SETZKASTEN. Wien (Austria)

 

Flowers we are

Setzkasten Wien

Hernalser Hauptstraße
Wien, Wien 1170 Austria 

September 28 @ 20:00 - 22:00

Flowers we are consists of the versatile, Serbian-based exceptional pianist Marina Džukljev, the sound architect Matija Schellander on bass and electronics and the cello extremist noid /aka Arnold Haberl. The three musicians move with equal ease, playfulness and elegance from minimal electronic sounds to melodic fragments to orchestral fullness. The trio convinces with the wide spectrum of its musical languages. Marina Džukljev is a pianist and educator renowned for her dynamic performances in free improvisation, classical, contemporary, and applied music. With numerous awards to her name, Marina has passionately explored contemporary and free improvised music, collaborating with a diverse array of global artists and ensembles. Her innovative approach and dedication to exploring new sonoric possibilities of piano playing are evident in her wide-ranging performances across prestigious festivals and venues worldwide. Matija Schellander is a composer, double bassist, and electronic musician. He works with experimental music, improvisation, and electro-acoustic sound, focusing on the interaction between sound and space. His projects range from solo performances and ensemble compositions, music for theater and radio. Through cello, electronics, studio manipulation and more, Arnold Haberl aka noid produces music of intrigue and beauty, that interrogates our own sonic perception whilst retaining an almost violent intensity. His work on the cello draws forth sounds that are far from typical, sometimes evoking the shifting and shimmering soundscapes of granular synthesis.

„These nuanced and captivating journeys rely on the rich vocabularies of these idiosyncratic improvisers, their deep listening dynamics, an orchestral vision that denies any distinction between sound art and music, and their irreverent but surprisingly elegant sensibility of form and structure.“
(Percorsi Musicali, December 20204)

„The album’s strength lies in its refusal to be pinned down. It drifts effortlessly between minimal electronic experimentation, free improvisation, and moments of lush, orchestral grandeur. If you squint, you might catch a glimpse of Morton Feldman’s meditative patience, but blink, and you’re in a sonic realm closer to Fennesz’s shimmering noise-scapes or the visceral immediacy of an AMM improvisation.
For fans of boundary-pushing sound art, „Flowers We Are“ is a triumph – a testament to the power of collaboration, the beauty of imperfection, and the endless possibilities of sound. It’s a bouquet of sonic blooms that may bewilder at first but ultimately rewards those who linger to savor its intricate details.”
https://www.chaindlk.com/reviews/12550

„There is very quiet, intense yet quiet interaction for minutes on end, reminding me of some of AMMs work, but with more electronic means. These draw the piece into a more electro-acoustic improvisation, with touches of real instruments. (…) Great stuff.“
(Vital Weekly, January 2025)