Suoni Per Il Popolo: Borbetomagus + Martin Tetreault & David LaFrance @ Casa Del Popolo

With my ears still recovering from the Keiji Haino show at La Sala Rossa the night before, more noise music was maybe not the best idea. However, Borbetomagus, Martin Tetreault, and David LaFrance made it worth my while. The crowd in Casa del Popolo’s second space was small but devoted. Borbetomagus began the set with their three piece sax, electric guitar, and electronics lineup. Its members, Don Dietrich, Jim Sauter, and Donald Miller have been together playing their version of noisy jazz for about 35 years, since 1979; they're a well-seasoned outfit to be sure. In fact, they’re considered pioneers in their hyper-aggressive improve style. They have collaborated with many underground noise artists in the past, most recently at the Victoriaville Festival in 2007 for a live recording. They played for about a half an hour before handing the stage to David LaFrance and Martin Tetreault.

LaFrance is a Quebecois artist and musician (and Concordia graduate!) who has collaborated frequently with Martin Tetreault, particularly on the Quatuor de Tourne-Disques project. His music uses field recordings tinted with an ethereal, quite trippy sentiment. Martin Tetreault’s music is considered some of the most sophisticated noise to come out of Canada. This internationally acclaimed Quebec musician has seemed to collaborate more with Japanese noise artists than with Quebec talent, with the exception of the aforementioned Quatuor project. The crowd’s attention was focussed, and the set was well-received. Tetreault and LaFrance performed for about 45 minutes, which seemed too short. Their soundscapes were fluid, dynamic, surprising, and harmonious. The noise element seemed bearable instead of painful. The entire set took place on two turntables. The wealth of sonic possibilities that the pair exposed was beyond my imagination.

The Suoni Festival organizers once again pulled some strings and got some high-calibre talent into Casa for this show. If this type of music seems interesting to you, check out Borbetomagus’ collaboration with Thurston Moore, Barefoot in the Head (1988) and Quatuor de Tourne-Disques by Martin Tetreault et al.

-Danielle J hosts Runny Noise on Thursday from 10pm-12am