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Deep space hubbub >> The verbal vomit of Braaxtaal by MITSIKO MILLER
Well, that's what Braaxtaal sounds like. Braaxtaal, which apparently means "to vomit language," is a freakish trio from a small Dutch town called Woerden. Instigated by Jaap Blonk, the band has an experimental sound that combines the minimal electronica of Rob Daenen and the percussion of Theo Bodewes with Blonk's Dadaist poetry. Blonk is an amazing improviser, using "vocal utterances" that may or may not make sense to you. The truth is, Surrealists such as Lucebert and Antonin Artaud inspired Blonk to go farther in the name of the bizarre. In the 1930s, Artaud developed a visionary form of art called the Theater of Cruelty, where the rules of spoken language were set aside to allow for a mishmash of organized disorder. "The spirit of Artaud's work urged me to go to the limits of language, helped me transcend barriers," he says, "and gives me courage to do ANYTHING." Yeah, like going on stage and babbling things like "porr-porr porrporr." Basically, Blonk spills out "non-syntactical" words and sounds while performing. "Usually, people laugh, and in some situations they laugh with uneasiness." Sometimes they think Blonk's lost it, a bit like Artaud. In fact, I figured that it would be fun to do a comparative description of Artaud and Blonk... just for the heck of it. Artaud: Used to utter the weirdest sounds for hours, to the beat of a drum. Blonk: Uses vocal utterances on a bed of synthesizers and percussions. The audience usually ran away and disappeared while Artaud performed. Once, only one person showed up to Blonk's performance. But he's a trooper, and went all the way. At another performance, people threw beer at him. Most of Artaud's work was censored; Braaxtaal have been broadcast only a few times in Holland, their work being too bizarre for national radio. Artaud suffered lack of recognition throughout his entire life; although Blonk has been performing for more than 15 years, Braaxtaal is, Blonk says, "almost 100 per cent ignored in Holland." Artaud went to Mexico, hung out with Indians and took a lot of drugs. Blonk just came back from a South American tour. I dunno about the drugs, though. Artaud was completely bonkers and ping-ponged his way in and out of mental institutions. Lots of people think Blonk is kinda cuckoo when he performs. Braaxtaal perform at Cegep de Victoriaville as part of the Festival de Musique Actuelle, Monday, May 18, 1pm, $14
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Imagine this. You're walking down the Main. You bump into a friend (sound familiar?) and instead of saying the polite, "Hi, how are you," he babbles out: "Tjip-tjip-tjip tsing sjiet, puu-puu." And you're thinking, "Er, what the hell does THIS mean?" Surprised, you feel like you're in some Star Trek episode, speaking to an alien from a distant planet.