ART TORRENTS: Ryoji Ikeda - Formula (2005)

Ryoji Ikeda - Formula (2005)
Monday, March 24, 2008

Download this at KaraGarga.

This untouched DVD upload is aimed at fans of Ryoji Ikeda, or, extremekly unlikely as it might seem, individuals who enjoy minimalist electronic compositions/constructions but somehow aren't familiar with Ikeda. The content here is not the IDM side of Ikeda but is squarely the electro-minimalist composer and installation artist Ikeda.

There are two parts to this DVD. The first part is audio tracks only, with no visuals (about 30 min.) and the second part is audio and visuals, a filmed installation by Ikeda done in 2001 (about 35 min.). Details below in the tracklisting.

I think it is Ikeda at his best, at least the Ikeda I like best, especially the sound & image portion of the DVD. In that section, at times the images are very minimal, fittingly so, but at other times there is a lot going on and going on rather quickly so that multiple viewings are rewarded.

The content of the DVD is exclusive to this release, which is from 2005, in a numbered, limited edition of 3000. It was originally released in 2002 apparently.

Japan's leading electronic composer Ryoji Ikeda focuses on the minutiae of ultrasonics, frequencies and the essential characteristics of sound itself. His work exploits sound's physical property, its causality with human perception and mathematical dianoia as music, time and space. Using computer and digital technology to the utmost limit, Ikeda has been developing particular "microscopic" methods for sound engineering and composition. Since 1995 he has been intensely active in sound art through concerts, installations and recordings.

Tracklisting:

Tracks 1 to 8 are Stereo and Dolby AC-3 soundtracks without visual images.
Tracks 9 to 19 are stereo soundtracks with visual images.

Installations (Extracts) (29:18)

1 0°: CBK Villa Alckmaer, Rotterdam, 1998 (1:02)
2 Matrix (For Acoustic Dislocation): The Mind Zone Of The
Millennium Dome, London, 2000 (3:01)
3 Matrix (For An Echoic Room): ICC, Tokyo, 2000 (4:38)
4 A: Hayward Gallery, London, 2000 (5:01)
5 Spectra: MicaMoca, Milano, 2001 (5:03)
6 Matrix (For Container): Centraal Museum, Utrecht, 2001 (4:33)
7 Spectra II; Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, 2002 (3:03)
8 Db: ICC, Tokyo, 2002 (2:52)

Concert. Formula [Prototype] At The Garden Hall Yebisu, Tokyo, October 14, 2001 (36:19)

9 Intro (2:43)
10 Headphonics 0/0 (4:47)
11 Headphonics 1/0 (3:11)
12 Headphonics 0/1 (4:09)
13 +../- (5:06)
14 Testone + Trans-missions (0:15)
15 Time 1'11" (1:10)
16 Time 3'33" (3:31)
17 Time 4'44" (2:24)
18 .Matrix 1000000000 (3:28)
19 Zero Degrees [3] (5:30)

Download this at KaraGarga.