{"id":24246,"date":"2017-12-01T14:39:41","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T14:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artzealous.com\/?p=24246"},"modified":"2017-12-01T14:39:41","modified_gmt":"2017-12-01T14:39:41","slug":"an-evening-with-laurel-halo-and-eli-keszler-at-the-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artzealous.com\/an-evening-with-laurel-halo-and-eli-keszler-at-the-kitchen\/","title":{"rendered":"An Evening with Laurel Halo and Eli Keszler at The Kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"
On Monday, November, 28, 2017 a throng of people, ranging from 20-somethings to well-dressed Manhattanites, filtered into The Kitchen\u2019s<\/a> performance space. They were there to attend an installation of the ongoing music performance series, Synth Nights<\/a>. This unseasonably warm, fall evening featured the esteemed, Berlin-based, DJ and experimental producer, Laurel Halo<\/a>, joined by NYC-based, composer, percussionist, and visual artist, Eli Keszler<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Keszler is one of many artists who collaborated with Halo on her latest release, <\/span>Dust<\/a>,<\/span><\/i> which was released on Hyperdub<\/a> in June 2017<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>Th<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0crowd slowly filed into the almost pitch-black space, groping in the darkness or more effectively, using the light of an iPhone to find an available seat. A few minutes after 8 PM, the few lights that were on, turned off and Halo and Keszler appeared on stage, the only illuminated figures in the room. \u00a0Halo positioned herself behind a rack of electronics, a keyboard, and a microphone while Keszler sat down behind a full drum kit. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Throughout the nearly hour and a half long performance, the duo worked their way through selected pieces from <\/span>Dust<\/span><\/i>. Halo captivated the audience with her winding, demiurgic melodies, auto-tuned vocals, and fragmentary beats. Keszler improvised alongside the electronics adding fluttering and natural percussion, challenging yet integrating itself into the highly-processed soundscape. \u00a0The duo guided the audience through a sonic narrative that included everything from harmonious, shining ambient swells to crashing rhythms and disjointed melodies. \u00a0After what felt like only 20 minutes rather than almost an hour and a half, Halo thanked the audience and the lights we<\/span>nt up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n