Set on the grounds of a former amusement park in Plänterwald, this edition of the Kiezsalon is another two-day affair. Saturday features the Berlin premiere of experimental collective Rắn Cạp Đuôi from Vietnam as well as Silvia Tarozzi & Deborah Walker, who bring folk tradition into improvisational territory. Sunday continues with Fia Fiell and Martina Bertoni.
Rắn Cạp Đuôi have been at the forefront of sound art and experimental music in Saigon, Vietnam, since the collective’s formation in 2015. Their anachronistic musical approach is evident in their diverse performances, ranging from a nonstop 48-hour performance in a local gallery to a three-drum improvisation for Boiler Room.
The collective is in a constant state of flux, deconstruction and rebirth, resulting in chaotic sheets of sound and compositions which border on violence and beauty. Pitchfork reviewed 1* as “a seamless integration of disparate sounds into a cohesive whole, an album that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.”
Silvia Tarozzi & Deborah Walker, a captivating duo in contemporary improvised music, showcase their finely tuned sound, captivating even the most adventurous listeners. Their 2022 album, Canti di guerra, di lavoro e d‘amore, melds folk music with their classical and improvisational roots and earned them a feature in The Wire.
Reinterpreting songs from their youth in rural Emilia, rooted in the struggles of working-class women during World War II, particularly those sung by Mondine or Mondariso choirs, they delve into themes of labour, love, societal hypocrisy and political awareness. Through years of incorporating and reinventing these songs, Silvia and Deborah evoke emotional landscapes, a rich tapestry of sound and place.
Spreepark Berlin, formerly known as Kulturpark Plänterwald, was an amusement park that originally opened in 1969. Financial difficulties led to its closure in 2001, and since then, the park has remained abandoned, becoming a popular destination for urban explorers and photographers. Ongoing efforts to revitalise the area have not fully materialised, leaving the location with a haunted quality as overgrowth engulfs the remnants of a vibrant past.
