Kim Gordon’s Reverse Karaoke and more announced for Supersonic Festival

We’re very pleased to confirm that as well as performing with Bill Nace as Body/Head, Kim Gordon will be presenting her installation Reverse Karaoke at Supersonic Festival. This collaborative installation by Kim Gordon and Jutta Koether consists of a painted Yurt style tent housing a lo-fi rehearsal set-up with guitar, microphone, bass, and drums. The visitor is invited to play the instruments and record their own music along with a pre-recorded vocal track of Kim Gordon’s voice. The track is recorded live by a sound engineer who burns two CD copies of the track, while the visitor decorates two CD sleeves using materials in the gallery. One copy of the CD becomes part of the piece itself on display in a record box, and the other the visitor takes home. This installation will take place at Eastside Projects 19-21 October.

Another new highlight includes Modified Toy Orchestra , festival alumni who first performed in 2005 (some may remember the set that was cut short due to the bomb scare) and again in 2006. In 2012, Modified Toy Orchestra continue to explore the hidden potential and surplus value latent inside redundant technology; a process creating sophisticated new electronic instruments from abandoned children’s toys. The results of this process can be shockingly beautiful, funny and also extreme.

In partnership with Sound and Music, Supersonic present a half-day extended panel discussion exploring contexts for the presentation of sound works and performances and approaches to listening. Bringing together artists, academics and industry professionals Counting In: The Art of Listening is an opportunity for a discuss how artists and producers can best stage work, how audiences can be best encouraged to enjoy it and how we can all become better listeners. Participants in the panel discussion include artist Lucas Abela (aka Justice Yeldman), music writer Frances Morgan (deputy editor at The Wire Magazine), curator Irene Revell (Electra) and Dr.Simon Hall (composer, sound engineer and academic).

In-keeping with tradition, Supersonic proudly announce the Kid’s Gigs programme which will this year feature Flower/Corsano Duo and Islaja, the sole aim being to create big sounds with little people. Though really, this is fun for all the family!

Other programme additions include:

Grey Hairs – The kind of raucous grunge that can only be created by kids from the 90s

The Outcrowd’s Festival of the Rea – An exhibition exploring the lost myths and pagan rituals of Digbeth

Moonn – A haunting performance inspired by the Heavens Above, featuring Conny Prantera and Mark Wagner of Sunday Mourning

Wildman Life Drawing – A drop in drawing session featuring a semi tame Wildman

SOUNDkitchen – Electroacoustic composers perform in the Theatre Space

Scratch ‘n’ Phase – Come and destroy some CDs and needles in the name of noise in this sound work where you control the volume.

Blood Harvest – A collection of films looking at the wild stuff that happens way out on the back roads. Curated by Network Awesome.

Trash Humpers – Harmony Korine’s 2009 drama centred around an elderly cult in Nashville, Tennessee

Black Mass Rising – A lo fi experimental film exploring visions of the darkness, The Mystic, The Occult, The Religious and The Apocalypse.

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Modified Toy Orchestra @ Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Earlier this month Modified Toy Orchestra premiered their new album Plastic Planet at the Birmingham Town Hall. On Sunday / 10 / October this performance will travel to Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Modified Toy Orchestra make experimental electronic music. But, unlike most experimental electronic music there are no laptops, no midi, no samplers and no synthesisers. In fact, no conventional instruments are used at all. Instead, a series of children’s electronic toys, rescued from car boot sales, have been modified to utilise new connections within each toy, liberating the previously disregarded, surplus value always held within their circuits.

Here’s some pictures from the Birmingham show, which was really fantastic::

And a review from The Times::

And here’s a video of Brian Duffy on BBC News demonstrating some of the toys that make up the orchestra. To watch the video follow this link.

Tickets are £13, and are available from here.

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Modified Toy Orchestra – pics and reviews

Thanks to all who came to this show at the magnificent Town Hall. It was a sell out show and both MTO and Micronormous were wonderful.

