[Deutsch]

Based in Augsburg, Germany, audio artists Gerhard Zander and Gerald Fiebig have been performing as a duo for electroacoustic improvisation since 2006. While Cage’s ideas have taught them to pay close attention to individual acoustic occurrences and the silences between them, their background in pop music enables them to also make full use of the creative possibilities of live loops.
Their performances cover an extremely wide range of dynamic ‘atmospheres’ – from very quiet passages of untreated field recordings of natural sounds through harmonic timbral sheets to sudden outbursts of electronic noise. Zander and Fiebig specialise in using the specific sonic qualities and materials of individual performance spaces. The duo is conceived as an experimental structure open to other musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds.

In their live performances, Zander and Fiebig combine different sound sources and playing techniques that are exemplified by the following tracks.

1) Electromagnetic Picnic (MP3 download, 2:40 min, 3.7 MB)
Gerhard Zander conceived this ensemble of everday electronic devices, made audible with the help of induction microphones, processed and arranged live by means of sampling and effects pedals.

2) Electroacoustic Picnic (MP3 download, 3:07 min, 4.3 MB)
Electroacoustic Picnic (Video) (Youtube)
In addition to the sounds of electromagnetic fields, self-made noise instruments made of everyday objects and objects found in or near the performance space can be important parts of the performance set-up. They are amplified through piezo pickups, processed live and sometimes combined with field recordings. A piezo pickup fitted to a violin bow can be used to acoustically ‘scan’ the walls and floors of the performance space.

3) Signal Processing (MP3 download, 2:34 min, 3.5 MB)
While Gerhard Zander plays the bass or, in this excerpt, the guitar, Gerald Fiebig manipulates the signal from the instrument in real time and creates a parallel or contrasting musical dimension.

4) „No-input mixing board“ inspired by Toshimaru Nakamura (MP3 download, 2:39 min, 2.4 MB)
The sole sound source for this method, developed in Japan, but now practised worldwide, is a mixing board whose input is connected to the output. The resulting feedback sounds are treated in real time with various effects devices.

5) Trio with glass harmonica player Bruno Kliegl (MP3 download, 2:21 min, 2.2 MB)
Bruno Kliegl plays classical compositions for glass harmonica, a period instrument from the 18th century extremely rich in harmonics. His improvisations with Zander and Fiebig and their electronic treatments of his instrument highlight the surprisingly contemporary qualities of the harmonica’s hypnotic sound.