Fennesz

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Christian Fennesz (born 25 December 1962) is an Austrian producer and guitarist active in electronic music since the 1990s, often credited mononymously as Fennesz. His work utilizes guitar and laptop computers to blend melody with treated samples and glitch production.<ref name="Wsj">Template:Cite news</ref> He lives and works in Vienna, and currently records on the UK label Touch.

Fennesz first received widespread recognition for his 2001 album Endless Summer, released on the Austrian label Mego. He has collaborated with a number of artists, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jim O'Rourke, Ulver, David Sylvian, and King Midas Sound.

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He initially performed as a member of the Austrian experimental rock band Maische before signing to electronic music label Mego as a solo artist. The influence of techno led him to begin composing with a laptop.<ref name="villagevoice.com"/> In 1995, he released his first EP Instrument, which explored electro-acoustic and ambient stylings.<ref name=allmusic>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1997, Fennesz released his debut full-length album Hotel Paral.lel, which saw him delve more explicitly into laptop production and early glitch aesthetics.<ref name="Wsj"/> He followed with the 1998 single Plays, which contained near-unrecognizable covers of the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" and the Beach Boys' "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)".<ref name=allmusic/> In the following years, he collaborated with a variety of artists, including Peter "Pita" Rehberg and Jim O'Rourke as part of Fenn O'Berg.<ref name=allmusic/>

In 2001, Fennesz released his third studio album Endless Summer to widespread critical praise and recognition.<ref name="igloo">Template:Cite web</ref> He collaborated with figures such as David Sylvian, Keith Rowe, eRikm, and Ryuichi Sakamoto in the following years, and released the albums Venice (2004) and Black Sea (2007) to further critical praise.<ref name=allmusic/>

In 2009, Fennesz teamed up with Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) to create In the Fishtank 15. The following year, Fennesz released Szampler,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, he released the studio album Bécs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2015, he collaborated with UK group King Midas Sound on the album Edition 1.<ref name=allmusic/> He released a collaborative album with Jim O'Rourke, It's Hard for Me to Say I'm Sorry (2016).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then released Agora (2019)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Mosaic (2024).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Recording techniques

Since the 1990s, Fennesz has worked with the programming software Max/MSP and the free patch Ppooll, which he runs in conjunction with the workstation Logic 9.<ref name="Cycling">Template:Cite web</ref> In both studio and live settings, he routes his guitar through effects pedals (including a custom distortion box) and into his computer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There, it is processed and combined with Ppooll software plugins and tools such as samplers, synthesizers, effects, and MIDI controllers.<ref name="Cycling"/>

Discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

Compilation albums

  • Field Recordings: 1995–2002 (Touch, 2002)
  • Szampler (Tapeworm, 2010)

Live recordings

  • Live at Revolver, Melbourne (EP; Touch, 2000)
  • Live at the LU (with Keith Rowe; Erstwhile, 2004)
  • Sala Santa Cecilia (EP with Ryuichi Sakamoto; Touch, 2005)
  • Live in Japan (CD; Headz/Touch, 2003) (LP; Autofact/Touch, 2005)
  • Live @ The V. Sessions (streaming video recording; The V. Sessions, 2009)<ref>SoundCloud (archived)</ref>
  • Mahler Remixed (vinyl; Touch, 2014)

Studio EPs

  • Instrument (12" vinyl; Mego, 1995)
  • Il Libro Mio (EP; Tanz Hotel, 1998)
  • Plays (7" vinyl; Mego, 1998)
  • Plays (CD EP; Moikai, 1999)
  • Plays (10" vinyl; Editions Mego, 2006)
  • Seven Stars (CD EP/10" vinyl; Touch, 2011)
  • The Last Days of May (CD EP; Longform Editions, 2025)

Singles, tracks, guest collaborations, etc.

  • "Wrapped Islands" (with Polwechsel; Erstwhile, 2002)
  • "Erstlive 004" (with Peter Rehberg, Sachiko M, and Otomo Yoshihide; Erstwhile, 2005)
  • "On a Desolate Shore a Shadow Passes By" (download only; Touch, 2007)
  • "Transition" (Touch, 2008)
  • "Saffron Revolution" (download only; Touch, 2008)
  • "Future Back" and "Impassive Skies" (with Patrick Pulsinger, on Pulsinger's album Impassive Skies; Disko B, 2010)
  • "Fearless" (contribution for the Benefit for the Recovery in Japan compilation; Thrill Jockey, 2011)

Remixes

  • "IVEND 00", based on material from Attention: Cats by Various Artists (on rkk13cd; Reckankreuzungsklankewerkzeuge, 2001)
  • 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, 2003)
  • Remixed "Weight" by Isis (on Oceanic Remixes Vol. 4; Ipecac, 2005)
  • Remixed "In This Twilight" by Nine Inch Nails (on Year Zero Remixed; Interscope, 2007)
  • Remixed "Returnal" by Oneohtrix Point Never (on Returnal maxi single 7" vinyl; Editions Mego, 2010)
  • Remixed "The Visitor" by Miracle (on Fluid Window; 2011)
  • Remixed "Shikaku Kakumei" (titled "QSMJAF") by Sōtaisei Riron (on Tadashii Sōtaisei Riron; Commmons/Mirai Records, 2011)

Soundtracks

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

In Fenn O'Berg

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

Tribute to Fennesz

  • Tim Hecker "Mirages" (incurably optimistic; Alien8 Recordings, 2004)
  • Lcoma "Fennesz" (musical influence; Unsigned, 2012)

With Food

See also

References

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Further reading

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