The Times review by Stephen Dalton:

With a rocket that can count up to ten in different languages, a toy guitar, a Speak and Spell and a creepy-looking Hula Barbie, no Orchestra comes anywhere close to being like Modified Toy Orchestra.

Read the full Brum live review here
Pictures: Katja Ogrin, Words: Ross Cotton

Next Capsule show is 29th September at Hare and Hounds – avant folk artist Josephine Foster performing a special collection of traditional Spanish folk songs along with the Victor Herrero band, support from sound artist Swallows.Tickets can be purchased in Polar Bear, Swordfish and here

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Modified Toy Orchestra on BBC News


Modified Toy Orchestra @ Birmingham Town Hall.

On Wednesday / 08 / September, Modified Toy Orchestra are performing at Birmingham Town Hall.

Modified Toy Orchestra make experimental electronic music.  But, unlike most experimental electronic music there are no laptops, no midi, no samplers and no synthesisers.  In fact, no conventional instruments are used at all.  Instead, a series of children’s electronic toys, rescued from car boot sales, have been modified to utilise new connections within each toy, liberating the previously disregarded, surplus value always held within their circuits.  This is sure to be an unforgettable performance within the wonderful surroundings of the Birmingham Town Hall.

Here’s Brian Duffy, the project originator, on BBC Breakfast demonstrating some of the instruments to a couple of bemused presenters::

And here’s the orchestra playing live at Supersonic 2006::

Tickets for the show are on sale now and are available from here:: http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/modified-toy-orchestra-presents-plastic-planet

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Plastic Planet!


we can’t stay quiet for long…

after a hectic beginning of the year we took a little gig break through July, but we can’t stay quiet for long so here’s what’s coming up…

5th August: Silver Apples + Pram @ Hare and Hounds
We’re extremely excited to host the great grandaddy of electronica, Silver Apples created what are now widely regarded as the first rock-orientated albums to utilise electronic techniques.
Get tickets


13th August: Tunng + Health & Efficiency @ mac
Twisted pop wonders perform at mac’s outdoor arena
Get tickets


8th September: Modified Toy Orchestra @ Town Hall Birmingham
After international performances to critical and audience acclaim, MTO return to their hometown for this UK premiere of their new album Plastic Planet, performed using only modified toys.
Get tickets


29th September: Josephine Foster and the Victor Herrero Band @ Hare and Hounds
One of the most enigmatic, luminious and enlightening American singers of her time
Get tickets


11th October: Red Sparowes @ Hare and Hounds
Epic, instrumental songs that manage to pummel you into submission
Get tickets

PLUS more Supersonic Festival announcements to come, watch this space as they say

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super ltd 7″ ‘Capsule Are 10’

To celebrate reaching the ripe old age of 10 we produced this super limited edition 7″ vinyl with tracks by two of Birmingham’s most talented acts, Modified Toy Orchestra + Einstellung. The package also contains a beautifully designed 18 page booklet with tonnes of photos to commemorate our last decade of activity from SUNN 0))) shows in drained pools to Giant (aka Shepard Fairey) exhibition way back in 2000 .
And at only £5 these are a real bargain BUY NOW

(Only 300 produced – get them while you can)



Also available as a high fashion accessory a very limited edition enamel badge also available from our SHOP design by the pretty amazing Francesca Williams.

You too can be as cool as this lady…

“Last night at the Cinema I served a woman wearing a steel Capsule pin. She
seemed genuinely astounded when I complemented her on her badge and I looked like the coolest popcorn shoveler who has ever lived. If you live Birmingham and don’t know who Capsule are then you’re probably not actually living in Birmingham, you’re probably just existing, shuffling along mindlessly in a grey musicless world. If you’d like to learn a little about Capsule you can make a start by reading their new zine, a shamelessly self promotional little document which features n article about Skweee by Total Boner Mike Coley. Maybe he’ll eventually get around to posting in on here but in the meantime head over to Capsule’s site to read it.”
www.totallybone.com/

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