Vienna has always had a healthy non-conformist element to their arts scene, with a proliferation of festivals, venues, clubs, and artists,
all discovering fresh perspectives in recent times.
Formed in the mid 90s, into a global music scene embracing IDM, trip hop, and post-rock, Radian developed at speed linking with John McEntire and the Thrill Jockey label. Returning to the Chicago imprint for Distorted Rooms, the trio of Martin Brandlmayr (drums, electronics), Martin Siewert (guitar, electronics) and John Norman (bass) remain sonic detectives of the highest order. Working via the merest microtonal shift as a platform for composition, whispered synth or guitar notes may be overly amplified, and instruments played with such skill, you’ll hear precision electronica.
If your intoxicant is the nascent US IDM scene (Lusine, Proem) and/or a swathe of post rock flavours (God Speed You Black Emperor?) then this could be your nirvana. Somehow, Radian have retained the vibrancy and cliff edge tension of these idioms, filtered them with meticulously crafted interplay, a languid bpm, svelte electronica, and a whiff of kosmiche.
Radian helped breathe new life into the Viennese scene with the likes of Sofa Surfers, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Peter Rehberg alongside movers and shakers such as Shilla Strelka. Subsequently, they’ve been part of a movement paving a path for a wave of adventurous sound-shapers.
For a further taste of Vienna check out the industrial experimentation of Ursula Winterauer’s Gischt project or the avant-pop of Conny Frischauf. Then dive into the Ventil Records roster of adventurous delights.
