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Tomorrow Never Knows Fri Jan 17 2014
Day Two: Tomorrow Never Knows - Circuit Des Yeux, Tim Hecker, Oneohtrix Point Never 1/16/14 @ Lincoln Hall
This was the first time this reviewer had seen the one-piece wonder that is Haley Fohr of Circuit des Yeux. She was often able to use pedal effects to her advantage but perhaps even more amazing was her very deep and resounding voice with the powerful distinctiveness of a Patti Smith for this postmodern age. She didn't speak very much and so her personality remained a little mysterious but songs that often began rather gentle acquired a tone filled with anguish before their finish, which in a way speaks volumes on its own. She also has an incredible command over the projection of her voice as well which was both disarming and engaging.
The progression of Fohr's 40 minute set overall was quite similar to the way each song progressed. She sat for most of the set and her guitar sounded for the most part acoustic until near the end when the music grew to the height of its turbulence and she stood folded over her guitar then knelt on the stage, bringing her set to a memorable climax.
Tim Hecker was very difficult to see, even to the naked eye, but the point was more to feel the music vs. see it anyhow. 2013's Virgins was one of this photographer/reviewer's favorite albums of last year and the majority of Hecker's set bore some semblance to previously recorded songs. It was very different experiencing them so intensely loud as part of a shared experience, however, and by the end of the 50 minute long set, we were all the composite of a vibrating symphony that left us wholly changed.
In contrast, Oneohtrix Point Never's headlining set was more visually engaging, with assorted oddities projected on the screen above Daniel Lopatin -- but the soundscapes overall revolved around a much quirkier sound that made it less of an emotional experience and more par for the course of an interesting and fun night out.