News

A new gallery devoted to the research and exhibition of sound art called SoundFjord is set to open in North London's Seven Sisters area. The space, a collaboration between a sound designer and an artist, aims to redress the lack of space in London specifically for research, experimentation and collaboration in the sonic arts.

The gallery is currently calling out for proposals for work to be included in their exhibition schedule which should begin mid 2010. A series of workshops and lectures are also to be planned to run alongside the shows. For more information and details on the space, email: info@soundfjord.org.uk

Wandering Scottish balladeer Alasdair Roberts makes his way to Dalston Kingsland for a performance supported by fellow folkies Cath & Phil Tyler. London Café Oto, 21 April, 8pm, £8.

Japanese vocalist Michiko Hirayama makes her first Los Angeles stage appearance with a performance of Giacinto Scelsi's 20-song cycle Canti del Capricorno which was written specifically for Hirayama. Los Angeles CalArts Theater, USA, 2 April, 8:30pm, $20/$16.

Fukuoka Extreme Music Festival headlined by the mercurial Japanese/Spanish group Corrupted, other artists performing include Damage Digital, Fucked, Lasse Marhaug, Maranata, Sete Star Sept. Fukuoka graf Fukuoka, Japan, 17 April, 5:30pm, ¥2500 (price includes 1 drink).

MetalkinG, live 16mm film and sound improvisation collaboration between Riojim and Richard Bronson, present a two day "heavily practical" workshop on film looping techniques, hand contact printing, hand processing and other esoteric darkroom arts for the absolute beginner to experienced artists who want to expand their horizons. Space for 8 participants. no.w.here London, 1–2 April, £90 no.w.here members, £130 non-members

SND's 2009 album Atavism has been re-released on a 4 gigabyte SDHC card by the Raster-Noton label. The flash card format, typically used for digital camera and camcorder recording, allows for a quality of sound not usually available through download or on audio CD. Able to stream files at 24 bits, 96kHz per second, the thumb sized chip can contain tracks that are roughly twice the sonic resolution of the 16 bit, 44.1 kHz standard found on CDs. Actually playing the album could be an issue, however, as Raster-Noton are warning potential buyers to make sure their computers can handle the high sample rate before they purchase the card.

The SDHC format Atavism, which was specially mastered by Berlin's Dubplates & Mastering (founded by Basic Channel in 1995) is available at raster-noton.net

Small But Perfectly Formed and LUX present the UK premiere of two improvisation, film, video and music performances. MetalkinG: Richard Bronson, Riojim, Paul Abbott/Seymour Wright/Ross Lambert. London Cafe Oto, 3 April, 8pm, £6/£5 advance.

A three night residency for the big band now under the direction of Marshall Allen. London Cafe Oto, 12–14 April, £25/£22 
per night.

Barcelona's Sónar festival has announced that the seminal art rockers Roxy Music will be appearing during the next festival instalment on 19 June. Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay and their original drummer, Paul Thompson, will be playing at the Sónar By Night segment almost three decades after their last show in Barcelona.

Other acts set to perform at Sónar so far include King Midas Sound, Broadcast, Tristan Perich, Phill Niblock & Carlos Casas, Cluster, LCD Soundsystem, Richie Hawtin's Plastikman, Hot Chip, The Sugarhill Gang, Hudson Mohawke, Flying Lotus, Joy Orbison, Matthew Herbert’s One Club, Zomby and more.

A retrospective box set of the influential krautrock group will be available from 10 May on Groenland Records. The set contains four vinyl LP's; NEU!, NEU! 2, NEU! ‘75 and NEU! ‘86 as well as NEU! ‘72, a previously unreleased 17 minute recording of the group rehearsing, and a 36-page picture book with contributions from Anton Corbijn, Peter Lindbergh and others.

Michael Rother, the last remaining member of Neu! after the death of motorik drummer Klaus Dinger in 2008 (legendary producer/sound engineer Konrad "Conny" Plank who died in 1987 also worked on the first three Neu! albums), has remastered all of the releases. Additionally, in the case of NEU! ‘86 (a piece left unfinished due to differences between Rother and Dinger) he has completely reworked the recordings for their very first official pressing.