A concert that represents a meeting between the past and present, between the tradition of avant-garde electronic music and contemporary sound experimentation. The first part of the concert is dedicated to the work of Tod Dockstader, one of the pioneers of American electronic music. His album Electronic Volume 1 (Recorded Music for Film, Radio & Television), composed between the 1960s and 1970s, is a milestone in understanding the evolution of electronic music within the context of soundtracks and audio-visual productions. Dockstader, with his original and bold approach, successfully integrated production techniques and sound processing with electronic synthesis, creating compositions with surreal and psychedelic atmospheres. In this album, the author explores the possibility of an abstract sound language, distant from melodic conventions, but capable of evoking intense emotions through the innovative use of synthesizers and magnetic tapes. The live performance of Electronic Volume 1 with the immersive Sator sound system at the San Fedele Auditorium will be an opportunity to discover Dockstader’s unique sound, a sonic universe that interacts with images. The short compositions go beyond the concept of “functional” or “decorative” music, as in them, sound becomes fluid and transformable matter.
In the second part, Seefeel, the legendary British band currently composed of Mark Clifford and Sarah Peacock, will perform live, presenting their latest release Squared Roots, published by Warp Records. The group marked the music scene of the 1990s with a new approach to electronic music, blending post-rock, glitch, and ambient. The band uses analog instruments and digital processes, with guitars treated with effects to produce ethereal textures, similar to those of synthesizers. The rhythmic minimalism in its repetitive form was widely used by Seefeel in several albums, akin to the circular structures of ambient music and dub. The repetitive cycles evolve slowly, creating a strong listener engagement. Another key element of their music is the composition of layered textures, achieved through the overlay of organic and electronic sounds. This technique gives life to complex soundscapes that range from melodic sweetness to experimental abstraction. Their latest album, Squared Roots, represents an evolution of their style, blending elements of experimental electronic music, minimalism, and atmospheric sounds. The work stands out for its careful research into timbres, creating soundscapes that evolve continuously.
The members of Seefeel have continued their exploration over the years, aiming to redefine the relationship between the listener and sound.