zondag 6 mei 2012

Chapter 1: Introduction

This blog is dedicated to the continuing musical adventures of Jan Duivenvoorden (Unit Moebius) and myself (Anthony Blokdijk, Salò Mentale). We both live and work in The Hague (The Netherlands). Consider this blog as a public diary of our collaborations.



Unit Moebius is a legendary techno act since 1992. Supported by the Bunker record label and the legendary Acid Planet parties, the group has been compared to Underground Resistance, while Aphex Twin claims to be one of its biggest fans. Many records have been released by various labels and several concerts were transmitted by Dutch radio and television. Frontman Jan Duivenvoorden continues to perform solo and release records nowadays.









Salò Mentale is my musical brainchild since 1984. Starting off as an ‘industrial’ band, with loose connections to Psychic TV, Coil, Laibach and Diamanda Galás (amongst many others), it played its debut concert supporting the screening of Pasolini’s notorious movie ‘Salò (o le 120 giornate di Sodoma)’. The first publication on Salò Mentale appeared in 1985 in ‘Force Mental’, a magazine run by Belgian art-collective Club Moral. The group (it generally used to be me and someone else...) played many styles ranging from avant-garde to rock to techno, often publishing our music on audio cassette.









Jan and I first met in 1993 through our individual contributions for local pirate radio station Tonka, and jammed for the first time in 1994, supporting avant-rock group Kampec Dolores from Budapest (Hungary). [Live @ Iets Vrijers]
Collaborations in the years that would follow (including poetry readings by Cor Gout from Trespassers W) were often released on private cassette label Cunker records:


- The Guy Effect (1994)
- Hello Toni Goodbye Ian (1994)
- Poppelepee (with Cor Gout, 1994)



- Obscure Live Sex (1995)
- B.A.M.D.I.R.T. (1996)







In 1995 Unit Moebius made a contribution for the group exhibition "De Dronken Boot", organized by my other brainchild, stichting (foundation) Maldoror. [link]. In 1996 Unit Moebius performed at a festival about 'underground art in the eighties', also organized by Maldoror.




In 1999 Salò Mentale did its last gig for many years ahead, at the wedding of Jan. [JB Marriage]
A few years later I moved to live in former Dutch colony Suriname (South America).



More on Salò Mentale in the XXth century here.
More on Unit Moebius at Loslaten.tk.

Next chapter: Suriname

zaterdag 5 mei 2012

Chapter 2: Suriname



After returning from Suriname by the end of 2007, I decided to turn to therapy to find an answer to the question why things in my life kept going 'from bad to worse'. After one and a half year I was finally diagnosed with ADHD. Checking out one of my best friends, Jan replied, 'I've been diagnosed with ADHD as well, I told you four, five times already'.

I had received an invitation from Surinamese artist Marcel Pinas to help setting up a Children's Art Center. Duivenvoorden joined me and early 2010 we lived and worked in Moengo (Marowijne district) for a month. Jan was supposed to perform at the opening of 'Tembe Art Studio', but for some reason Marcel forgot all about it, which was rather a disappointment and lead to a bit of a conflict (between Marcel and myself). But overall, it was a great experience having been there. And simply amazing how tribal drums reminded us of Duivenvoorden's techno beats... The video's published down below are mere sketches of what was to become a publicity movie for the art center.



This project was funded by Gemeente Den Haag and bewonersorganisatie Buurtstation.





Next chapter: Eighties

vrijdag 4 mei 2012

Chapter 3: Eighties

What started off as a bit of a joke, doing cover versions of eighties underground music, resulted in this blog and the headaches of financial funding for a World Tour we have planned (another joke, perhaps, see Chapter 4). Obviously, both Jan and I have our 'roots', artistically speaking, in the "Eighties".

One of my eighties projects was post-punk band Niet Reëel Aanbod (playing drums, '81-'82).





Not too long after this, Jan got involved with Minigod (1983).





But let's now return to the Eighties RETRO. Here's our PROMO CLIP, Salò Mentale ft. Unit Moebius doing a cover version of Section 25's "Friendly Fires".



In the end, six songs were recorded.

1) Obsession (Cabaret Voltaire)
2) Something Came Over Me (Throbbing Gristle)
3) Wax & Wane (Cocteau Twins)
4) Wardance (Killing Joke)
5) Friendly Fires (Section 25)
6) Fade To Grey (Visage)

Salò Mentale ft. Unit Moebius: Fade To Grey (Visage cover)



All tracks are available on YouTube, and can be downloaded here.

