Minimal sounds: The Future of Modular Synthesis at Islington Mill

As part of the Sines & Squares Festival of Analogue and Modular Synthesis, the festival has booked a stand-alone performance with some of the most critically acclaimed artists working within the field. Headlining the proceedings is John Chantler, a London-based composer focusing on generative minimalism, best exhibited by his series of Automatic Music recordings, which display a wondrous use of texture and buried melody to create slowly evolving vistas of sound that sound alarmingly natural. John has presented his work globally, from Japan to Canada, and is responsible for programming Café Oto’s internationally renowned and critically acclaimed concerts while also issuing recordings for the Room40 label. Lu Katavist of Cologne employs a more charged meditative theme in his experimentations, using primarily the Haken Continuum Fingerboard to create polarising elements such tonal drones, bursts of noise and clipped distortion and mind-massaging pads to feed in to a vast morphing whole that can both soothe and disturb, as heard at length on his recent Retoxis LP issued on his own Smalldeath imprint. Opening the night is composer and celebrated free improviser Richard Scott, who will be no stranger to Manchester’s creative music community. Designing his own unique WiGi infrared controller developed at STEIM (the Buchla Thunder and Buchla Lightning), Scott’s muscular physical performances are jaw-dropping, literally sculpting his compositions with his own hands. Active for over 25 years and collaborating with the likes of Evan Parker, Thomas Lehn, Clive Bell, Axel Dörner and Grutronic, Richard’s masterful skills of drawing music from the ether will be immediately apparent as soon as he hits the stage. With the Islington Mill sound rig behind each of these performances, you can be assured of a loud and wonderfully panoramic sound detailing each performers’ chosen synths in all their sonic glory. A perfect introduction to the Sines & Squares festival – and an astonishingly well-programmed bill of three artists pursuing the future of modular music.

Fri 24 Oct, Islington Mill, 1 James Street, Salford, M3 5HW, 8.30pm, £8 adv / £10 otd, To purchased through PayPal, send the amount and name to headhungrybellyfull@yahoo.co.uk, read more here.