Just two weeks ago, we made our first artist announcement for the 10th edition of Unsound, taking place 14-21 October. Grouped around the mysterious theme "THE END," this included such stellar names as Tim Hecker & Oneohtrix Point Never, Biosphere & Lustmord, Julia Holter with Sinfonietta Cracovia, V/Vm and aTelecine. Now it's time for a second announcement.

Following on from his now-legendary Unsound 2008 solo show and the Unsound-commissioned "Solaris" project with Sinfonietta Cracovia, Krakow favorite Ben Frost returns with a new live show comprised of two drummers -  Shahzad Ismaily of secret chiefs 3 and Greg Fox, none other than the former drummer for Brooklyn noise/metal band Liturgy. We're very excited to find out what kind of blistering sound this trio will create.

Lovers of extreme sound will also have their ears shredded by two of the most highly regarded artists to have emerged from the American noise scene, rising beyond it to create genre-defying works. Vatican Shadow (Blackest Ever Black, Bed of Nails, Hospital Productions) is Dominik Fernow, also releasing as Prurient and  performing as one part of Cold Cave. He will give a rare live show, one of only three on this European trip. Kevin Drumm has created timeless albums such as "Imperial Distortion" and "Sheer Hellish Miasmah", essential works for anyone interested in recent avant garde music, combining noise, drone, distortion and analogue synth. Both artists will perform on a single, unmissable bill.
 
Robert Henke (aka Monolake) returns to Unsound to present his renowned and unique audiovisual project ATOM. Created with visual artist Christopher Bauder, the piece involves 64 illuminated helium balloons, their motion controlled and triggered by sound. Also rarely presented, ATOM will take place in Teatr Laznia Nowa, an impressive post-industrial space in Nowa Huta, a suburb built during communism around a gigantic steel mill.

Fellow German artist Uwe Schmidt (aka Senior Coconut) will arrive from his tropical hideaway in Santiago, Chile, to give the Polish premiere of his always impressive ATOM ™ project (not to be confused with the Robert Henke installation with a similar name), which combines sound and video in a kinetic stage presentation. Performed ahead of a new release on Raster-Noton planned for early next year, Uwe has said that his updated live set will include pre-material from that album, giving Unsound audiences a chance to sample some fresh work.

Also confirmed is Voices from the Lake, the collaboration between Italian techno artists Donato Dozzy and Neel, who have created what is considered one of the best electronic albums of 2012. Resident Advisor gave it a 5 star review, writing: "With nothing more at their disposal than techno's characteristically sparing palette, Dozzy and Neel have built something so rich that it has the feeling of a feature presentation." Alongside VFTL on the experimental/outer fringes of dance music, Shackleton will give a follow up to his 2010 Unsound show, and if his recent releases and this year's enthralling appearance at MUTEK Montreal are anything to go by, we are in for a treat. Kuedo released "Severant" on Planet Mu in 2011, an album that is both futuristic and old-school, emerging from the bass music scene yet very much creating its own sound. He will perform his acclaimed A/V show with Berlin visual collective MFO.

Hieroglyphic Being, from Chicago, has been working for a decade and a half on the periphery of contemporary house music, establishing an idiosyncratic sound as well as his label Mathematics. The Wire described Hieroglyphic Being's ability to capsize cliche about our idea of what makes a "good" DJ set, as testified by his recent FACT mix. Another festival artist is Traxman, who emerges from the Chicago house scene with years of experience, and recently released a debut of hyperkinetic Footwork soul on Planet Mu. A member of Ghetto Teknitianz with DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn (both appeared at Unsound Krakow 2011), Traxman pushes boundaries with his use of samples (from Prince to AC/DC) as well as the dexterity of his rhythms.

Cooly G is set to drop her superb debut album "Playin' Me" on Hyperdub in July, one we are certain will expand her audience dramatically. Fact just gave it a 4.5 star review, calling it "incredible", while Boomkat has said: "a lush, hypnotic, cinematic full-length that will surely rank among the finest to come out of the UK in 2012." She will perform a live set with her band.

Evian Christ is also on the rise - the latest enigmatic artist to appear on the Tri-Angle label, specializing in dark electronic acts, and judging from his free downloadable EP release "Kings and Them" one of the best of the bunch. He first came to attention for music put out via a series of anonymous You Tube clips, and so far has only performed DJ sets. At Unsound Krakow 2012, Evian Christ will perform live.

There are many more artists to announce, including some with special commissioned projects. Festival passes will go on sale at the end of July, and once again, those dates are 14 - 21 October.


UNSOUND 2012 LINE UP SO FAR:

ATELECINE (USA) - World Premiere
ATOM BY ROBERT HENKE & CHRISTOPHER BAUDER (DE) - Polish Premiere
ATOM ™ (aka Uwe Schmidt) (DE) - Polish Premiere
BEN FROST (AU/IS/USA) - With new live show comprised of two drummers
BIOSPHERE & LUSTMORD PRESENT: TRINITY (NO/UK) - European Premiere
COOLY G - LIVE (UK) - Polish Premiere
EVIAN CHRIST - LIVE (UK) - Polish Premiere
JULIA HOLTER w/ Sinfonietta Cracovia players (USA/PL) - Special Show, Polish Premiere
HIEROGLYPHIC BEING - LIVE (USA) - Polish Premiere
KUEDO & MFO - LIVE (UK/DE)
KEVIN DRUMM (USA)
SHACKLETON - LIVE (UK)
TIM HECKER & ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER (CAN/USA) - World Premiere
TRAXMAN (USA) - Polish Premiere
VATICAN SHADOW (USA) - Polish Premiere
V/VM (UK) - First Show Since 2006, Polish Premiere
VOICES FROM THE LAKE (DONATO DOZZY & NEEL) - LIVE (IT) - Polish Premiere

+ MUCH MORE TO COME!