Fennesz


Christian Fennesz 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. 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. 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. In 1995, he released his first EP Instrument, which explored electro-acoustic and ambient stylings.
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. 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 ". 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.
In 2001, Fennesz released his third studio album Endless Summer to widespread critical praise and recognition. He collaborated with figures such as David Sylvian, Keith Rowe, eRikm, and Ryuichi Sakamoto in the following years, and released the albums Venice and Black Sea to further critical praise.
In 2009, Fennesz teamed up with Mark Linkous to create In the Fishtank 15. The following year, Fennesz released Szampler, 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. In 2011, he released the Seven Stars EP. In that year, 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. In 2014, he released the studio album Bécs. In 2015, he collaborated with UK group King Midas Sound on the album Edition 1. He released a collaborative album with Jim O'Rourke, It's Hard for Me to Say I'm Sorry. He then released Agora and Mosaic.

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. In both studio and live settings, he routes his guitar through effects pedals and into his computer. There, it is processed and combined with Ppooll software plugins and tools such as samplers, synthesizers, effects, and MIDI controllers.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Hotel Paral.lel
  • Plus Forty Seven Degrees 56' 37" Minus Sixteen Degrees 51' 08"
  • Endless Summer
  • Venice
  • Black Sea
  • Bécs
  • Agora
  • ''Mosaic''

    Collaboration albums

  • Afternoon Tea with Oren Ambarchi, Pimmon, Peter Rehberg & Keith Rowe; Ritornell, 2000)
  • GRM Experience
  • Cloud
  • Cendre
  • Til the Old World's Blown Up and a New One Is Created
  • In the Fishtank 15
  • Knoxville
  • Remiksz
  • Flumina
  • Edition 1
  • AirEffect
  • It's Hard for Me to Say I'm Sorry
  • ''Senzatempo''

    Compilation albums

  • Field Recordings: 1995–2002
  • ''Szampler''

    Live recordings

  • Live at Revolver, Melbourne
  • Live at the LU
  • Sala Santa Cecilia
  • Live in Japan
  • Live @ The V. Sessions
  • ''Mahler Remixed''

    Studio EPs

  • Instrument
  • Il Libro Mio
  • Plays
  • Plays
  • Plays
  • Seven Stars
  • ''The Last Days of May''

    Singles, tracks, guest collaborations, etc.

  • "Wrapped Islands"
  • "Erstlive 004"
  • "On a Desolate Shore a Shadow Passes By"
  • "Transition"
  • "Saffron Revolution"
  • "Future Back" and "Impassive Skies"
  • "Fearless"

    Remixes

  • "IVEND 00", based on material from Attention: Cats by Various Artists
  • Remixed "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "The Future Sound of Music" by Ulver
  • Remixed "Weight" by Isis
  • Remixed "In This Twilight" by Nine Inch Nails
  • Remixed "Returnal" by Oneohtrix Point Never
  • Remixed "The Visitor" by Miracle
  • Remixed "Shikaku Kakumei" by Sōtaisei Riron

    Soundtracks

  • Beyond the Ocean
  • Gelbe Kirschen
  • Blue Moon
  • Platform#09 Chicago
  • Film ist. a girl & a gun
  • ''AUN: The Beginning and the End of All Things''

    In Fenn O'Berg

  • The Magic Sound of Fenn O'Berg
  • The Return of Fenn O'Berg
  • Magic & Return
  • ''In Stereo''

    Tribute to Fennesz

  • Tim Hecker "Mirages"
  • Lcoma "Fennesz"

    With Food">Food (band)">Food

  • Quiet Inlet
  • Mercurial Balm
  • ''This Is Not a Miracle''