Story and Photos by Bill Snyder

(Sounding Board, Jan. 2002) On Nov. 9 and 10, Sonic Circuits IX: International Festival of Electronic Music and Art kicked off its season at the Minneapolis club Sursumcorda. The Forum's annual festival comprises a caravan of curated works that travels the world (in human and digital manifestations) to form the basis for a multitude of events that span the globe (not unlike the "Wide World Of Sports").

After several years of large-scale opening events (imagine six stages running simultaneously at St. Paul's Landmark Center), the move to the cozy club marked what producer Chris Strouth called "an attempt to get back to our roots and try something intimate." Intimate it was, as 300 people packed the club over two nights. And it was also a return to the "roots," given the festival's humble origins in a Macalester College chapel and subsequent move to the 100-seat Red Eye Theatre.

The first evening showcased a wide range of audio and video art from the Sonic Circuits IX roster. The assortment of work ranged from Tom Heasley's set of ambient tuba to Preston Wright's demonstration of his "Uptown Sound Labyrinth," an interactive game from the "Sonic Circuits IX" CD. With the aid of the Internet, a large projection screen, and CU See Me software, new-media artist David Birchfield made a virtual appearance from New York City. Birchfield demonstrated his "Interactions" (available from www.SonicCircuits.com), a program that grabs elements from various Web sites and manipulates them into a living work of art. Jack Pavlik and Lorren Stafford brought the night to a close with "Sound Sculpture," a duet for cello and Pavlik's stunning music machine. Words fail here, but the photograph speaks volumes.

Night two featured performances by members of Future Perfect, a loose-knit Twin Cities collective of largely ambient artists headed by Strouth. (Future Perfect's CD, "The Nature of Time," was released last year on innova Recordings.) From Mike Croswell's mix of didjeridu, French horn, and electronics to Chuck Zwicky's beautifully sprawling ambient guitar work, the evening formed a seamless mesh of sounds and textures. Bringing it all home was an off-the-cuff set by DJ Terra Incognita - a mix of beats and unexpected pop-music twists that blew away the house. (Really, you had to be there.)

"The beautiful thing about this is that it isn't about any one sound or style," said Forum Senior Program Director Philip Blackburn following the performances. "Sonic Circuits is a summit that brings together artists and fans exploring all forms of electronic art. From pop music to interactive video to electro-funk to - well where else are you going to find ambient tuba? It's all here."

Visit the virtual festival and find out about events near you at the Sonic Circuit's Web site: www.SonicCircuits.com.