French composer and musician Pierre Bastien played first in some collective bands, and with the Dominique Bagouet Dance Company. In 1976 he built a sound sculpture that was going to be the first element of a large orchestra called Mecanium : an ensemble of musical automatons made of meccano parts and electro-motors, playing on acoustic instruments from all over the world. In the nineties the mechanical orchestra developed up to 80 pieces. It took part in music festivals and art exhibitions in Norway (World Music Days 1990), Australia (Tisea 1992), Japan (Artec 1995), Canada (Fimav 1995, Sound Symposium 1998), Poland (Warsaw Autumn 1995), United States (Flea Festival 1996). In the recent years, Pierre Bastien and his machines collaborated with video artist Pierrick Sorin, fashion designer Issey Miyake, British singer and composer Robert Wyatt, Trottola circus company, musicians Alexei Aigi, Dr Truna, Steve Arguelles, Pascal Comelade and Jaki Liebezeit, among others. His music is released on Western Vinyl, Signature, Rephlex, Morphine, Discrepant and Marionette Records.
