Wow – what a show! Sunday’s Matmos show at the mac was really something special, thanks to all who came down.They were joined on stage by J Lesser and were supported by the ever mesmerising John Weise. A special thanks to the vocalists who joined Matmos to re create a 1960s vocal sound piece, complete with tippexed out glasses and monotone chanting, it made the show extra special.

A review by Ross Cotton is online now…

Forwarding what Pierre Schaeffer had once begun, Matmos innovatively break through the musique concrete barrier, with the use of bottled water, scraping singing bowls and ‘anything goes’ percussion, the duo portray abnormality in it’s greatest form of entertainment, both extremely uncomfortable and highly eccentric, the unpredictability provides that thrill ride to anybody who is keen to be pushed to their limit.

Read the full review here

Thank you to Kate Fitzgeorge for the photographs.

The next show is Emeralds + Iron Fist of the Sun + Mr Underwood at Hare & Hounds on Sunday 22nd May, should be another great one so snap your ticket here

Oh and don’t forget we’ve announced the initial line up for Supersonic Festival 2011, if you fancy seeing Electric Wizard, Zu93 (David Tibet + Zu), Zombi, Secret Chiefs 3, Lucky Dragons, White Hills and more all in one place then get your Early Bird tickets here while they last!

Matmos – the electronic duo comprised of Drew Daniel and Martin Schmidt – have been creating, constructing and collaging sonic ephemera since the mid 90s. With each album they release, Daniel and Schmidt seem to have thrown each other a gauntlet, between them creating compositions based around the collection and processing of particularly unorthodox sounds. Sometimes compared to artists like Steve Reich, and certainly to Pierre Henry (the ‘father’ of Musique Concrete), Matmos have created albums entirely from the sounds of surgery (A Chance To Cut Is A Chance To Cure), used the sound of a bovine uterus (on their venerative album The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth Of A Beast which pays tribute to notable queers), and on their first self-titled effort sampled the nerve signals of a crayfish.

Read the full interview by Nix Lowrey HERE
Matmos perform with J Lesser at the mac in Birmingham this Sunday tickets are available HERE
We’re intrigued and so should you be – see you there.

Exciting news – the ever intriguing Matmos will play at mac, Birmingham this Sunday 15th May and they are looking for people to contribute vocals to their performance.

Members of Dream Dreams the Dreamer will be involved and Matmos are looking for 4 more people to perform. mac staff will be recruiting people on the night as they collect their tickets so if you fancy taking up this unique opportunity to contribute to Matmos’ show then grab your ticket here and look out for mac staff on the night.

You don’t need to be an experienced, or even talented, vocalist and instructions will be given on the night (you can’t just sing anything I’m afraid).

We’re even more excited than before- should be a cracker!

There’s no doubt that this will be an extremely special show, and we’re all very excited here at Capsule HQ.

Matmos are a prolific experimental electronic duo whose previous works have included the use of liposuction surgery, aspirin tablets hitting a drum kit from across the room, and the reproductive organs of a cow. Yum. They’ll be joined on stage by J Lesser, who has previously worked with Bjork and Blevin Blectum.

Check out this amazing footage of Matmos performing at Royal Festival Hall:

Support comes from John Wiese – an important part of the LA noise scene, he has worked with C. Spencer Yeh, Kevin Drumm, Merzbow and has even toured as a member of Sunn0))).

Their performance at mac on Sunday 15th May is one of only four UK dates for Matmos – don’t miss out. Get your tickets here

Saturday 23rd October
11am + 2.30pm
mac Cannon Hill Park Birmingham B12 9QH
Tickets £5 Bookings 0121 446 3232 www.macarts.co.uk
For 2 – 7 year olds and their families
A 1 hr workshop & performance exploring experimental music aimed and kids and their families.

Ever since Schoenberg and Kandinsky became pen pals back in 1907, avant-garde art and experimental music has been attempting to find some common ground.  But, it’s not been easy.  While modern art is a mass phenomenon, experimental music is often derided and ignored by the masses.  Here’s our contribution towards a solution: ‘Big Sounds for Little People’.  If you couldn’t guess from the snappy title, it’s a gig, for kids and their families, which aims to introduce children to experimental music at an early age.

Featuring US based, Dosh, a one-man band, a virtuoso, and West Midlands local circuit-bending fiend Glatze.  Glatze uses customised instruments (including: circuit-bent Furby dolls and kids’ toys) that have been specially rewired to create all sorts of musical wizardry. Dosh a multi-instrumentalist; combines a host of instruments into an exciting and unique live experience.  See firsthand how these unlikely instruments are used to make noise / sound / music, and to have a go yourselves.

Produced by Capsule + mac with support from Bright Space + SAM

For info about Supersonic Festival check here

If you missed, or want to revisit, last week’s excellent, Silver Apples show,  then head to Phantom Circuit where you can hear an interview with Simeon himself and hear excerpts from his performance.

Here’s the blurb:

Featuring an interview with Simeon of the hugely influential electronics + percussion band Silver Apples, formed in New York in 1967 and still carving out new sonic territory as a solo project. The interview is accompanied by some highlights of Silver Apples’ live set in Birmingham last week (5th August).
Of course, we also offer you some of the core new releases and some older picks plucked from the orchard of aural delights.
More about the show and the music featured can be found at phantomcircuit.com

And tonight will see Tunng + Health & Efficiency at mac – there’s the possibility this show will be moved to the theatre space due to the crummy weather, which is a smaller capacity so secure your ticket here

Tonights show with TUNNG + HEALTH & EFFICIENCY at MAC will still be going ahead come rain or shine. Should the weather not clear up by 3pm the show will be moved inside to the theatre space, as such this will reduce the capacity so you will need to get your tickets now to avoid disappointment
box office 0121 446 3232.
This will be a great evening – god bless the British weather!

Thanks to everyone who came down to the excellent Silver Apples show last night, a great performance and brilliant to see so many people turn out for it. On to our next show and Friday 13th August sees the return of weirdo pop folksters Tunng who take to the Arena stage of the mac for a very special outdoor performance.

They recently played at Glastonbury to rave reviews, here’s some pics…

And here’s what the Guardian thinks of their new record

That changes might be afoot in the world of Tunng is apparent from Hustle, the opening track of … And Then We Saw Land. Hustle shoots out of the traps, a pop melody borne along on upper-­register piano notes, acoustic ­guitars and banjos, the slight, breathy voices of Mike Lindsay and Becky Jacobs blending in a way that is wistful and charming rather than wimpy and indefinite. It’s a fine start to Tunng’s fourth album, and one they build on. They haven’t suddenly become a pop band – It Breaks, October and These Wind employ ­melodies from the English folk tradition – but there’s a real oomph and purpose here that, perhaps, Tunng never quite managed before.

Support comes from multi instrumentalists Health & Efficiency who have previously supported acts as diverse as Damien Jurado, Modified Toy Orchestra and Three Trapped Tigers.

Go to the mac to find out more info and get yer tickets