Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Nonsemble presents: “Practical Mechanics”

Independent chamber group Nonsemble draw post-rock and underground influences into classical compositional craft, launching their debut release Practical Mechanics on June 7 at The Box, West End. Nonsemble is a chamber group which draws on eclectic musical influences to fill a space somewhere between the conservatoire and the underground. It tips its hat equally to Sigur Ros and Ligeti; to Aphex Twin and John Adams.

Formed in 2012 by composer Chris Perren (of Mr. Maps, lofly/hangar), Nonsemble features some of Brisbane’s most talented instrumentalists, including Hik Sugimoto (Deep Blue) on percussion, Sam Mitchell (Brisbane Chamber Choir, NYCA), on piano, Flora Wong (AYO, Sydney Sinfonia) and Sam Andrews (QYS) on violin, Kieran Welch (QYS) on viola, and Briony Luttrell (Tara Simmons, Mr. Maps) on Cello. In the short time since their inception the ensemble have performed at Restrung Festival at Brisbane Powerhouse with top classical and new music ensembles such as Ensemble Offspring and Syzygy, and at Harvest Festival 2012 alongside acts such as Beck, Sigur Ros and Grizzly Bear.

Their forthcoming release, Practical Mechanics is an ode to technological optimism, and playfully explores the belief that science can solve all human problems. The titles and text excerpts are taken from the tattered pages of vintage issues of Practical Mechanics Magazine, a home science and technology magazine published between 1933 and 1963. The collision of hard scientific law with domestic human life, is reflected by the juxtaposition of mathematical and rule-based compositional approaches and the ineffably chaotic nature of human musical intuition.

Practical Mechanics employs various rational and rule-based pattern-making techniques, including Schillingerian methods, list structures, additive and constructive techniques and others devised by the composer. This machine-like nature is especially prominent within the rhythm of the piece, and imbues the work with a complex yet controlled sense of mechanical determinacy. The harmony on the other hand is immediate and expressive, referring more to popular and folk music and reflecting the human needs central to the development and use of technology.

Practical Mechanics is a culmination of composer Chris Perren’s 15 years of composition experience. Combining his years in noisy post-rock and math-rock bands, solitary computer composition, and formal composition training, it embodies the refinement of a unique compositional voice. It was written under the mentorship of Robert Davidson, and forms the centrepiece of Perren’s PhD composition portfolio. It was recorded at UQ’s Nickson Room, one of Brisbane’s most renowned acoustic spaces, and engineered and produced by members of the ensemble. It will be released through the lofly recording collective.

On June 7 Nonsemble play Practical Mechanics in full accompanied by hypnotic visuals, along with a selection of other works. They are supported by genre-defying multi-instrumentalist Kathryn McKee, and ambient wizard Sadglint.

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on 0419 214 624 or by email to chrisperren@gmail.com

Featured Australian Works

Featured artists

• Music of Chris Perren