intricate.

It doesn’t really matter what method you use, be it a device, your hands or a natural source, in the end the effect stays the same. The only difference is that modern day devices give us more control over the flicker and intensity. That’s why the dreammachine was such a revolutionary device, as it made it a lot easier to experience the effect.

Brion Gysin and scientist Ian Sommerville created the dreamachine after reading William Grey Walter’s book, “The Living Brain”. Walter, a neurophysiologist, was a pioneer in research of brainwave activity. In this book he describes his experiments with stroboscopic light. He found that flicker-induced hallucinatory experiences of his test subjects seemed to be as broad and dynamic as anything experienced in the medical case histories. As suggested by himself, this effect is caused not by properties of the light itself, or by the eye, but are a product of the brain.

One theory is that the flickering is interfering with the brain’s visual cortex, attempting to deal with intermittent signal. It’s hard not to wonder if the patterns you see perhaps offer a glimpse of our own brain activity, something beyond our own senses.

In my performance I also make use of the flicker effect, but I have more control over it. The audience wears white plastic masks, this way they look into a ganzfeld, a totally white field during the performance. In my set up, I use beamers, projecting light on the audience’s masks, completely immersing them in the light and colors of the projection.

I play an 8 minute live composition, based on the varying effects of different frequencies of flicker, colour, binaural beats and sound. During the performance every spectator will see something different, varying patterns and colours, created within their own brains. I hope my performance is another little step, in the long history of flicker, but above all, I hope to give the audience the opportunity to experience this amazing effect for themselves.

***

Eastern Bloc présente:

Le festival SIGHT & SOUND
Art + Technologie
23 – 27 mai 2012
sightandsoundfestival.ca

Citadels (2010) de MATTHHIJS MUNNIK présenté jeudi le 24 mai à 20:00 au Eastern Bloc (et en installation jusqu’au 27 mai) :

23 – 27 / 05 | 12:00 – 17:00
Matthijs Munnik [Citadels : Lightscape]
Pavitra Wickramasinghe [51L3NC3 4ND L1GH7]
Robyn Moody [Wave Interference]
Zach Gage [A Performance for Visitors in 2012, Hit Counter, Self-Portrait Bot]

Eastern Bloc
Parc-Extension, Montréal p.Q.
easternbloc.ca

‘Christians commemorated the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, a holiday that marks the end of Holy Week and the end of Lent. Observances around the world bring a diversity of traditions as varied as the countries celebrating’ …

‘Gathered here are images of Christians during Holy Week and Easter, including reenactments of the Crucifixion, pilgrimages, baptisms, sunrise services, and more’ …

***

Semaine Sainte, MMX (ici)
Holy Week MMIX (ici)

‘Dans le but de préserver la ligne d’horizon, un règlement municipal interdit à tout édifice, à une l’exception de l’Oratoire Saint-Joseph, d’atteindre une élévation dépassant celle du Mont-Royal, ou 233 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer’

ISTVAN KANTOR
KARL LEMIEUX & HYENA HIVE
THOMAS BÉGIN
STEVE BATES
J-CLAUDE BIESCHKE
AMY SCHWARTZ

‘Discipline de lumières, sons et lévitations le temps d’une nuit au sommet du Mont Royal. Le point de rencontre loge dans la recherche et l’exploration à débaliser l’appareillage de projection. Niché dans la demeure d’un mouvement concentrique émis d’un pôle monolithique au red light des pèlerins. Un cinéma des premiers temps où Méliès épileptique et chirurgien Doyen mystique happe le corps mécanique, liturgie balistique de la lumière.

Le rayon en révulsions et excavations lumineuses, l’amorce et ses histoires déclinées en genèse et extinction cinétique. Cinéma live en dosages narcotifiés d’éclipses cinétiques des désirs séculaires. Lumière goethienne d’un cinéma sans spectacle des corps inclinés sous les feux des mirrorballs explosées par les exégètes de la lame abrasive et les anachorètes du court-circuitage.

