Russell Haswell (b.1970 Coventry, UK) and Florian Hecker (b.1975 Kissing, DE) first met in Vienna in 1996. They have performed Computer Music concerts together numerous times at prestigious festivals and venues around the world. Together they have conducted remix projects for such historical and pioneering music groups as Voice Crack (CH) and Popol Vuh (DE).
In 2003 they began a research project together centering around the use of Iannis Xenakis’ UPIC ‘graphic input’ computer music composing system, and a residency at CCMIX Paris, where the UPIC is located. The results are currently being presented to the public as live multi channel electroacoustic diffusion concerts. These events use surround sound and laser lighting to create an immersive multi-sensory environment.
UPIC DIFFUSION SESSIONs so far:
1. Cubitt/City University, London.
2. XXXXX, ICA, London.
3. Project Arts Centre, Dublin.
4. Frieze Music, London Hippodrome.
5. Zürich Kunsthalle.
6. Donaufest, Krems.
7. Städelschule, Frankfurt.
8. ZKM, Karlsruhe.
9. Workstation studio, Sheffield.
10. Bentwaters airbase, Rendlesham.
11. Sonar 07, MACBA, Barcelona.
12. Renaissance Fortress, Lopud Island.
13. Conway Hall, London.
14. White Cube Gallery, London.
15. netmage 08, Palazzo Reenzo Mangrovia, Bologne.
16. netmage 08, Palazzo Reenzo Mangrovia, Bologne.
17. Skanu mežs festival, Riga.
18. let's go MENTAL. Renaissance Fortress, Lopud Island.
UPIC DIFFUSION SESSION 9. Workstation studio, Sheffield.
UPIC DIFFUSION SESSION 14. White Cube Gallery, London
UPIC DIFFUSION SESSION 10. Bentwaters airbase, Rendlesham
UPIC DIFFUSION SESSION 11. Sonar 07, MACBA, Barcelona.
In 2007 Warner Classics released Blackest Ever Black: Electroacoustic Upic Recordings on both CD and Direct Metal Mastered double vinyl in gate-fold sleeve, both with sleeve notes by Curtis Roads.
Independent of each other they have both received Awards at the Prix Ars Electronica for Digital Music. Haswell with ‘Live Salvage 1997 - 2000’ and Hecker, ‘Sun Panda¨monium’. Between them the have collaborated in concert, on record and/or exhi- bition with a superabundance of musicians and conceptual visual artists including: Aphex Twin, Carsten Ho¨ller, Masami Akita (MERZBOW), Oswald Berthold, Cerith Wyn Evans, Kjetil Manheim (MAYHEM), Toshiji Mikawa (INCAPACITANTS), Whitehouse and Yasunao Tone. To name a few.
Hecker's latest full length solo compact disc 'Recordings for Rephlex' has just been released. http://www.rephlex.com/
Current information on Russell Haswell can be found at http://www.haswellstudio.com/
Further information: http://haswellhecker.blogspot.com
Xenakis' Mycenae Alpha. created using UPIC:
Xenakis' Le Polytope de Cluny.
