A sneak preview of the collaborative documentary which examines the cultural significance and legacy of the legendary CRASS Records compilation album releases (1980-1984) and which explores synergies between these and the Imperfect Cinema project.

The CRASS ‘Bullshit Detector’ compilation albums were DIY in ethos and were absolutely not concerned with traditional ‘production values’ as a criterion for exclusion or inclusion, but rather the sentiments and ideas expressed within each recording.

No two tracks on these compilations are the same, many utilising home recording technologies and improvised instrumentation. This was nothing short of groundbreaking, as by eschewing a traditional ‘industrial’ production value system, CRASS actually provided a venue for participation which valourised experimentation, resourcefulness and individual expression. In rejecting the codes and conventions of the ‘professionalised’ production value system, the Bullshit Detector compilations gave voice to those whom otherwise might have never have had their ideas and actions disseminated to a wider audience.

These fascinating releases provide the basis for Imperfect Films’ first feature-length project.

 Workshop takes place 7-9pm on Friday 19th October at the Custard Factory
To book a place, please email [email protected] with ‘Imperfect Cinema’ in the subject line

A fantastic opportunity to learn about DIY filming and provide visuals for one of the performing artists at the this year’s festival.
Imperfect Cinema is a Micro-Cinema Collective who explore participatory modes of production with a particular emphasis on DIY methodologies. This year Imperfect Cinema will be leading a workshop where participants are invited to consider the forge which birthed heavy metal music. Participants will explore the uniquely post industrial setting of the festival with cameras and media that are uniquely post-industrial and metallic!

Attendees will be able explore the ‘halide’ of super-8mm film and the ‘oxide’ of audio cassette tape used to capture video, by using redundant camera technologies to capture images which will be processed, prepared and edited by Imperfect Cinema into two distinct visual forms. The first will be the visual backdrop to the lo-fi monolithic grit of Drunk In Hell’s performance, an experience which should definitely not be missed, and the second is an alternative visual document of the festival which will form a unique part of the archive of its tenth anniversary.

Imperfect Cinema will be joined by renowned sonic and visual artist Nicholas Bullen to discuss Imperfect Cinema and its influences, including the seminal Crass Records ‘Bullshit Detector’ compilation albums which featured the first vinyl appearance of Napalm Death.

http://imperfectcinema.com

To book a place, please email [email protected] with ‘Imperfect Cinema’ in the subject line

The second of our Supersonic Tasters takes place tomorrow night at London’s Corsica Studios. The heavy bass of King Midas Sound is joined by Justin Broadrick’s (Godflesh, Napalm Death, Techno Animal) new JK Flesh project. The Midlands’ very own Glatze aka Sam Underwood also takes to the stage to round up an exciting line up.

Tickets are £10 and can be purchased via http://www.corsicastudios.com/

The Monotonix invasion – one of the many things that have made Supersonic Festival a unique event.

Capsule  creative director and Supersonic Festival co-founder Lisa Meyer was interviewed recently by The 405 on what goes into making a festival happen, how to sustain what you do for 10 years, and why you should never rest on your laurels in this business!

Why should people come to Supersonic?
We hope that we create an event that really cares about our audience as much as we care about the artists performing. While you will discover new amazing bands you’ll also have lots of fun too and our cake selection is superb. It’s a festival for music lovers, not a place to be ripped off and be fed the same generic line up as most of the big festivals – it’s a unique experience. Read the full article at The 405

Thanks to all who came along to the first of two Supersonic taster events last Saturday at Eastside Projects in Birmingham. The amazing performances, and diversity of acts on show has got us all buzzing for the main event in October. Below are some lovely shots of the event by Katja Ogrin.

Laurence Hunt of Pram opened with a solo percussive project. Creating abstract sounds and looped feedback.

Sarah Farmer presented ‘An Array of Events’ using DIY instrumentation (plus viola)

Iron Fist of the Sun stepped the volume up a notch with a power electronics set

The first UK outing of Justin Broadrick’s new JK Flesh project. And it was LOUD.

King Midas Sound System closed the event with a set touching dub, reggae, drone and noise, plus great vocals from Roger Robinson and Kiki Hitomi

If you missed this event, fret not! A second Supersonic Taster event takes place at London’s Corsica Studios this Thursday 9th August. Tickets are available via http://www.corsicastudios.com/

And if you’d like to see more events like this happen, with line ups to be found nowhere else, support us via our We Fund campaign.

The Guardian today described

Supersonic is an excellent small festival of boundary-chafing music that takes place at Birmingham’s Custard Factory every October. As a hint of what to expect, the organisers are hosting a couple of “taster” nights this week, with acts from the electronic end of their wide-ranging brief. Godflesh’s Justin Broadrick and Kevin Martin, aka The Bug, have collaborated many times over the years – most significantly throughout the 90s as industrial hip-hop outfit Techno Animal – and these two nights find them showcasing their latest projects. Martin appears as part of heavyweight future-dub soundsystem King Midas Sound, while Broadrick performs as JK Flesh, a new beat-oriented guise that bridges Godflesh’s malefic grind and Jesu’s snowblind soundscapes. In Birmingham you can also catch the power electronics of Iron Fist Of The Sun, while “Romany surf-step” chap Glatze provides a bit of light relief in London.

Tickets for tonight can be purchased from HERE doors are at 7.30pm – we’ll be running a lovely real ale bar too
Eastside Projects can be found – 86 Heath Mill Lane  Birmingham, West Midlands B9 4AR

For tickets to the London show on Thursday see HERE

For full line up of Supersonic Festival 19-21 October see HERE & tickets are available from HERE

On Saturday 4th August, a very special event will get us all excited for the 10th edition of Supersonic – extending our birthday celebrations as much as possible! The Supersonic Taster at Eastside Projects in Birmingham will see a range of adventurous artists taking over the gallery space for an exciting one off event. Doors are 7.30pm and we will have a lovely Purity Ale and cider bar. Tickets are available via https://www.theticketsellers.co.uk

King Midas Sound System will take us on sonic adventures to the deep and heavy and will feature live vocals, exclusive remixes and astonishing sound design. Check out their Fact mix below:

JK Flesh aka Justin Broadrick of Godflesh, Napalm Death, Jesu will present the UK premier of his new project that explores the darker side of dubstep along with his inimitable guitar sound.

Bitter cold contemporary power electronics comes in the form of Iron Fist of the Sun, just don’t call it art noise!

Artist and instrument designer Sarah M Farmer will present ‘An Array of Events’, mixing traditional methods of sound production with DIY instruments and experimental techniques “in a bid to overcome the problem of being a lone performer with only the usual number of hands and limited instrumental skill.” Check out one of her previous installations below.

Pram and Modified Toy Orchestra percussionist Laurence Hunt will present a new solo percussive project combined with live electronics.

Jarboe will be bringing her “Intimate Indemnity” tour to Supersonic Festival 2012. This tour will feature Jarboe and classically trained pianist Renee Valentine Nelson performing songs of Swans and World Of Skin and solo Jarboe songs from her newest records entitled Indemnity 1 and 2 and will focus on singing, melody, intimacy.

World of Skin was a project by Michael Gira and Jarboe born out of Swans.