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Roly Porter feat. MFO pres. Kistvaen

Saturday 04.09. 23:00  - Congress Dogana

Roly Porter feat. MFO pres. "Kistvaen"

 

On June 5th Subtext Recordings present ‘Kistvaen’ – the fourth solo studio LP by Roly
Porter – which takes its name from a type of granite tomb found predominantly in
Dartmoor, southwestern England. Scattered across the moorlands, the kistvaens were
often found covered in a mound of earth and stone. They housed dead bodies, allowing
them to lie facing the sun.


With ‘Kistvaen’, Porter speculates on the burial site as a mirror, or a gate in time.
Excavating stories and images of ancient burial rituals, the record teases out similarities in
emotional and social rituals between the Neolithic period and today. While a myriad of
social, cultural and technological factors drastically differentiate our contemporary period
and the end of the Stone Age, certain affinities may still be found in experiences of death
across eras.


Venturing across histories, Porter soundtracks a moorland burial unanchored in time.
Raw, unprocessed vocals are folded into field recordings made in the area, wordlessly
relaying tableaus of burial rituals in Neolithic Dartmoor. ‘Kistvaen’ features three singular
vocalists: Mary-Anne Roberts – from medieval Welsh music duo Bragod, Ellen Southern –
of Bristol's Dead Space Chamber Music group, and Phil Owen – a singer and researcher
in vocal traditions.


‘Kistvaen’ contrasts primordial motifs with that of the 21st-century life in designed
environments and an evolving virtual existence. The music blurs boundaries between field
recording, folk instrumentation and digital processing, which although beatless creates a
profound effect using dark ambiance, deep electronics, and immersive sound design.
This is otherworldly sonic necromancy, where long dormant spirits are evoked,
summoning an extremely heavy presence.


The pieces that comprise ‘Kistvaen’ were developed for an AV performance of the same
name with visual artist MFO, which has appeared at Unsound, Berlin Atonal, and Sonic
Acts. The long-player was recorded during various rehearsals/performances and also at
BinkBonk studios in Bristol.

 

Marcel Weber Homepage

Roly Porter Homepage

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