Loose Theories.

The room radiated with red as visual artists Tundra began their performance at Aures London on Friday (22.11.19). The St Petersburg arts collective have been displaying their project NOMAD, ‘audio-visual generative laser projection performances’ across the globe. These installations create a simultaneous multi sensory experience of light and sound using sequences of visual patterns randomly changing in response to audio.

Following Tundra, the line up saw experimental DJ’s Agents of Time with both a live and DJ set, visuals by Mhmdrza Tazari and DJ Yacine Dessouki on decks.

The circular screen dominated the arched room, welcoming us with a visual of a solar eclipse and setting the expected spacey atmosphere early. The pulled apart 3D shapes that followed were accompanied by a fade in of echoed, yet, stabbing sounds.

All eyes were on the display as a purple laser followed the outline of the screen, faster and faster until interrupted by a burst of abstract patterns and flashes of red and blue. The growing constellations of light transformed into contrasting circles of blue- small and central to large and inclusive. Light electro sounds were contrasted with low grumbling bass and a fluid puzzle of mismatched shapes.

“Is this an illusion?”

The dreamy piano layers enhanced the nostalgic visuals that reminded me of a vintage arcade game, that was broken. A slow rhythmic rattle faded in and at a low bpm a sexy, yet simple, bassline and rustled liquid sounds followed. The wirey melodies matched the scratchy off-white visuals.

“Joy Division on acid’’

A higher bpm and embracing kick drum played whilst the lasers looked as if they were burning holes through the cut-and-paste shapes. It turned into this other place, like we were following a ‘paper bird through a cyber universe which was led by the random electrocution of the lasers.’

Burnt orange tones took over and the music sounded enlightened- soft high notes and a steady low beat.

Moments of silence made the crowd feel uncomfortable, wanting more.

“Like cells under a microscope”

The industrial manmade sounds that were slowly introduced worked like clockwork with the display of what looked like ink spilling over a page merging with frowing bacteria- in fast motion. What felt like white noise was pierced by sharp sounds like fireworks. Lasers shot forward and a smoke bellowed across the screen, making me notice the real hazy smoke around me in the room.

A hypnotising spiral of crystal clear water and drawn out “space gun shooting sounds” were snatched by silence as the room went black.

Dark thundery rumbles and high pitched interference filled the space with two purple lasers focused central to the screen.

A simple, but heavy kick drum begins, with some muffled samples floating around. A crackling fire lights up the room- turned into a mixture of brown, orange and white paints on a palette.

Fuller basslines and an eccentric snare transported me to a place where the only things that exist are bright colours and funky sounds.

It was an infestation of burnt out colour, fought against by the positivity that the melodic beats and euphoric synthesizers were radiating. It was the patterns you see when you close your eyes after looking at the light.

This blur morphed into cream lines that were drawn together by an invisible curser and found by the flashes of the lasers.

There was a constant sense of tension, friction, like the room was going to explode.

In awe of NOMAD, the triumphant euphoric sounds of Agents of Time and Yacine Dessouki never felt so good.

A modern revolution for the relationship between art and music.

For more immersive events in 2020 follow Blanche London.