Christian Fennesz

Austrian guitarist, composer, and electronic musician Christian Fennesz is recognized as the key figure and one of the most distinctive voices of electronic music today. His wide international reputation has been consolidated through his substantial overall contribution to new musical expression.

In the beginning of the 1990s, Fennesz became involved with Viennese techno scene. Though formally educated in guitar and ethnomusicology from an early age, Fennesz decided to pursue composing and developing his own sound world in the distinctive electronic idiom. By plugging his guitar into his laptop and transforming and processing it, he managed to create a specific sound that is difficult to mistake for another’s. On his first full-length solo release, Hotel Para.lel (1997, Editions Mego), he introduced a mix of law textures and twisted guitar sounds. The album was awarded the Prix Ars Electronica. Two years later, plus forty seven degrees 56’37“ minus sixteen degrees 51’08“ was released by Touch.

His milestone third album Endless Summer (2001, Editions Mego) was acknowledged as one of the most important releases of the decade, helping to change the perception of electronic music today. On it, he gave significant importance to melody, appearing delicately beneath (or on the top) of his shimmering electronic soundscape-often described as „symphonic“ for its enormous range and complex musicality.

In 2004, Fennesz released Venice, in which he combined ambience-rich sound textures with pop- song elements. Black Sea (2008) has proven to be bold step in experimentation with longer tracks that outline and contract sonic space without necessarily filling it with musical narrative or a predefined concept. His 2014 studio album Bécs (Editions Mego) was followed by his 2019 album for Touch, Agora.

Within the last 10 years, Fennesz has collaborated with many musicians, filmmakers, and dancers. These encounters of diverse art forms have resulted in numerous stage performances and several exceptional studio releases. he has recorded and performed with Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sylvian, Keith Rowe, Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse, Mike Patton, and many others. Fennesz has also worked alongside Peter Rehberg and Jim O’Rourke as the improvisation trio Fenn O’berg.

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