Amplification of Soul

On the occasion of the launch of his book “The Amplification of Soul” on the 1st November 2014, Gilles Aubry will present a performance of improvisation with recordings documenting a spiritual deliverance service recorded in 2011 in Kinshasa, Kongo at SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin. During collective praying sessions involving speaking-in-tongues and a massive sound-system, the church members oppose evil spirits causing various existential problems. The sound, powerful and over-distorted, attests both on their supernatural powers and their capacity for soul amplification. By extension, the performance also questions the devotion of noise music fans, addressing existing cultural boundaries between taste, faith and perception.

“L’Amplification des Âmes” (The Amplification of Souls) is a multi-channel audio essay by Gilles Aubry documenting the amplified religious soundscape of Kinshasa it was first presented at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin. Created originally for the 80 loudspeakers orchestra GRM Acousmonium, the piece has been presented in an 8-channels version for the Global Prayers Theme Days at HKW, Berlin (23-26 February 2012).

Over a month during summer 2011, Aubry recorded the sonic activities of various Christian charismatic communities in Kinshasa’s public space, including soul deliverance ceremonies, street preachers and evangelization campaigns.
The work also contains sound excerpts from the audiovisual archive of the Libambu Ministry Church and horror movie soundtracks found in OFF-cinemas.

The piece stresses the importance of audio amplification technology in the construction of modern African religious identites, while simultaneously enabling the perpetuation of traditional elements.

Book Launch and Live Performance

Saturday, 1st November 2014, 5pm

SAVVY Contemporary | Richardstr. 20 | 12043 Berlin-Neukölln

Further info & video excerpts under: www.earpolitics.net