Alva Noto

Alva Noto

Carsten Nicolai as Noto, playing live at MUTEK 2004
Background information
Birth name Carsten Nicolai
Also known as Aleph-1, Alva Noto, Noto
Born 1965
Origin Karl-Marx-Stadt, Germany
Genres Electronica, Glitch, Microsound
Labels Raster-Noton, Mille Plateaux, Line
Associated acts Noto, Cyclo, Opto, Signal (german band)
Website www.alvanoto.com

Alva Noto is a stage name of sound artist Carsten Nicolai who uses art and music as complementary tools to create microscopic views of creative processes. Another alias he uses is Noto. He is a member of the music groups Signal (with Frank Bretschneider, AKA Komet and Olaf Bender, AKA Byetone) and Cyclo. (with Ryoji Ikeda).

Nicolai was born in Karl-Marx-Stadt, East Germany. His interest in sound and its physical qualities may be inspired by his childhood obsession with bats, whom as a child he believed he could communicate with. He first studied architecture and landscape design before pursuing an interest in the theoretical properties of sound and space. Resettling in Berlin in the early 1990s, Nicolai founded the experimental music label Noton as a platform for his conceptual and experimental musical concerns.[1] In 1996 this was to become Raster-Noton. Archiv Für Ton Und Nichtton with the collaboration of Olaf Bender.

Nicolai transforms sound by looping oscillators and tone generators. He does not use sequencers, but edits his work to give his compositions rhythmic structures. Clicks and glitches are not used as ornamental additions to the compositions but make up the essential rhythmic and harmonic elements of the work. He frequently samples electronic information transmission sounds such as fax tones, modem sounds and telephone pops and clicks are sampled and organised., among other overlooked sound sources.

Nicolai has recently written an opera, Sparkie: Cage and Beyond, in collaboration with Michael Nyman.[2]

Carsten Nicolai also works as a visual artist. Using the principles of Cymatics he visualizes sound. Nicolai’s practice is formed by a convergence of sound, painting and sculpture that results in installations exploring the idea of creativity filtered through modularized systems and codes. His music features prominently in his art. Nicolai’s work exposes the limitations, and potential beauty and creativity, possible within strict logical systems.

Nicolai has performed and created installations in many of the world's most prestigious spaces including the Guggenheim, New York, the SF MoMA, Modern Art Oxford, NTT Tokyo, Tate Modern and Venice Biennale, Italy. As a member (and co-founder) of the Raster-Noton label he was responsible for the acclaimed CD series '20 to 2000' that went on to win the Golden Nica prize at Prix Ars Electronica, 2000.

Contents

Selected discography

Solo albums

Solo EPs

Solo compilations

with Ryuichi Sakamoto

with Ryoji Ikeda

with Scanner (Robin Rimbaud)

with Blixa Bargeld, as ANBB

with Opiate (Thomas Knak), as "Opto"

with Zeitkratzer

Compilation appearances (exclusive/non-albums tracks)

Remixes

Installations, etc.

References

  1. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/alva-noto
  2. ^ "Linguistic budgie inspires opera". BBC News. 2009-03-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/7963007.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-23. 
  3. ^ alva noto: unitxt

External links