Unfortunately, I missed most of this week's Unsound Festival New York: the inaugural stateside edition of Poland's leading electronic and experimental music festival, founded in Krakow in 2003. But, I did manage to roll down the hill to Issue Project Room Tuesday night, where a program called "Easter Promises" showcased sound artists from eastern Europe. For an off night (and with a blizzard threatening), the Old Can Factory was packed with people speaking Russian, Polish and British, among other languages.
Polish producer Zenial laid down a drone-laden set while Ukranian Zavoloka used beats and live electronics that vacillated between pretty and menacing. In between, local experimental artist (and IPR regular) Bora Yoon delivered a beautiful and shattering performance, using processing to transform her ethereal voice while Luke Dubois' fractured projections filled the wall behind.
The Unsound Festival continues through Sunday, with shows at IPR, Public Assembly and Rose as well as panel sessions at the Wyoming Building on East 3rd St. More info available on the festival website. (More pics below.)
