The High Seas presents:
Ducktails(USA)
Saturday October 10th
$10
With support from Ghostwave and Nigel Wright
Ducktails is the musical project of Matthew Mondanile originally from Ridgewood, New Jersey.
“On the other side of the globe, solo artist Ducktails approaches psychedelic music from a pop perspective. Born in Northern Jersey and a graduate of Western Massachusetts liberal arts magnet Hampshire College, Matt Mondanile constructs tropical mixed tapes from outer space.
Reached by phone before a show, Mondanile described his live performances as “like making a soundtrack to a movie on the spot.” Though his recordings are improvised, his live sets weave longer pieces together. Acting as a collagist, he uses samples and plays over them with a synthesizer or a guitar.
Asked about the influences of his work, Mondanile emphasized melody and a pop sensibility. He cited “oldies stations” on the radio as major touchstones. “I really like it when people can pick out melodies from the mush of sound they are presented with.”
Ducktails’ music shimmers and sparkles as interwoven and overlapping transmissions. Though he cites the solo work of Tangerine Dream member Edgar Froese as a touchstone, and has been in his share of punk and noise groups, Mondanile highlighted the significance of song-craft in neo psychedelic music.
Ghostwave:
Ghostwave is one of aucklands newest and most refreshing new artists, playing
an off-key blend of sunny psychedelic dances. Inspired by Lee Perry jams, Nintendo and guided by the ideal sound
in his head (like all artists making truly individual music), this is something you wont want to miss!
Nigel Wright:
Nigel Wright creates slabs of heavy drones, underlying rhythms trying to get out and sometimes succeeding, speakers sometimes complaining.... NW uses his laptop and guitar to aid him in creating these pieces with no particular beginning or ending points, more a filtering of a sound that already exists.
NW collaborates with Andrew Scott (half of Metal Rouge) as Nest, and with local artist Tim Coster as Cathedrals as well as helping to run The High Seas gallery/shop/venue with Auckland visual artist Sophie Watson.
