Politics of the Machines sundowners with Robbie Avenaim (Naarm), E Millar & Difficult Listening DJs

Tone List is partnering with the Politics of the Machines conference to present two avant-sundowners in the cosy nook that is Astral Weeks.

Riffing off the conference theme of synthetic sentience, this little program delves into the sounds of field recordings, machine animism, swarming and simulacra.

A solo set from E Millar explores rich textures produced by amplifying tiny sounds made by kinetic sculptures made from recycled consumer electronics. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to field recordings, E’s works often engage directly with this parallel, foregrounding both the earthiness and strangeness of these mechanical constructs.

Visiting artist Robbie Avenaim is a virtuosic drummer with a collaborative CV that encompasses leading artists including Stephen O’Malley (of Sunn O)))), Oren Ambarchi and Chris Abrahams. He’ll perform with his automated percussion instrument SARPS, which plays randomly-iterating rhythms, delicate flutters and unfathomably high-BPM pulses using motorised sticks.

Surrounding these short performances, DJs from the Difficult Listeningroster, Lesley Kaye & Michael Terren (with some occasional cameos by Josten Myburgh), will share atmospheric music for a post-conference unwind or an inquisitive dive.

July 16:

E Millar – recycled consumer electronics, amplification, 6:30pm

Lesley Kaye (DJ) 5:30pm – 9pm

July 17:

Robbie Avenaim (Naarm) – drum kit, percussion & SARPS, 7pm

Michael Terren (DJ), 5:30pm – 9pm

Presented by Tone List & supported by POM Perth, Astral Weeks, Perth Business Events and the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Western Australia.

Accessibility: Venue is a wheelchair-accessible, acoustically treated, dimly lit small bar. Incense is used in the venue and ventilation is limited. The music will be dynamic on both nights, with moments that feel loud, percussive and repetitive and others that are very delicate and soft.

Poster by Oliva Joi Rawlings.