You’ve heard it here first guys: the next in the series of our popular Music & Film programme will feature a new, unique and live score of renowned American documentary Koyaanisqatsi (originally scored by avant-garde composer Philip Glass), by Mercury-nominated hard-hitting-jazz-meets-electronica three piece GoGo Penguin from Manchester.
Koyaanisqatsi, Godfrey Reggio’s debut as a film director and producer, is the first and best known film of the Qatsi trilogy, followed by Powaqqatsi (1988) and Naqoyqatsi (2002), depicting different aspects of relationships between humans, nature and technology. Taking its title from a Hopi Indian word meaning ‘life out of balance’, the film, created between 1975 and 1982, is an apocalyptic version of two different worlds – urban life and technology versus the environment.
Consisting primarily of slow motion and time-lapse footage of cities and many natural landscapes across America, Koyaanisqatsi contains neither dialogue nor a vocalised narration: its tone is set by the juxtaposition of images and music.
Manchester-based acoustic-electronica trio GoGo Penguin are pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Rob Turner. Drawing on a heady brew of influences from Brian Eno, John Cage, Massive Attack and Aphex Twin to Manchester’s grey rain-streaked urban streets, they create a brave new sound all their own. Defined by skittering break-beats, powerful sub-bass and a penchant for anthemic melody they create an emotionally rich palate for the listener that has seen them hailed as the most exciting new band to emerge from the UK in years. Their album V2.0 (Gondwana records) was named a Mercury Prize album of the year 2014 alongside albums from Damon Albarn, Young Fathers and Jungle, and has won them a legion of fans across the world. In April 2015 they announced a three album deal with Blue Note Records and their debut Blue Note album will be released in early 2016.
Music & Film is produced by HOME in collaboration with the University of Salford and is supported by PRS for Music Foundation, the UK’s leading funder of new music across all genres, and Film Hub North West Central, a partner in the BFI’s Film Audience Network which aims to build audiences for film and present cinema in new and exciting ways.
The series presents an eclectic season of new commissions, bringing together some of Manchester’s most innovative and exciting artists with classic films, archive footage, artist film and experimental cinema. Combining the immediacy and energy of live performance with the magic of the big screen, the project forms part of our extensive programme of the best in independent UK and international film.
Music & Film draws titles from international film archives across the world and gives musicians the opportunity to explore the relationship between live sound and image, with many of them scoring and arranging for film for the first time.
GoGo Penguin said: “We were very excited when HOME asked us to be part of their opening season and gave us the opportunity to re-score a silent film. We chose Koyaanisqatsi as it is a film that really speaks to us as a band. It defies many of the normal parameters of a film, it’s not fiction but neither is it a documentary, there’s order but not obvious narrative. It’s very much a work of art and is equally as relevant now as when it was made some 20 years ago. You can get lost in this film and it’s so much like a piece of music. The music and the image are as important as each other, neither, being an accompaniment to the other and the imagery is so strong that there is a never ending stream of inspiration for creating in every scene of the film.”
Jason Wood, Artistic Director: Film, HOME, commented: “It’s tremendous to be collaborating with GoGo Penguin, who are at the vanguard of an emerging jazz-influenced Manchester scene that also includes Matthew Halsall and Nat Birchall. Choosing a film such as Koyaanisqatsi shows the fearlessness of the band, fully represented by their music. The HOME Music & Film initiative is extremely important and supported by Film Hub North West Central, a partner in the BFI’s Film Audience Network that aims to enhance opportunities for people to engage with cinema in new and exciting ways.”
Katie Popperwell, Music & Film Producer, HOME, added: “Working with the critically acclaimed GoGo Penguin has been a real pleasure. Their music has defied a one label categorisation since the start, incorporating elements of electronica, trip-hop, jazz, rock and classical music to create their own, incredibly unique sound. Pairing it with a film as stunning and breath-taking Koyaanisqatsi will leave audiences in awe and create a new and distinctive experience only to be enjoyed at HOME for a brief period of time.”
And psst…next up in our Music & Film series will be the amazingly talented soulful chanteuse Josephine…
Tickets on sale via homemcr.org from:
Mon 3 Aug (HOME Friends)
Mon 10 Aug (HOME Members)
Mon 17 Aug (General public)
Tickets £12 – £9