Blitzkrieg apache d’un cinéma élargi délesté de l’arène imagier pour rétines stroboscopiques. À travers la mince couche de glace spéculaire, émaille d’une cinématographie pré-platonicienne phares et flambeaux d’un cheminement d’à-coups incendiaires dans la nuit intérieure. Pèlerinage vers l’aube où les pointes lumineuses des obus cheminent en silence.’ – Pierre-Luc Vaillancourt

SAMEDI 7 JANVIER 2012
CHALET AU SOMMET DU MONT ROYAL
MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC, CANADA
PERFORMANCES À 21H
10$ À L’ENTRÉE

informations sur le site de L’institut des cinémas exploratoires

‘Dans la ville, les rues sont bien tracées. Et vous roulez à droite, et vous avez des deux aux carrefours, etc. Il y a des règles. Quand vous quittez la ville, il y a encore des routes, mais pas de feux. Et quand vous allez plus loin, il n’y a plus de routes, plus de lumières, plus de règles, rien pour vous guider. Il n’y a plus que les bois. Et quand vous revenez en ville, vous pouvez avoir le sentiment que les règles sont fausses, qu’il ne devrait pas y avoir de règles. Ça revient à peu près à ça. Si vous avez une lumière, je vous dirai : “Suivez-là.” Il est possible qu’elle soit bonne.’ – Ludwig Wittgenstein

TENZIER et VIDÉOGRAPHE présentent :

Y’a du dehors dedans de PIERRE MONAT (n. & b., 22 min., 1973)
Ce soir on improvise : Nouvelle musique au Québec de RAYMOND GERVAIS & MICHEL DI TORRE (n. & b., 55 min. 50 sec., 1974)

Vendredi 20 janvier MMXII au Vidéographe (4550, rue Garnier, Montréal)
Réception : 19h00. Projections en présence des réalisateurs : 20h30
Entrée libre. Places limitées.

Ces projections accompagnent le lancement officiel d’un disque vinyle qui comprend quatre pièces inédites enregistrées par le QUATUOR DE JAZZ LIBRE DU QUÉBEC en 1973.

TNZR.org pour plus de renseignements

Affaires courantes :

… ‘Discipline which comes from yourself and not that which is dictated to you by another. We think there are a lot of people who like to be controlled, it’s a sort of need for them, they refuse all responsability, it’s a very serious lack of dignity. We want to order our lives, and when we see what a bloody mess 90% of people revel in, it encourages us in this view/way.’ - Douglas P.

From NON (Boyd Rice) ‘Mode Of Infection / Knife Ladder’ 7″ Single (1977)

NON ‘Mode Of Infection / Knife Ladder’ (1979) : Discogs | Download

“Multi Axis, Multi Speed. Soundtracks designed for play at 16, 33, 45, and 78. Engineered to permit remixing at home. Maximal volume suggested. This record is absolutely unbreakable.”

‘Cette banque de données contient l’inventaire des cimetières et d’autres lieux de sépulture du Québec (2157 enregistrements). Elle permet le géo-positionnement de ces lieux d’inhumation.’

Statistiques générales

Nombre total de cimetières: 2157
Nombre de comtés: 73
Nombre de MRCs: 103
Nombre de régions: 18
Nombre de Types/Confessions: 44

La Route des Cimetières du Québec

Joujouka Interzone is a collaboration between Master Musicians of Joujouka, French sound and visual artist Joachim Montessuis and Frank Rynne.

Montessuis and Rynne will live mix and project a HD digital onslaught utilizing archival and specially commissioned material while the Master Musicians of Joujouka will provide an aural onslaught that maintains their completely natural sound with no additions.

Joujouka Interzone premiers as the Grand Finale of the Casablanca International Digital Arts Festival/F.A.N. 29 Oct 2011 at Complexe Moulay Rachid Casablanca Morocco.

