Hendrik Dorgathen
I really like his work, this rare connection between exaction and openess or plainness: not to shy away from dirtying one´s hands and stay smart nevertheless.
I think his website is gorgeous. Although it already has a few years under its belt.
www.dorgathen.org
Daniel Depoutot
His sculptures have already become real good friends. And he himself anyway.
www.danieldepoutot.com
Wandelweiser
This is a composers´ association with its own label. I don´t know any of them personally. But I like the basic approach: no accentuated, highlighted sounds or moments, the carrying-to-extremes of the non-expressive. And the stillness or silence as main focus of the work. Often long compositions, in which little happens, with long pauses: excercises of perception for advanced learners; quite far away from the common pattern of our reception; lapidary. For example the complete text of Antoine Beugers aus dem garten (From the Garden) for two performers is:
one tone. / rather short. / very low. / the two performers alternately have 10 minutes time to spare. / during their respective time they play the tone once or remain still. / the piece lasts a couple of hours.
www.timescraper.de
La Grande Ourse
La Grande Ourse, named after the zodiac sign The Great Bear, is a Tai Chi organisation in the southwest of France, around hundred kilometers away from Bordeaux, with a wonderful teacher, Jean-Jacques Sagot.
Someone who in summer wants to practice Tai Chi all day long, for a week or two, should remember this adress.
www.lagrandeourse.org
Metamkine
This French sales and distribution company has already bestowed on me many a wonderful musical surprise. Regular newsletters with prosaic, short descriptions of the respectively introduced cd let me get to know unfamiliar or new musicians and sounds.
www.metamkine.com
cdbaby
That really sounds good: cdbaby distributes cds by artists without any recording contract. Everybody can get registered there, for a fee (right now it´s 35 dollars).
The cds neither get evaluated or judged, selected nor censored. And there is no minimum sales volume.
For each cd a small website with audio examples and no adverts will be installed.
That sounds good, doesn´t it? I hope, it also is as good as it sounds.
www.cdbaby.com