Marina Rosenfeld

PA/Hard Love

BY Nilan PereraPublished Aug 18, 2013

8
Marina Rosenfeld's work crosses the borders between installation, performance and sound art, involving massive, site-specific installations of subwoofers and speaker configurations. This particular release is, by definition, only a part of a conceptual experience that one must be engaged by to get the full effect presented by the artist. However, as a sound work, it succeeds admirably as a standalone effort: ambient urban sounds are punctuated by swelling electro-acoustic artefacts and throbbing bass figures. These gestures are radically contextualised by the vocal toasting of Warrior Queen, whose Jamaican patois (recorded in Kingston, JA), entreaties and chants provide a subtle and sly reflection on electroacoustic formalism. The title track also rocks some dancehall beats in a dub vs. electroacoustic sound clash that is quite rewarding in its implications — standing back and engaging in both forms. This work is a refreshing example on how high art aesthetics can be brought to earth.
(Room 40)

Latest Coverage