Christian Fennesz (born 25 December 1962) is a producer and guitarist active in electronic music since the 1990s, often credited simply by his last name. His work utilizes guitar and laptop computers to blend melody with treated samples and glitch production.[2] He lives and works in Vienna, and currently records on the UK label Touch.
Fennesz was born and raised in Austria and studied music formally in art school. He started playing guitar around the age of 8 or 9.[4] He initially performed as a member of the Austrian experimental rock band Maische before signing to electronic music label Mego as a solo artist. The influence of techno led him to begin composing with a laptop.[5] In 1995 he released his first EP Instrument, which explored electro-acoustic and ambient stylings.[1]
In 2009 Fennesz teamed up with Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) to create In the Fishtank 15. The following year Fennesz released Szampler,[7] a cassette containing his sample collection on the Tapeworm label. This release was later remixed by Stefan Goldmann and released as Goldmann vs. Fennesz: Remiksz.[8] In 2011, he appeared on the live Ulver release The Norwegian National Opera, contributing guitar and effects to "Not Saved." In November 2013, Fennesz played the final holiday camp edition of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England.[9] In 2014, he released the studio album Bécs. In 2015, he collaborated with UK group King Midas Sound on the album Editions 1.[1]
Since the 1990s, Fennesz has worked with the programming software Max/MSP and the free patch Ppooll, which he runs in conjunction with the workstation Logic 9.[10] In both studio and live settings, he routes his guitar through effects pedals (including a custom distortion box) and into his computer.[11] There, it is processed and combined with Ppooll software plugins and tools such as samplers, synthesizers, effects, and MIDI controllers.[10]
(2008) "Saffron Revolution" (Touch) – download only
(2010) "Future Back" and "Impassive Skies" with Patrick Pulsinger, on Pulsinger's album Impassive Skies (Disko B)
(2011) "Fearless" (Thrill Jockey) – contribution for the Benefit for the Recovery in Japan compilation
Remixes
(2001) "IVEND 00", based on material from Attention: Cats by Various Artists, on rkk13cd (Reckankreuzungsklankewerkzeuge)
(2003) Remixed "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "The Future Sound Of Music" (titled "Only the Poor have to Travel") by Ulveron1993–2003: A Decade In The Machines (Jester Records)
(2005) Remixed "Weight" by IsisonOceanic Remixes Vol. 4 (Ipecac)
(2009) Film ist. a girl & a gun (Austria), directed by Gustav Deutsch, with Lucía Pulido, Martin Siewert, Burkhard Stangl (7", Interstellar Records, Austria 2009)
(2012) AUN: The Beginning and the End of All Things (Ash International)
In Fenn O'Berg
(1999) The Magic Sound of Fenn O'Berg (Mego)
(2002) The Return of Fenn O'Berg (Mego)
(2009) Magic & Return Double CD reissue (Editions Mego)
(2010) In Stereo (Mego)
Tribute to Fennesz
(2004) Tim Hecker "Mirages" (Alien8 Recordings) – Incurably optimistic
Media related to Fennesz at Wikimedia Commons
