One of the world's pioneering experimental musicians will soon take to the Substation stage.
Since the ’70s, American composer and musician William Basinski has been toying with untraditional sounds. Inspired by leading minimalists from Steve Reich to Brian Eno, he’s used his combination of classical clarinet training, jazz saxophone studies and alternative technologies to create complex webs of sound that are easier to feel than to define.
Best known for his monumental project The Disintegration Loops (understood to be one of the world’s most important ambient music works), Basinski often uses obsolete technologies as his instruments. Creating infinite feedback loops using analog tape recorders, he forms intense and visceral sonic worlds.
William Basinski and Olivier Cong
- The Substation, 1 Market St, Newport VIC 3015
- 23 January 2025, door and bar 6:30pm, start time 7:3opm
- Tickets are on sale now
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Now, he’s headed to Melbourne for a show presented by the Substation and Room40 on the evening of Thursday, January 23. Blending his evocative creations with The Substation’s lighting, sound system and industrial interior, the show is sure to be unforgettable.
Opening the proceedings will be Hong Kong-based contemporary composer Olivier Cong. Performing mainly using Eastern traditional instruments and piano viola voice synthesizers, Cong will be basing his performance at the Substation off his widely-acclaimed 2024 album Tropical Church.
After studying psychology, Cong took an interest in sound art and different forms of music. He’s previously written work for dance, musical theatre and film, and has collaborated with Hong Kong Ballet, the Shanghai Opera House and more.
Australia’s epicentre of experimental works from performance art to multi-disciplinary art, The Substation is the ideal host for the performance. In the past few months alone, the inner west hub of creativity has shown dinner theatre, dance, theatre, music, discussions and more.
Tickets to see William Basinski and Olivier Cong at The Substation on January 23 are on sale now. For more information and to book yours, head here.
This article was made in partnership with The Substation.
