Sunday 4 May 2025, 7.30pm
Legendary composer, performer, and visual artist Charlemagne Palestine has joined forces with Oren Ambarchi, the groundbreaking Australian guitarist and sound explorer, and Daniel O’Sullivan, the English multi-instrumentalist and composer, to form a visionary trio that redefines Palestine’s MAGGGICCCC SONGGGG Karenina. This unprecedented collaboration breathes new life into a sacred masterpiece, heralding a bold and transformative chapter in experimental music.
Originally recorded in 1997 at Galerie Donguy in Paris and released on David Tibet’s Durtro label (now long out of print), Karenina is one of the jewels of Charlemagne Palestine’s continuous music canon. Originally composed for Indian harmonium and voice, this composition channels Palestine’s deep-rooted influences: the meditative, evolving textures of Hindustani raga, the emotive spiritual chants of cantorial synagogue music, and his signature approach to longform continuous music. In this new 2.0 rendering, the trio builds upon the meditative core of Karenina, introducing fresh sonic dimensions through their unique synergy and individual artistry.
Karenina 2.0
This trio’s reinterpretation of Karenina honours the sacred essence of the original while reimagining it as a living, evolving work. Together, they weave new textures, integrating Ambarchi’s textural guitar work and O’Sullivan’s expansive harmonic sensibilities with Palestine’s transcendent harmonium and voice. The result is a sonic tapestry that transcends the boundaries of time, tradition, and genre—a meditative yet dynamic exploration that invites listeners into a transformative sound world.
Please note that the trio performance will be the same on both 4th and 5th May.
A pioneer of minimalist music and avant-garde performance, Charlemagne Palestine has spent decades crafting immersive soundscapes that defy convention. Known for his deeply ritualistic approach to composition, Palestine’s works often utilize drones, overtones, and layered harmonic textures to create transcendent listening experiences. His influence spans across multiple disciplines, cementing his place as one of the most significant figures in experimental music.
Australian guitarist, composer, and sonic innovator Oren Ambarchi is celebrated for his ability to blur the boundaries between instrumental music, drone, and electronics. His exploratory use of the electric guitar as a textural instrument has redefined its role in contemporary music. Ambarchi’s extensive solo and collaborative work have placed him at the forefront of experimental sound, making him the perfect partner to expand Karenina into uncharted territory.
Daniel O’Sullivan is an English multi-instrumentalist and composer whose work spans an eclectic range of genres, from chamber music to psychedelic rock. Renowned for his collaborations with avant-garde luminaries and his own groundbreaking projects, O’Sullivan’s artistry is characterized by its lush arrangements and emotional depth. His contributions bring an additional layer of melodic and harmonic sophistication to this reimagining of Karenina.
Born in Cambridge and raised in the Fens, Richard Youngs began making music at the start of the seventies. His early work centred on the family piano. When this was sold in the late seventies, however, the classical guitar and cassette recorder became his instruments of choice, along with anything at hand that made a sound. From then on he has played any number of roles with bands such as Astral Social Club, Concrete Hedge, No Deserts, Jandek and Future Pilot A.K.A. Recent collaborative work with Andrew Paine, Heatsick, Kawabata Makoto and John Clyde-Evans also show him as a highly social musician.
His catalogue of releases wanders into all kinds of zones over a vast array of albums on various labels including his No Fans imprint: they include accapella, guitars, pipes or electronics and come out of solitude and in partnership with atmospheres that range from fragmental folk to all-out fuzz.
“THE iconic figure of the modern UK underground … Richard Youngs evolves in the shadows where most won’t look, but those who do will forever be dazzled and amazed” – The Quietus
