Xiu Xiu Covers Mozart + More via New 7' From Cosmic Dreamer
By: Caryn Robbins
Venice Beach label Cosmic Dreamer Music has curated a collaboration between experimental musician Xiu Xiu and visual artist Heidi Hahn to produce a limited edition 7" with intricate packaging, available April 7. Today, BrooklynVegan is streaming Xiu Xiu's cover of Mozart's "Turkish March" to announce the record. Explains Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart of the choice to include "Turkish March" STREAM "TURKISH MARCH" HERE
"The 'Turkish March' is one of the first examples of 'exotica' in western music.Mozart had an idea of what Turkey was, what the east was, and he wrote a piece through that lens, although it has nothing to do with Turkish music or culture. In the same way that Martin Denny wrote 'Quiet Village'. it has nothing to do with Polynesian music at all, but it his idea of what that imaginary world is for a western listener. It is both a type of reverence and a type of racist domination.
In that they felt like they could take an concept they were moved by (this concept of course being an entire culture and history) and reduce it to a musical whim. And titularly, it is a comment on the Syrian refugee crisis with obvious implications and parallels." This is the second of Cosmic Dreamer's unique pairings, with the first being a collaboration between John Vanderslice and filmmaker Guy Maddin. The process begins with the musician handing their chosen two tracks over to a visual artist, who responds to them with a work of art that is then turned into a fine art print. Each limited edition includes a 7" record, a signed and numbered archival print, a small book containing thoughts on the tracks from both artist and musician as well as a certificate of authenticity all packaged together in hand silkscreened paper wrapping. These are limited to an edition of 200.
3/30 - Detroit, MI - El Club
3/31 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
4/1 - Jacksonville, FL - The Sleeping Giant Film Festival
4/6 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bazaar
4/7 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
4/8 - Harrisburg, PA - Cathedral Room and Der Maennerchor
4/9 - Baltimore, MD - The Wind-Up Space
4/11 - Jersey City, NJ - Monty Hall
4/12 - New Haven, CT - Bar
4/13 - Providence, RI - Columbus Theatre
4/14 - Portsmouth, NH - 3SArtspace
4/15 - Boston, MA - The Hardcore Stadium
