With the latest announcement of names for 2010, Unsound confirms its position as Poland’s premier festival for advanced music, with its focus on especially commissioned projects and artists making their national debut, as well as rising stars. As throughout its 8-year history, Unsound’s mission remains to open minds and ears to the very latest sounds.
Ben Frost is to create a new piece of music with fellow Bedroom Community label composer Daníel Bjarnason and Krakow’s Sinfonietta Cracovia. Commissioned by Unsound, inspired by Andre Tarkovsky’s stunning 1972 film and the original novel “Solaris” written by Polish author Stanislaw Lem, the project will be performed live by Frost, Bjarnasson and a 28-piece ensemble.
This major new work is sure to attract attention for its European premier at Unsound Festival in Krakow in October, and then internationally at the second edition of Unsound Festival New York in April 2011. (More details soon.)
Also confirmed for Unsound is the Norwegian ambient / experimental musician Elegi, who releases with the Oslo label Miasmah. Elegi is also to perform a special work, collaborating with Polish musicians to create a live soundtrack for a classic silent horror film.
The band Emeralds are set to play at Unsound 2010. Emeralds’ latest album “Does it Look Like I’m Here” was recently released on the Austrian label Mego, and is receiving a mass of international critical acclaim for its mix of synth and guitar sound. It won’t hurt the band that Pitchfork just placed them in the Best New Music category, praising “the overload of information, the spray of frequencies, the thrilling, viscous rush.”
As for Unsound’s forward thinking club music program, new additions now include a solo live show from Lindstrøm, the undisputed king of modern day disco.
Fans of Detroit’s house music scene will be more than happy with Kyle Hall, the wunderkind who has been part of his home city’s scene since age 11 – and even now is only 19 years old. Championed by the likes of Omar-S and Kode 9, his releases on Hyperdub and Wild Oats have been blowing away minds.
Delicate and refined bass mutators Mount Kimbie have also been added to Unsound’s program. Their debut album Crooks and Lovers will be released on Scuba’s Hotflush label in July and is certain to cause a sensation. The buzz around this band is immense, and their live show is unique, made of acoustic and electronic instruments.
Finally, in keeping with Unsound’s 2010 theme “Horror – the pleasure of fear and unease”, the occult project Demdike Stare will also make their national debut. Made up of Miles Whittaker (Modern Love’s MLZ) and vinyl vulture Sean Canty, this duo recently delivered one of the best live performances at MUTEK 2010, following up with a great show at Bunker in New York. Their mix of dub sounds and dark horror soundtrack samples is unique, all played to visuals culled from European horror films.
Other artists already confirmed for Unsound 2010 include Goblin with Claudio Simonetti, Moritz von Oswald Trio, Tim Hecker, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Oneohtrix Point Never, Zombie Zombie playing the songs of John Carpenter, TRG + Falty DL, Joy Orbison, James Blake, Actress, Shackleton, Mordant Music, Kreng  - and more names still to come. Stay tuned.
Unsound takes place between 17th and 24th October in a variety of Krakow venues – one more thing that makes this festival special and unique.
Unsound Krakow 2010 is organized within the framework of Norwegian Financial Mechanism, in partnership with Insomnia Festival in Tromso and Reykjavik Round-Up.