Marc Matter, Stefan Römer – Deconceptual Voicings LP

Slimvolume, UK 2019 A collection of musical compositions derived from film interviews with conceptual artists, including Martha Rosler, Art & Language, Andrea Fraser, Ed Ruscha, Shilpa Gupta, Sol LeWitt, Lawrence Weiner and Yvonne Rainer. “Deconceptual Voicings consists of individual tracks composed from interviews with artists primarily recorded for the film essay Conceptual Paradise. We selected statements and transformed them into a musical composition, i.e. we turned the audio material (field recordings) into songs. Only speech and language material were used. Sound fragments, syllables and consonants were processed into rhythmic patterns, while slogans, statements and text passages were sampled into sprechgesang. We understand global conceptualisms as practices to oppose reactionary backlash. For us, this project marks a critical difference to the tendencies in the digitized commercialization of contemporary art. Our aim is to signify a strategic artistic activity, to challenge recent cultural conditions and to prevent depression. To SCREAM about the contemporary conditions would be an understandable gesture. Instead, you may perform a neo-emancipatory dance. This is an homage to all the artists involved. By calling it Deconceptual Voicings we suggest a global polyphony of positions and sounds. Good ideas should be amplified.”