Wed 10/12 20:00
Pierre Bastien (FR) • Petr Válek

French composer Pierre Bastien is a master of curious mechanisms, often built from the Merkur construction set, which become sources of equally remarkable sounds. Jeseník-based phenomenon Petr Válek shares his love for handmade instruments and found objects, though his approach is rawer and even more adventurous. 

Pierre Bastien belongs among those musicians for whom the existing range of instruments simply wasn’t enough. Since the late 1970s, the French composer has been building his own sound devices, assembling bands and orchestras from these mechanized contraptions – all conducted by a single person. At the root of this approach was necessity: buying a Moog was out of reach for an ordinary mortal, while constructing an automaton from Merkur required “only” diligence and imagination. Over time, however, Bastien developed a unique sound of his chamber machinarium – one not limited to industrial clatter and hum, but enriched with string and wind instruments.

The charm of his creations is evidenced by the fact that they have captivated both the eccentric singer Robert Wyatt and Aphex Twin. Thanks also to the visual aspect of his work – watching the sound sculptures in action is almost as mesmerizing as listening to them – Bastien evokes the animated films of Jan Švankmajer or, even more so, the Brothers Quay. Yet rather than emphasizing bizarreness or melancholy, he highlights playfulness. His concerts open a window into a timeless cabinet of curiosities or into an alternative reality of electronic music without synthesized sound.

A love of noise and clatter, combined with a playful, DIY approach, has made Petr Válek an internet phenomenon followed even by people far outside the experimental scene. Short videos from his home in the Jeseníky region regularly showcase ever-new techniques, contraptions and gadgets that produce sounds as ordinary as they are unexpected. Even more than in Bastien’s case, what comes to the fore here is a simple sense of wonder at what a musician can coax from completely everyday objects.

His live performances – often accompanied by quasi-mysterious videos that exploit the imperfections of AI and fearlessly wander through uncanny valleys – present a wider arsenal of remarkable instruments and allow the audience to witness Válek’s boundless imagination in action.



www.pierrebastien.com
www.instagram.com/the.vape.noise
www.jednota.space

The event is organized by Divadlo 29 and Jednota. Divadlo 29’s project Electroconnexion 2025 takes place with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the City of Pardubice, and the Pardubice Region. The Jednota concert series is held in 2025 with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.

 

Admission: 240 CZK (students and disability card holders: 50 % discount at the door)
Early bird: 200 CZK

Předprodej akce