Listen Behind You – An Installation

Since Jimi Hendrix at the latest, every rock fan knows what feedback is: a generally tremendous, rapidly swelling sound created by a direct back-coupling between the electric guitar and the loudspeaker which reproduces itself, as it were. Lou Reed, guitarist of the legendary band The Velvet Underground and Laurie Anderson’s partner from 1992 until his death in 2013, probably penetrated the mysteries of feedback more deeply and systematically than many other musicians who found themselves fascinated by this mighty sound. In the installation »Listen Behind You« that Lou Reed’s guitar technician Stewart Hurwood sets up on the deceased master’s original guitars and amps, 24 guitar strings interact and vibrate together with magnetic loudspeakers. In the process, they produce the legendary so-called »drones«, whose sound characteristics Hurwood can influence to a certain extent, but which in the final event come crashing down on the listener like ocean waves. Unrepeatable and unique, but still utterly dependable in that they will certainly recur.

Please note: The installation is at times very loud. Ear plugs for protection against the intermittent high volume levels are available at the entrance to Kaistudio 1. The installation will run for four hours on each of the first two »Reflector« afternoons respectively: 16:00-20:00. Admission is possible at any time.