Mark Fell’s performance at the Berghain

A couple of us at Capsule had the good fortune of spending a few days in Berlin  to witness the digital arts event Transmediale, and its sister music festival CTM.

The theme of this year’s Transmediale was ‘Back when Pluto was a planet’ so there was plenty of 90s early 00s references and investigations into the rapid changes in digital art and communications. There was also a lot of discussion around paper and publishing, the future of the book and digital book production and distribution. Some really interesting stuff that will no doubt feed into the opening season for the Library of Birmingham, which we are currently programming.

CTM had a pretty vital line up this year with performances by current essentials such as Andy Stott, Dean Blunt and Holly Herndon as well as special events with Pantha du Prince and Capsule favourites People Like Us, Sunno))), Khyam Allami and Eugene Robinson. One highlight was the excellent PAN showcase at Berghain, a line up of wholly distinct artists who made perfect sense of one another, featuring Lee Gamble, Florian Hecker, Jar Moff, Heatsick and Mark Fell and Keith Fullerton Whitman.

The new album ‘V’ by Barn Owl will be released on Thrill Jockey on 15th April.
“This record marks a shift in approach from the duo. The pair augmented their arsenal of guitars and effects with an array of electronics, vastly expanding the album’s sounds and textures. Special attention was given to implied rhythms

nestled within dense slow building environments, giving album a rhythmic presence, albeit one that is buried beneath intricate layers. There’s a ghostly rhythm, almost beyond reach.”

They play Birmingham’s St Paul’s Church on Saturday 27th April. Tickets are available via www.theticketsellers.co.uk

Watch the live video for the opening track ‘Void Redux’ which was filmed live at Thrill Jockey’s 20th Anniversary event in San Francisco last year.

Barn Owl

In case you missed it, here’s a little playlist of what sounds are currently filling Capsule HQ, including Barn Owl, Ex Easter Island Head and Grumbling Fur who will be performing at St Paul’s Church on Saturday 27th April. Tickets available here.

Capsule are delighted to be partnering with Birmingham 2022, Fused Magazine and IdeasTap for an exciting opportunity as part of the opening season for Library of Birmingham.

Do you want to help generate alternative visions for the future of arts and culture in Birmingham? Draw up an arts strategy for the year 2022? Work as a team to create a publication for the new Library of Birmingham’s Discovery Festival?

Then read on.

September 2013 sees the much-anticipated launch of the new Library of Birmingham: the largest public library in Europe. To celebrate the iconic building, the Discovery Festival will host cultural events, activities, projects and performances on the theme of Discovery, including the publication of a new magazine all about the festival.

We’re using this unique opportunity to generate visions for the future of arts and culture in Birmingham for the year 2022, created, written and produced by young creatives.

This brief closes on Friday 1 March at 5pm and is open to IdeasTap members aged 16 to 24 and living in the West Midlands.

For more information and details on how to apply visit IdeasTap

Birmingham 2022 is in partnership with IdeasTap, mac, Fused Magazine, The Library of Birmingham, Capsule and funded by Arts Council England.

Sonic Graffiti by Sam Underwood

The next Wire Salon, produced by Wire magazine takes place on Thursday 7^th February at Café Oto in London and will discuss instrument building and its links with hacking and DIY culture. As well as Leafcutter John and Tom Bugs, the panel will feature Capsule associated artist Sam Underwood. Capsule and Vivid commissioned Sam’s piece Sonic Graffiti back in 2011 and the project has grown and evolved, with a residency at Bristol’s Ished currently exploring ‘sounds of warning’.

In related news, Vivid will be relaunching as Vivid Projects on Friday 22^nd February with an exciting programme of performances and exhibitions. It will be great to have them back.

Our friends at HTF Media have just released this brilliant footage of The Bug live at the last Supersonic. Joined by Miss Red, Daddy Freddy and Flow Dan they closed the Saturday night programme with earth shattering effect…that bass!

We’ve got a sale in the shop of two top-notch releases from Capsule Recordings. Tweak Bird live at Supersonic Festival 2010 and Iron Lung live at Supersonic Festival 2009. They’re both available at £6 – a new year bargain for you!

We’ve just announced a very special show to take place on Saturday 27th April. We’re big fans of Barn Owl over at Capsule, and are thrilled to invite them back to Birmingham, and have them play in the stunning setting of St Paul’s Church. Playing in front of modified super 8 footage, the twin guitars of Evan Caminiti and Jon Porras intertwine instinctively, equal parts slow-burning twang and spaced-out feedback drone.

They’ll be joined by Grumbling Fur, a project by Alexander Tucker and Daniel O’Sullivan and Liverpool based Ex Easter Island Head (for fans of Rhys Chatham, Glenn Branca).
Tickets are now on sale via theticketsellers.co.uk

Barn Owl live at Supersonic Festival 2011: