Building on his genre-busting animated/stop motion video opera
Video Musics (2009 Sickroom(US) / Africantape(EU)), Alexis Gideon,
after two years of dogged research and collaboration, is set to premiere that
work’s follow-up, Video Musics II: Sun Wu-Kong (Disjecta in Portland, September 3).
A one-hour multimedia video opera based on the 16th-century Chinese novel
The Journey to the West, Video Musics II joins the brightest lights of contemporary
animation (Becca Taylor (Punk Planet, Arthur); Cynthia Star
(Coraline, Moral Orel, Robot Chicken); Ezra Claytan Daniels
(The Changers and Black Violet)) with the most promising
talents of contemporary music (Rachel Blumberg (M Ward, Arch Cape);
Cory Gray (Norfolk & Western, Carcrashlander); Shelley Short (Hush)) to
create an aural and visual universe that gleefully transcends both media.
Is it film or music, high art or pop? Gideon’s work would fit snugly
at either the Whitney Biennial or SXSW, which is to say it cannot be
contained, really, by either venue. Marked throughout by the ambition,
commitment to detail, and refusal to settle that have earned Gideon a
cult following on both sides of the pond.
Alexis Gideon has toured nationally with Dan Deacon and
Shelley Short as
well as played with Barr, Marnie Stern, Panther,
Tune Yards
Parts and Labor, Zs, People,
Matt and Kim, and many, many others.
The limited edition DVD/Vinyl release is slated for fall/winter 2010 on Africantape (EU) / Slowtrain (US).
CREDITS
Written and Directed by: Alexis Gideon
Animation, Character Design, and Set Design by:
Ezra Claytan Daniels
Shelley Short
Cynthia Star
Becca Taylor
Alexis Gideon
Music Composed, Performed and Produced by: Alexis Gideon
With:
Rachel Blumberg: Drums
Matt Meyer: Drums
Brian Wright: Drums
Cory Gray: Trumpet
Jessica Wright: Bari and Tenor Sax
Shelley Short: Backup Vocals
Recorded by: Alexis Gideon at Liophant Studios
Rap Vocals Recorded by: Jason Powers at Type Foundry
Mastered by: Timothy Stollenwerk at Stereophonic Mastering
“There isn’t anyone doing anything remotely like Alexis Gideon. The songwriter/guitarist has just completed his second multimedia-animated-hiphop-film-opera, Video Musics II: Sun Wu-Kong, and it's an absolutely mind-boggling piece of work… …Interpolating themes and motifs throughout, he's written something compellingly unique, combining hiphop, prog, Eastern modes, and some very psychedelic rock…The music didn't need to be excellent in order for the project to be impressive, but Gideon's compositions are weird and gorgeous, more than strong enough to stand on their own”
Ned Lannamann, Portland Mercury
“Alexis Gideon’s boundless imagination is only surpassed by his ambition to meld music, story and animation into one alternate universe that anyone can connect with.”
Patrick McGinn, Flagpole
“Frequent words used to describe Alexis Gideon’s work include “weird,” “strange” or “offbeat,” but a more apt signifier is simply “nonparallel.” The Portland-based multi-instrumentalist is without a doubt one of a kind in his fusion of music, visuals and dense cultural lore, combining rich historical texts and high-end concepts with street-smart appeal.”
Jamie Gadette, City Weekly
