01-18 Ben Frost Neglects the Scope
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Ben Frost (born 1980 in Melbourne, Australia, now based in Reykjavík, Iceland) is a musician, composer and producer, whose
early work included the independently released ambient electronic EP Music for Sad Children (2000) and for his band
School of Emotional Engineering. However Frost is probably most widely recognized for his experimental music drawing widely
on influences of minimalism, post-punk, black metal and noise best demonstrated on the 2007 release Theory of
Machines.
Frost’s compositional catalog includes Music for Sad Children, the ambient guitar ...read more
Ben Frost (born 1980 in Melbourne, Australia, now based in Reykjavík, Iceland) is a musician, composer and producer, whose
early work included the independently released ambient electronic EP Music for Sad Children (2000) and for his band
School of Emotional Engineering. However Frost is probably most widely recognized for his experimental music drawing widely
on influences of minimalism, post-punk, black metal and noise best demonstrated on the 2007 release Theory of
Machines.
Frost’s compositional catalog includes Music for Sad Children, the ambient guitar exploration Steel Wound (2003,
and reissued in 2007, Room40), described by Pitchfork Media as "an exemplary ambient experience", the widely critically
acclaimed LP Theory of Machines on the Icelandic record label Bedroom Community, an album which earned Frost huge
critical acclaim and it could be said, cemented his place as an artist on the global stage, and his most recent album, A U
RO R A, released on Bedroom Community in 2014.
Ben Frost has performed and collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Amiina, American composer Nico Muhly, Tim Hecker
and Björk. He is the closest collaborator of Icelandic producer/engineer/composer Valgeir Sigurðsson in Greenhouse Studios
Reykjavik Iceland, often contributing programming work to Sigurðsson’s productions. It is within Greenhouse that the majority
of Frost’s work is produced, often in collaboration of Sigurðsson.
Frost is a member of Cicada, a contemporary arts collective that produces large scale audio visual installations and
performances that focus on the intersection between biology and technology- a relationship perhaps best demonstrated inthe
Audio/Video installation piece MOB, an exploration of the human crowd, that utilized schooling fish and processed choral
recordings. Frost is also a widely respected composer for both film and Contemporary Dance, having collaborated extensively
with companies such as the Australian Based Chunky Move, the Icelandic Dance Company, and acclaimed Icelandic
dancer/coreographer Erna Ómarsdottír. Frost earned a Helpmann Academy award nomination for the Chunky Move production
Mortal Engine.
Frost is commonly mistaken for fellow Australian visual artist Ben Frost, as both are of similar age and have collaborated on
projects together.
After a single original visit in 2002 culminating in collaborations with Valgeir Sigurðsson and a remix commission from Björk, In
early 2005 Frost relocated to and has since become a permanent resident of Reykjavík, Iceland. Since 2005 he has
collaborated with various local artists and musicians.
As a performer Frost has performed extensively throughout Europe, the US and Australia. His live performances are guitar
oriented, utilizing real-time signal processing and several high powered guitar and bass amplifiers such as the Ampeg SVT and
often contain moments of extreme volume with a particular emphasis on the sub-bass aspects of his work. In a live setting
this makes for extremely physical performances that can verge on infrasonic.
Frost regularly performed live between 2002-2005 as School of Emotional Engineering - a live band formed to perform work
from the Ben Frost album of the same name. S.E:E was composed of four to five performers, focusing less on the computer
oriented compositions of his current work and more on a sound influenced by post-rock.
Between 2003-2004 Frost performed regularly as a member of the now defunct Sydney-based band The Husbands alongside
fellow experimental artists Oren Ambarchi and Scott Horscroft. The Husbands was a 9-12 piece band comprised mostly of
guitarists, largely inspired by the work of Glenn Branca and Rhys Chatham. The Husbands few, but notorious live
performances culminated in a live collaboration with ex-Can vocalist Damo Suzuki. The Husbands, along with Horscroft’s
acclaimed 2003 LP 8 Guitars provided the main influence for Frost’s 2007 piece Music For 6 Guitars which has been performed
at a handful of mostly European festivals. « hide |
Similar Bands: Tim Hecker, School of Emotional Engineering, The Haxan Cloak, Roly Porter, Kangding Ray Contributors: Deviant., oltnabrick, Meatplow, someone, insomniac15, Sinternet, TwigTW, adr, Frippertronics, oltnabrick,
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