Fennesz

Christian Fennesz
Fennesz performing in Bethesda, Maryland, September 2010
Background information
Birth name	Christian Fennesz
Also known as	Fennesz
Born	(1962-12-25) 25 December 1962
Origin	Vienna, Austria
Genres	Ambient, electronic
Instruments	Guitar, laptop
Labels	Mego, Touch
Associated acts	Fenn O'Berg
Website	fennesz.com

Christian Fennesz (born 25 December 1962) is an Austrian guitarist active in electronic music, often credited on recordings simply as Fennesz.

Fennesz uses guitar and notebook computers to make multilayered compositions that blend melody and treated samples with glitch-influenced sounds and washes of white noise.^[1]^[2] He lives and works in Vienna, Austria.

Biography

Fennesz was born and raised in Austria and studied music formally in art school. He started playing guitar around the age of 8 or 9.^[3]

In 2009 Fennesz teamed up with Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) to create In the Fishtank 15. The following year Fennesz released Szampler,^[4] a cassette containing his sample collection on the Tapeworm label. This release was later remixed by Stefan Goldmann and released as Goldmann vs. Fennesz: Remiksz.^[5]

In 2011, he appeared on the live Ulver release The Norwegian National Opera, contributing guitar and effects to "Not Saved."

In November 2013, Fennesz played the final holiday camp edition of the world famous All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.^[6]

Influences

The emphasis on the guitar texture and the burying of pop melodies under layers of effects are common features of Fennesz's music. Ultimately, this is something that can be traced to the various Fripp & Eno collaborations of the 1970s; and the early guitar synthesis work of Chuck Hammer who recorded with Lou Reed and David Bowie. Also, the music of the Beach Boys has had an influence on Fennesz, as revealed by his cover of “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)” on the Plays EP. The Beach Boys influence is mentioned in a Pitchforkmedia interview, in relation to the album title, cover art, and melodic emphasis of his Endless Summer LP.

Discography

Studio albums

(1997) Hotel Paral.lel (Mego)
(1999) Plus Forty Seven Degrees 56' 37" Minus Sixteen Degrees 51' 08" (Touch)
(2001) Endless Summer (Mego)
(2004) Venice (Touch)
(2008) Black Sea (Touch)
(2010) Szampler (Tapeworm)
(2014) Bécs (Editions Mego)

Collaboration albums

(2005) Cloud with Keith Rowe, Toshimaru Nakamura and Oren Ambarchi (Erstwhile)
(2007) Cendre with Sakamoto (Touch)
(2009) In the Fishtank 15 with Sparklehorse (Konkurrent)
(2010) Knoxville with David Daniell and Tony Buck (Thrill Jockey)
(2010) Remiksz with Stefan Goldmann (Tapeworm)
(2011) Flumina with Sakamoto (Commmons/Touch)

Compilations

(2002) Field Recordings: 1995-2002 (Touch)

Live recordings

(2000) Live at Revolver, Melbourne live EP (Touch)
(2004) Live at the LU with Keith Rowe (Erstwhile)
(2005) Sala Santa Cecilia live EP with Ryuichi Sakamoto (Touch)
(2005) Live in Japan CD (Headz/Touch, 2003) and LP (Autofact/Touch)
(2009) Live @ The V. Sessions streaming video recording (The V. Sessions), 2009
(2014) Mahler Remixed (no label) - download only via Bandcamp

Studio EPs

(1995) Instrument 12" vinyl (Mego)
(1998) Il Libro Mio EP (Tanz Hotel)
(1998) Plays 7" (Mego)
(1999) Plays CDEP (Moikai)
(2006) Plays 10" vinyl (Editions Mego)
(2011) Seven Stars CDEP/10" vinyl (Touch)

Singles, tracks

(2002) "Wrapped Islands" with Polwechsel (Erstwhile)
(2005) "Erstlive 004" with Peter Rehberg, Sachiko M and Otomo Yoshihide (Erstwhile)
(2007) "On a desolate shore a shadow passes by" (Touch) - download only
(2008) "Transition" (Touch)
(2008) "Saffron Revolution" (Touch) - download only
(2011) "Fearless" (Thrill Jockey) - contribution for the Benefit for the Recovery in Japan compilation

Remixes

(2003) Remixed "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "The Future Sound Of Music" (titled "Only the Poor have to Travel") by Ulver on 1993-2003: A Decade In The Machines (Jester Records)
(2005) Remixed "Weight" by Isis on Oceanic Remixes Vol. 4 (Ipecac)
(2007) Remixed "In This Twilight" by Nine Inch Nails on Year Zero Remixed (Interscope)
(2010) Remixed "Returnal" by Oneohtrix Point Never on Returnal Maxi Single 7" (Editions Mego)
(2011) Remixed "The Visitor" by Miracle on Fluid Window
(2011) Remixed "Shikaku Kakumei" (titled "QSMJAF") by Sōtaisei Riron on Tadashii Sōtaisei Riron (Commmons/Mirai Records)

Soundtracks

(1999) Beyond the Ocean (USA)
(2000) Gelbe Kirschen (Austria), directed by Leopold Lummerstorfer
(2002) Blue Moon (Austria), written and directed by Andrea Maria Dusl
(2005) Platform#09 Chicago loo (France) by Cedrick Eymenier
(2009) Film ist. a girl & a gun (Austria), directed by Gustav Deutsch, with Lucia Pulido, Martin Siewert, Burkhard Stangl (7", Interstellar Records, Austria 2009)
(2012) AUN: The Beginning and the End of All Things (Ash International)

In Fenn O'Berg

(1999) The Magic Sound of Fenn O'Berg (Mego)
(2002) The Return of Fenn O'Berg (Mego)
(2009) Magic & Return Double CD reissue (Editions Mego)
(2010) In Stereo (Mego)

Tribute to Fennesz

(2004) Tim Hecker "Mirages" (Alien8 Recordings) - Incurably optimistic
(2012) Lcoma "Fennesz" (Unsigned) - Musical influence

References

↑ Sean Cooper (1962-12-25). "Fennesz | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/endless-summer-mw0000214303
↑ "fastsearchfinder.com". Semtexinc.com. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
↑ "The Tapeworm presents... TTW#16 - Fennesz - Szampler". Tapeworm.org.uk. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
↑ "The Tapeworm presents... TTW#26 - Goldmann vs Fennesz - Remiksz". Tapeworm.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
↑ "End Of An Era Part 2 curated by ATP & Loop - All Tomorrow's Parties". Atpfestival.com. Retrieved 2014-07-16.

External links

Media related to Fennesz at Wikimedia Commons

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