London Sinfonietta

On 4 March, MaerzMusik 2005 will be opened by the London Sinfonietta presenting a collaboration with musicians of the legendary English Warp label, one of the leading institutions in the field of electronic music. In Warp Works and 20th Century Masters the London Sinfonietta will perform especially transcribed tracks by Warp artists like Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Squarepusher and Mira Calix and place them in the context of 20th century crossborder works that have marked the path of the ‘experimental’ in new music: Ives’ Unanswered Question for chamber orchestra (1906), Cage’s Sonata and Interludes for prepared piano (1946-1948), Ligetis’ Poème Symphonique for 100 metronoms (1962) and Chamber Concert (1969/70), Conlon Nancarrow’s Study No 7 for player piano, and Stockhausen’s Spiral for single solo and shortwave receiver (1968). The project is neither determined by a historian’s perspective trying to confine new electronic music to the factors of influence and development, nor can it be classed as a pretentious crossover. It rather stands as an exploration of parallels and common features but also of opposites and contradictions between the incunabula of experimental music and digital subculture. An important asset is the translating/interpreting work of the transcription (by composers Morgan Hayes and David Horne), marking the realm of interpretation where new electronic music and new music meet. The project will be presented in a multimedial production that leaves behind the boundaries of a traditional concert performance.

Rubber Johnny – the long-awaited release from award winning director Chris Cunningham – chronicles a 16-year-old, inbred mutant's solitary existence, locked in a pitch-black basement by his ashamed parents. They are TV addict rednecks who occasionally feed Johnny and yell at him for making noise. Johnny's only company in the basement is his little dog. His dog's I.Q. far outstrips Johnny's, who is a completely insane, bi-polar imbecile.

The first of many projects with Warp Films, Rubber Johnny is an abstract short featuring music by legendary electronic composer, Aphex Twin. Shot entirely on DV in infrared, this lo-fi live action animation is unbeatable on a technical level.

Cunningham is best known for his music promos for Madonna, Björk and Aphex Twin. Collaborating with Aphex Twin has proved to be a successful partnership. Banned by MTV, Windowlicker (Aphex Twin) won him numerous awards, and Come to Daddy (Aphex Twin) recently made the top 100 ‘Scariest TV Moments of all Time’ on Channel 4 in the UK.