Fennesz Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Christian Fennesz
Fennesz performing in Bethesda, Maryland in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Christian Fennesz
Also known as	Fennesz
Born	(1962-12-25) 25 December 1962 (age 62) Austria
Origin	Neusiedl am See, Austria
Genres	Electronica ambient glitch noise
Instruments	Guitar laptop Max/MSP
Labels	Mego Touch
Associated acts	Fenn O'Berg

Christian Fennesz (born December 25, 1962) is an Austrian musician. He makes electronic music and is known by just his last name, Fennesz. He uses his guitar and laptop to mix melodies with special sounds and glitch effects.

Fennesz lives and works in Vienna, Austria. He records his music with the UK-based record label Touch. He became widely known for his 2001 album, Endless Summer. This album was released by the Austrian label Mego. He has worked with many other artists, including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jim O'Rourke, Ulver, David Sylvian, and King Midas Sound.

Fennesz's Musical Journey
How Fennesz Makes Music
- Tools and Techniques
Discography
See also

Fennesz's Musical Journey

Early Life and Music

Christian Fennesz was born and grew up in Austria. He studied music formally at an art school. He started playing the guitar when he was about 8 or 9 years old.

Before becoming a solo artist, he played in an Austrian experimental rock band called Maische. Later, he signed with the electronic music label Mego. The influence of techno music led him to start making music with a laptop.

First Releases and Collaborations

In 1995, Fennesz released his first EP, Instrument. An EP is like a mini-album. This release explored electro-acoustic and ambient styles. Electro-acoustic music mixes electronic sounds with acoustic ones. Ambient music is calm and atmospheric.

In 1997, Fennesz released his first full-length album, Hotel Paral.lel. With this album, he focused more on using his laptop to create music. He also started using early glitch sounds. Glitch music uses sounds that are usually considered errors, like skips or static.

In 1998, he released the single Plays. This single featured his unique versions of famous songs. He covered "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones and "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" by the Beach Boys. His versions were so changed that they were almost unrecognizable!

Growing Fame and New Projects

In the years that followed, Fennesz worked with many different artists. He teamed up with Peter "Pita" Rehberg and Jim O'Rourke to form the group Fenn O'Berg.

In 2001, he released his third studio album, Endless Summer. This album received a lot of praise from critics and helped him become widely known. He continued to collaborate with artists like David Sylvian, Keith Rowe, eRikm, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

He released more albums, including Venice in 2004 and Black Sea in 2007. These albums also received great reviews.

Recent Works and Performances

In 2009, Fennesz worked with Mark Linkous from Sparklehorse on a project called In the Fishtank 15. The next year, he released Szampler, a cassette tape with his collection of sounds. This release was later remixed by Stefan Goldmann.

In 2011, he played guitar and added effects to the song "Not Saved" on a live album by the band Ulver. In 2013, Fennesz performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England. He released the studio album Bécs in 2014. In 2015, he worked with the UK group King Midas Sound on their album Editions 1.

How Fennesz Makes Music

Tools and Techniques

Since the 1990s, Fennesz has used special computer programs to create his unique sound. He works with programming software called Max/MSP. He also uses a free program called Ppooll. He runs these programs along with a music workstation called Logic 9.

When he's in the studio or playing live, he connects his guitar to effects pedals. These pedals change the sound of his guitar. He even has a custom distortion box that makes his guitar sound fuzzy or gritty.

The guitar's sound then goes into his computer. Inside the computer, he uses Ppooll software plugins and other tools. These tools include samplers, synthesizers, and more effects. Samplers record and play back sounds. Synthesizers create new sounds. He also uses MIDI controllers to control these sounds.

Discography

Studio albums

(1997) Hotel Paral.lel (Mego)
(1999) Plus Forty Seven Degrees 56' 37" Minus Sixteen Degrees 51' 08" (Touch)
(2001) Endless Summer (Mego)
(2004) Venice (Touch)
(2008) Black Sea (Touch)
(2014) Bécs (Editions Mego)
(2019) Agora (Touch)
(2024) Mosaic

Collaboration albums

(2004) GRM Experience with Mika Vainio & Christian Zanési (Signature)
(2005) Cloud with Keith Rowe, Toshimaru Nakamura and Oren Ambarchi (Erstwhile)
(2007) Cendre with Sakamoto (Touch)
(2008) Til the Old World's Blown Up and a New One Is Created with Martin Brandlmayr & Werner Dafeldecker (Mosz)
(2009) In the Fishtank 15 with Sparklehorse (Konkurrent)
(2010) Knoxville with David Daniell and Tony Buck (Thrill Jockey)
(2010) Remiksz with Stefan Goldmann (Tapeworm)
(2011) Flumina with Sakamoto (Commmons/Touch)
(2015) Edition 1 with King Midas Sound (Ninja Tune)
(2015) AirEffect with OZmotic (Folk Wisdom)
(2016) It's Hard For Me To Say I'm Sorry with Jim O'Rourke (Editions Mego)
(2023) Senzatempo with OZmotic (Touch)

Compilations

(2002) Field Recordings: 1995–2002 (Touch)
(2010) Szampler (Tapeworm)

Live recordings

(2000) Live at Revolver, Melbourne live EP (Touch)
(2004) Live at the LU with Keith Rowe (Erstwhile)
(2005) Sala Santa Cecilia live EP with Ryuichi Sakamoto (Touch)
(2005) Live in Japan CD (Headz/Touch, 2003) and LP (Autofact/Touch)
(2009) Live @ The V. Sessions streaming video recording (The V. Sessions), 2009
(2014) Mahler Remixed vinyl (Touch)

Studio EPs

(1995) Instrument 12" vinyl (Mego)
(1998) Il Libro Mio EP (Tanz Hotel)
(1998) Plays 7" (Mego)
(1999) Plays CDEP (Moikai)
(2006) Plays 10" vinyl (Editions Mego)
(2011) Seven Stars CDEP/10" vinyl (Touch)

Singles, tracks, guest collaborations, etc.

(2002) "Wrapped Islands" with Polwechsel (Erstwhile)
(2005) "Erstlive 004" with Peter Rehberg, Sachiko M and Otomo Yoshihide (Erstwhile)
(2007) "On a desolate shore a shadow passes by" (Touch) – download only
(2008) "Transition" (Touch)
(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 Ulver on 1993–2003: A Decade In The Machines (Jester Records)
(2005) Remixed "Weight" by Isis on Oceanic Remixes Vol. 4 (Ipecac)
(2007) Remixed "In This Twilight" by Nine Inch Nails on Year Zero Remixed (Interscope)
(2010) Remixed "Returnal" by Oneohtrix Point Never on Returnal Maxi Single 7" (Editions Mego)
(2011) Remixed "The Visitor" by Miracle on Fluid Window
(2011) Remixed "Shikaku Kakumei" (titled "QSMJAF") by Sōtaisei Riron on Tadashii Sōtaisei Riron (Commmons/Mirai Records)

Soundtracks

(1999) Beyond the Ocean (USA)
(2000) Gelbe Kirschen (Austria), directed by Leopold Lummerstorfer
(2002) Blue Moon (Austria), written and directed by Andrea Maria Dusl
(2005) Platform#09 Chicago (France) directed by Cedrick Eymenier
(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
(2012) Lcoma "Fennesz" (Unsigned) – Musical influence

With Food

Quiet Inlet (ECM, 2010)
Mercurial Balm (ECM, 2012)
This Is Not a Miracle (ECM, 2015)

Fennesz facts for kids

Contents