A council chamber complete with chandelier is an unlikely venue in which to experience some experimental electonica.

This is the setting for opening concert of the 4th edition of the Màntica Festival in Cesena, Italy. Over the course of nine days there is an eclectic programme of workshops, seminars, projections and concerts with no particular theme that I can detect other than to provide a showcase for artists operating well beyond the mainstream.

For the free concert by Guiseppe Lelasi, we are guided formally into the chamber. After the ad-hoc seating arrangements have been sorted out, the lights are switched off so that the only illumination is from Lelasi’s laptop and his mixing board. Visually, it was as exciting as watching a scientist doing late night research in his lab. Continue reading →