This gig was one of a series of official and semi-official events. Because of Otomo Yoshihide's connections, FEN could attend some events with international travel expenses covered, and every time we take the opportunity to make a tour again or do something else, this concert was the same. After Kyoto’s gig, we toured in some other cities too. The expenses ended up being just barely even, but it was still quite enjoyable. One day with a luxurious reception, and the next day in a punk squat, touring is always like that. The space for this show is inside Nijō Castle, a historical-cultural monument. The acoustic there is special. To protect from assassins back then, the shogun built a floor that can generate the sound of birds chirping when people step on it. We tried and it really chirped. But that was not a part of the performance then.
- Yan Jun
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FEN (Far East Network) is an improvised music project group made up of musicians from different parts of Asia. The quartet comprises Otomo Yoshihide (Japan), Ryu Hankil (Korea), Yan Jun (China) and Yuen Chee Wai (Singapore). FEN was started by globally renowned musician Otomo Yoshihide and it made its debut 2008 at MIMI Festival in Marseilles, France. Following its debut, FEN has performed extensively throughout Europe and all across Asia.
Each member is an artist who works individually in experimental music scene in his respective country. Each has been supporting each other's activities by organizing concerts in his own country, and this relationship became the motivation to form FEN.
FEN pursues 'performing together by improvisation' as a method and 'music without ends' as an outcome. While FEN is an improvisational music group it is at the same time an idea or concept which hopes to maintain unique aesthetics and sustainable relationships in diverse Asian cultures. FEN's activities explore aesthetic possibilities in new forms of music which are different from the Western world. FEN's goals are to become a foundation and to organize diverse meetings to support other sustainable networks and cultural exchanges among many other experimental musicians and artists in and throughout Asia. FEN further hopes to work with musicians and artists of other disciplines (traditional and contemporary) from all across Asia.
credits
released April 1, 2022
Recorded live by:
Koji Sato (Slim Chance Audio)
October 7th, 2017
Nijō Castle Ninomaru-goten Palace Daidokoro
During Culture City of East Asia 2017
Organized by Culture City of East Asia 2017
Kyoto Executive Committee, Kyoto City
In partnership with Kyoto Art Center
Edited, mixed, and mastered by Lasse Marhaug
Design & layout by Ruò Tán 若潭
Photo by Yoshikazu Inoue
Thanks to Tamura Takeshi (P-hour)
For production management and friendship
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