Ecume is a collection of musical works originally written by Thomas Vaquié for the Antivj visual label.
These are all derivations of compositions for site-specific and installation projects, the original pieces having been created as a response to place and space, to light and architecture, to code and motion. Now separated and transformed from their original context, the music takes on an independent existence in these new realisations.

Ecume is the first release on Antivj Recordings, a new platform dedicated to music originally composed for installation work.

The idea of a record label focusing on music originating from transdisciplinary hybrid installation work was born several years ago from the realisation that detailed narrative-driven work, often composed with or for image, also had the capacity to exist by itself, outside its original physical/visual context. It grew out of being confronted with, and inspired by composers and sound designers experimenting with new forms of narrative and creating physical, visual and emotional sonic work, in a singular and honest way. Thomas Vaquié, Murcof, Laurent Delforge and the many other artists exploring similar fields are without a doubt some of the inspiration behind Antivj Recordings.

At a time when music seems to be forced (too often and too hard it feels) to be augmented or justified by visual impact, Antivj Recordings wants to reafirm the capacity held within the medium of sound itself to feed the imagination. In the time of attention-deficit Antivj Recordings wants to believe in making time and space for active listening.  In a digital age, Antivj Recordings wants to release physical objects, carefully crafted, that may take the form of a vinyl, a plate built in concrete, a 3D printed object, an audio book or an application.

ECUME – GATEFOLD DOUBLE LP EDITION

two 180g vinyls
gatefold with matt laminate soft touch finish

ECUME – LIMITED RESIN-CAST EDITION 

A very limited boxset edition, designed and handmade at our studios.
Edition of 25, each a unique hand crafted piece, casted from the original concrete-mould created for the album artwork.

Boxset includes:
- 33cm x 33cm dark resin-cast plate, in relief. aluminium profiles for wall-mounting.
- gatefold double vinyl LP edition

ANTIVJ RECORDINGS LAUNCH – ECUME EXHIBITION

Last week-end, for the official launch of Antivj Recordings, a docile crowd was plunged into total darkness at our Brussels studios for about an hour for a listening session of the full Ecume album.

This was also an opportunity to share some insights on the work process behind the artwork of the album, created by Yannick Jacquet. The series of objects below remain on display until September at our studios (please see at the bottom for details).

THE ARTWORK PROCESS

How could the original matter of Ecume (soundwaves) be somehow turned into something physical, tangible?

Ecume is available now at Antivj Recordings in all 3 editions: double vinyl, limited boxset and digital.

All music written, performed and mixed by Thomas Vaquié
Label : Antivj Recordings
Executive producer : Nicolas Boritch
Artwork : Yannick Jacquet
Audio visualisation tool : Simon Geilfus.
Premastering by Shawn Hatfield at AudibleOddities
Video teaser filmed by Nico Neefs & edited by Yannick Jacquet.
Thanks to Duncan Speakman for his words, to Sebastien Robert & Paul Thomas for helping with promo.

“Ecume est pour la personne qui m’est si chère et qui aimait tant la mer.”

© 2016 Antivj recordings ℗ Antivj recordings

Ecume – artwork exhibition
Antivj studios, 30-34 quai des charbonnages, 1080 Bruxelles.
June 17th – September 18th 2016

We have been well busy with the label since January, and haven’t had a chance to post reports of any of our recent performances, but I think September is a good time to refresh the blog and keep you up to date !
We’re still in the process of editing footage and putting together the pictures and videos, but here are the few projects that I want to introduce here:

Performances and installations
- Grote kerk: a light and sound performance in Breda cathedral (NL), january 09.
- Tour des Convoyeurs: outdoor installation in Montreal (CA) old port, for Mutek in May 09.
- Nuits Sonores: Stage design and live visuals in Lyon (FR), May 09.
- Enghien: a mapping performance for Bains numériques festival near Paris,  in June 09.
- Sondgo: a mapping performance for the opening of a futuristic building, near Seoul (Korea) in August 09.

Projects on Tour
- Principles of geometry + AntiVJ, a stereoscopic show (3D projections, visuals by Joanie Lemercier,  Simon Geilfus and Desaxismundi).
- Murcof + AntiVJ. Visuals by Simon Geilfus

AntiVJ labs: Research and Development
- AntiVJ Mapping Toolkit !
- Stereoscopy + tracking prototype*.
*we will showcase the prototype at the Watershed event on Thursday, check video below.

So we keep ourselves quite busy, and we are really excited about the next upcoming events, as we will present some of the label’s projects in Bruxelles, Paris, Rennes, Talliin (Estonia), Brazil (3 gigs tour), and Sonderborg, (Denmark).
We will soon announce more about all these projects, and details about future events will be available on the website.

AntiVJ showcase at Watershed
By the way, we are doing a showcase in Bristol this week, to present these recent projects and the different things happening on the label, so if you’re around South West UK on Thursday, please come and meet us at the Watershed: http://www.watershed.co.uk/exhibits/2028/

This event will take place at 1800hrs (not 1700hrs as advertised) in Cinema Three.

We are doing a talk, in an informal way, so feel free to ask questions, and also a presentation of our new stereo + tracking prototype, (tickets are limited, so hurry up).