This October, West Germany celebrates some of the greatest records made in the last years by musician and producer Martin Bisi with a screening of the film “Sound & Chaos”, a riveting documentary about Bisi’s BC Studio in Brooklyn, NY. The screening will be followed up by live concerts from Nunofyrbeeswax and Martin Bisi Band.
BC Studio in Brooklyn’s Gowanus neighborhood has a rich history, starting with it’s founding in the early ‘80s with Bill Laswell, and with money from Brian Eno who worked on the album On Land there. Working with Bill Laswell and the band Material, Bisi recorded Herbie Hancock’s hit “Rockit” in this underground space. This was the first mainstream song to feature a DJ ‘scratching’ with a turntable.
Following that success, Bisi worked with many other influential musicians there, including Sonic Youth, Swans, John Zorn, Africa Bambaataa, Material/Bill Laswell, Boredoms, Dresden Dolls, Cop Shoot Cop, White Zombie, Foetus, Unsane, Serena Maneesh, US Maple, Jon Spencer’s Boss Hog, among others.. He has recorded across many genres, from experimental music, to hip hop and indie rock in the old factory building by the contaminated Gowanus Canal.
The documentary includes interviews with musicians such as Michael Gira of Swans, Brian Viglione of the Dresden Dolls, Bob Bert who played on Sonic Youth’s Bad Moon Rising, Bill Laswell of Material, JG Thirlwell aka Foetus, DXT who did the turntablism on “Rockit”, Michael Holman of Gray (with Jean-Michel Basquiat), and creator of famed 1984 hip-hop TV pilot ‘Graffiti Rock.
In his band’s set, Bisi plays guitar and sings, and performs songs from his album Ex Nihilo (Labelship records UK). The band swings between the heavier post-rock of the songs, and ambient soundscapes that feature the density and orchestral layering notable on many of Bisi’s productions.
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Local Berlin lo-fi psychedelic pop-punk band Nunofyrbeeswax will steal the stage at 21:30, between the screening and Bisi’s set. Check out their newly released album “On Everything” here:
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Sound & Chaos screening + Martin Bisi Band
Tuesday, 4th October 2016 | 20:00 CET
West Germany | Skalitzer Strasse 133 | 10999 Berlin/Kreuzberg
westgermany.eu | soundandchaosfilm.com | Event @ Facebook