Joujouka Interzone feature live performances by the Master Musicians of Joujouka this trailer features the sound Master Musicians of Joujouka recorded live in their village at the Brian Jones 40th Anniversary Festival 29th July 2008. Recorded by David Slevin, production supervisor Frank Rynne. The full recording of the festival is due for release in 2012. There are also visuals shot summer 2011 at The Master Musicians Festival by Joachim Montessuis. The next edition of The MMOJ festival will take place in their village 8-10 June 2012.

***

‘The premiere performance of Joujouka Interzone was a great success.’ (photos)

Pythagoron™ (1977) : Discogs | Download

“You are relaxed, lying down in a darkened room – eyes closed, your mind quiets and the sound begins – it pours through like an enveloping shower. The tones gradually become a familiar place where ethereal images and ideas flicker, then solidify. Trusting the experience you let go and the sound seems to dissolve. You couldn’t describe this space – yet it’s familiar, a personal awareness that always was slightly out of reach. Gradually it ends – an experience as varied as your consciousness.

Pythagoron brings you to a different place.

Phytagoron is not just music – but sound controlled with electronic precision to alter your awareness, to get you high. Developed through years of research into the resonant interaction of sound and brainwave patterns, Pythagoron sound is unique in concept and production.” (Machine Music)

The Hafler Trio & Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth ‘Present Brion Gysin’s Dreamachine’ (1989) : Discogs | Download

‘This document contains specially designed recordings to enhance the effect of Brion Gysin’s Dreamachine. Initiated by Genesis P-Orridge, A.M. McKenzie, Paula and Caresse P-Orridge. Mixed, processed and manipulated at Suitcase Studios, 1987.’

Sur le même sujet :

Machine à rêves, prototype numéro un (ici)
‘Dreamachine’ nouvelle génération (ici)
The New Museum Contemporary Art (NYC) will present “Brion Gysin: Dream Machine” (ici)
Montréal Dreamachine (ici)

Premier prototype fonctionnel, septembre MMXI
Arsenal de scène pour Dios Mio!, expertise de Left Hand Pat.

Ça fait suite au billet du 28 avril dernier :

‘A night of super 8 & 16 mm film, video & music under the stars in our humble parking lot … Come and bring your poison, but no glass please! This is a free event and will start at 9:30 pm and last for roughly an hour’ …

With performances by:

Dios Mio! (Annie-Ève Dumontier & Gil Nault), Ipapurw, Karl Lemieux, Malena Szlam, Philippe Tremblay-Berberi, Brad Todd, Elizabeth Anka Vajagic, Scribner Mia Paradise, Stephen Rebboh De Olivera & Radwan Ghazi Moumneh.

Le samedi 18 juin MMXI à 21:30 (gratuit)
Hotel2Tango, 110 Van Horne (coin St-Urbain), Montréal p.Q.

Une présentation de Constellation, Double Negative et du festival Suoni Per Il Popolo.

***

Sinon tu seras ravi d’apprendre que la pleine lune est en Sagittaire ce soir (éclipse lunaire).

‘Sound, Word, & Image. Melody, Verse, & Countenance. Star, Cross, & Crescent. Golems All’ …

… ‘The lunatics are the frogs of the Psychosphere. At this most viciously propagandized period in our civilization-stream, we rejoice in the Lord. In all of the kingdom, from the king to the cattle, none but the buffoon have begun to become free. So please, Friend & Stranger, trust in the christic magnitude of your seeming own incarnation- and truly, the antidote can be found in the vicinity of the poison’ …

Daniel Higgs
avec Héliodrome & Whilst

Casa Del Popolo (4873 St-Laurent, Mtl)
Ouverture des portes à 20:30
Info: 514.284.0122 | info@casadelpopolo.com
$11.00

Une présentation du festival Suoni Per Il Popolo.

Originally broadcast on September 25, 2008 on Channel 4

‘Cutting Edge explores the purity movement in America, where one girl in every six pledges to remain a virgin, or to save her first kiss, until her wedding day. Award-winning documentary-maker Jane Treays investigates whether this decision is made by the girls themselves or their parents, and follows a group of fathers and daughters as they prepare to attend a ‘purity ball’ in Colorado Springs, run by Randy Wilson and his wife Lisa.’