ephemeropteræ 2014/03
King of Hearts
First meeting in 2010, the now inseparable artistic pair of Kraut-rock legend Hans-Joachim Roedelius and the multi-talented Christopher James Chaplin are set to perform for attendants of TBA21’s third installment of ephemeropteræ 2014. The outcome of their initial on-air work has developed into an ongoing and mutually complementary relationship, with King of Hearts released to wide acclaim. This inter-genre audio compilation highlights the respective history of each artist, as was shown at the memorable performance at the mysterious parisian Club Silencio which was part of the sourced and sampled material used. With Rodelius having recently celebrated his 80th birthday, the importance of acoustic development from one generation to the next has never been more palpable. Vienna-based VJ phenomena Astrid Steiner and Florian Launisch, more aptly known as Luma.Launisch enhance the musical atmosphere with yet another ephemeral tangent for the evening. Layered visuals, delayed and lapsed moments and intriguing colours blend into a harmonious plethora of visual cues, enhancing the core of Chaplin’s and Roedelius’ concert.
HANS-JOACHIM ROEDELIUS (Born 1934 in Berlin, where he lives and works) is an experimenter with sound, instruments, electronics and acoustic gadgets. Titled as one of the leading figures of Berlin’s underground scene of the late 1960s, he was a founder of Kraut-rock legends Cluster (well known also for its cooperation with Brian Eno) and Harmonia. Not only embedded within formal musical scenes, Roedelius has been producing photo collages and curating fellow artists. With his own discography extending through decades, he is a quintessential, yet undefinable figure of the contemporary world of music and performance, with over 1500 compositions to his name, including various works of poetry.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES CHAPLIN (Born 1962 in Switzerland, lives and works in London) is the composer, piano player and actor (an example is Total Eclipse of Agnieszka Holland, 1995). As the youngest son of Charles (Charlie) Chaplin and Oona O´Neill, he was quite literally born onto the stage, with a move to London catapulting his acting career into a new realm. In early 2005, a newly rekindled interest in music was ignited, with subsequent collaborations with several renowned artists, such as Vienna’s own Kava.
LUMA.LAUNISCH (ASTRID STEINER & FLORIAN LAUNISCH) will be accompanying Chaplin and Roedelius throughout their live performance with their signature layered visuals which transition seamlessly from techno clubs to concert halls, with a visual range as acute and diverse as the music they partner it with. The duo performs regularly in Europe and internationally.
