(5) THe fifth Périphérique happened on February 12th, 2005 in The Lift space located at 4035 Saint-Ambroise in Montréal.
Périphériques set up a tentacular system for audio listening providing a total of 40 headphone outputs. This was worked out in collaboration with the sculptor-designer Andrew Taggart. For the event, he specially designed eight « protective aids », a series of «body bags» in which the guests could slide into, plug in a pair of headphones and abandon themselves to a personal listening experience. Three performers were invited to create soundpieces played in a relay mode and made audible through one of the 40 outputs installed in the middle of the space:
First up was Pascale Malaterre, who delivered an intense performance dealing with the idea of cultural genocides. Her vocal experimentations, spoken-word and breathing rhythms were treated live by accompanying musician Mathieu Lévesque who added his own biosignal sources induced by stress control.
Léon Lo oriented his set using dynamics of chance and repetition in the playing of very short samples on prepared minidisks. Mastication and traficated orgue sounds were combined to the amplified throw of dice.
Alexis Bellavance temporarily destabilized auditors by strangulating himself with the sound of carbon vinyls skipping in the background and evoking past realities (excerpt of Lily Marlene by Marlene Dietrich). His own heartbeat was then amplified and the room tone filled with the public's presence was integrated to the performance. The piece evolved in a play of contrasts between «past stories» and the one that was continuously unfolding.
Périphériques would like to thank Dylan Cram.