Next chapter: 2012 Live Gigs

donderdag 3 mei 2012

Chapter 4: 2012 Live Gigs in The Hague

A debut concert for the project took place at Maakhaven in The Hague (March 24), organized by Vrijhaven. I felt rather disappointed about my own achievements, but, oh well, for a first time...

Obsession (Cabaret Voltaire)

Something Came Over Me (Throbbing Gristle)


A second concert one month later (April 26) at De Vinger went much better. This evening we did not just play cover songs, but a new composition as well.

Wax & Wane (Cocteau Twins)

Petrol (Severed Heads)

Instrumentale (original)

Next gig @ Villa Te Koop (The Hague), June 15, with guest vocalist Nathalie Houtermans.



Photo's: Barney Broomer

Photo: Baz Reznik

Photo's: Passetti
http://www.flickr.com/photos/passetti/sets/72157630572423150/show/

Next gig @ Dystopia (The Hague, July 14, with guest vocalist Nathalie Houtermans and percussionist Floris Duijvestein.

Photo: Jan Katsma

Photo: Patrick Knoo

Photo's: Rude Sixtysix




woensdag 2 mei 2012

Chapter 5: Robot Love Dystopia Studio Session

The Day Is An Outrage


De Logica van de Swastica (Kamagurka cover)


Wax & Wane (Cocteau Twins cover ft. Nathalie Houtermans)


Something Came Over Me (Throbbing Gristle cover)


I'll Meet You In Poland, Baby (Foetus cover)

dinsdag 1 mei 2012

Chapter 6: Maldorobudur


Preparing for Indonesian concerts in November @ PIP Club
(Photography: Iris Uffen for Vice Magazine)

Departure from Amsterdam Oct 31. Arrival in Jakarta on Nov 1.

FINAL REHEARSAL

Porn Base (23 Skidoo) / The Day Is An Outrage (Salò Mentale) / Something Came Over Me (Throbbing Gristle) / Friendly Fires (Section 25) / De Logica Van De Swastica (Kamagurka en de Vlaamse Primitieven) / Petrol (Severed Heads) / Wax & Wane (Cocteau Twins) / I'll Meet You In Poland Baby (Scraping Foetus Of The Wheel)


TOUR SCHEDULE

1. Jakarta, Nov 2 at Borneo Beer House (organized by Indra Ameng from Ruang Rupa)

Journey / Impressions of Ruan Grupa / Jakarta traffic / I'll Meet You In Poland Baby @ Borneo Beer House / Main act with our video / Having a beer with El Nino

2. Bandung, Nov 4 at Sanggar Olah Seni (SOS) (organized by TheBabams Versus Storn)

Travelling to Bandung by bus / Impressions of Sanggar Olah Seni and surroundings


Impressions of Prilla Tania's home and paper cutting studio / soundcheck


Spiritualized Mammals / Munthe versus The Babams


Petrol / Wax & Wane / I'll Meet You In Poland Baby at Sanggar Olah Seni

3. Jogjakarta, Nov 13 at Jogja National Museum (organized by Yes No Klub)

Journey to Jogjakarta by train / impressions of our guesthouse /visitng Arya and Sara's home / first visit to Museum Dan Tanah Liat (MDTL) / I'll Meet You In Poland Baby (acoustic version with Arya Jalu) / journey from the Museum to our guesthouse on motorcycle


Arya Jalu's studio / Malaikat's studio / first set up of the exhibition at MDTL / outside of Arya's studio


Rehearsal of Coal Black Smith (Current 93), featuring Sara Nuytemans on vocal and bass, Arya Jalu on guitar and Jan on drums!


Rehearsal of I'll Meet You In Poland Baby with Arya Jalu on guitar and Bodhonk on drums


ZOO (excerpt) / The shortest Unit Moebius gig ever (at Jogja National Museum)

4. Jogjakarta, Nov 18 at Museum Dan Tanah Liat. Opening up exhibition "25 Years Stichting Maldoror" for the rest of the month.



Keraton Jogjakarta at night / first view of contributing Indonesian artworks for Exhibition II / visiting Indonesian Net Audio Festival (at Langgeng Art Foundation)


Checking the exhibition / the rain / jam during the rain


Speeches and concerts during the opening of "25 Years Stichting Maldoror" exhibition


SMVSUM @ Candi Plaosan (Photography: Lelyana Kurniawati)


The last few days (MDTL, Keraton, Sundak Beach, Candi Plaosan)


Cover version of Current 93's "Coal Black Smith", by request of Sara Nuytemans