Dots+Loops: Rewind

Image credit: Reuben Fenemore

I have been to many parties in my time; house parties, boat parties, birthday parties, Halloween parties, even my formal after-party (which was held in a shed in the middle of a cane field), raves, doofs, ragers, and duds. There is one rule I adhere to as best I can regardless of the function - don’t show up on time, people don’t show up on time. It turns out that when the party is combined with a post-genre music concert that this rule stands. Adherence to this cardinal rule of partying; be fashionably late, is how I knew I was in for a good one at Dots+Loops: Rewind the 10th birthday party of Meanjin’s very own club night/concert/art show series.

The night’s festivities saw attendees treated to four exemplary works from the collective’s 10-year history; each pushing differently at the boundaries of what music composition and live performance can do or be. Luckily, the fact there were only four presentations means I get to tell you about all of them – I simply couldn’t play favourites here. So, I’ll tell you about all of them and then we’ll get to dishing about the afterparty (you’ll wanna stick around for that, there’s cake).  

Pamelia Z’s Attention (2016) was inspired by the ways modernity has eroded at our ability to focus; constant notifications, constant access to each other, and a constant stream of content mean that interruption is inevitable. The Helge Quartet is no exception, they play while having to contend with a series of escalating interruptions. Pinging notifications escalate into text messages from the composer with edits to the music escalate into the cellist answering a phone call onstage escalates into the composer starting a group chat and with the quartet and letting know she’s added a cello quartet to the piece even though there is only one cello onstage. The works climax thus sees all for members of Helge Quartet play the same cello. OPINION.

Image credit: Reuben Fenemore

I was able to see Oliver Brown’s Alexa, Write Me Some Music (2021) when it premiered at Dots+Loops: Non-Stop and it is just as great as when I saw it the first time. Haters of Spotify, Soundcloud, Duolingo or YouTube ads are given the gratification of seeing a big ole middle finger given to that kind of advertising; that which keeps you from the art and simultaneously admonishes you for being “poor”. Since the explosion of AI programs like ChatGPT an new layer of critique is added; a humorous comment on the in/ability of AI to write legible, playable music. A few of the jokes are very much of the year of the piece was written but this doesn’t detract too much from the humour; I’ve also heard the jokes before so we can’t take my word as gospel on this one.

Fatal Strangers (2011) brings together electric violin, synthesiser, drums and EWI (electronic wind instrument) – the last of which I just found out is a thing – to create a trancelike, hypnotic, ritualistic sonic experience. Helena Papageorgiou’s stunning psychedelic visuals delightfully are coordinated with the composition and enhance the already entrancing nature of the soundscape. It was like I had taken mushrooms and they hit while I was reading an issue of Frankie magazine.

Chris Perren’s Go Seigen vs. Fujisawa Kuranosuke (2014) premiered at the first ever Dots+Loops event 10 years ago and was re-presented to us by Nonsemble accompanied by live visuals from Jaymis. This 30-minute composition uses the moves of a 1953 championship game of Go as inspiration for its structure. Perren draws the abstract patterns of this ancient game out into three sequences of gorgeous music. Musically and visually striking this work is a prime example of the experimental work that Dots+Loops prides itself on promoting.

The walk down memory lane ends, and we are ushered out in the foyer for the after party. There’s a bounty of cupcakes (I told you there would be cake didn’t I?) and HipHopHoe is waiting for us with an epic and eclectic set that has the crowd dancing their socks off for the last hour and a half of the night. Dots+Loops: Rewind was a wonderful way to mark the collective’s 10th birthday. And just like at any other great party, I found myself having to duck out just earlier than I would’ve liked to catch the night bus home.

Image credit: Reuben Fenemore