The Copenhagen, Denmark based Experimental ensemble Vs DooM is a collective, diverse, and activist-oriented big band that, on its debut album “Live at Xenon,” calls for resistance against monoculture, puritanism, and the linguistic poverty of ideology through its engaging, imaginative fusion of Afrobeat, Psychedelic Rock and Soul. After the two preceding single epics “1000 Years” and “Two Lights,” the album is released in its entirety today, October 20th 2023. The band celebrates tonight by playing a free release show at Christianshavns Kultur Færge in Copenhagen.
“Live At Xenon” were recorded live over 3 days on the Xenon stage at Huset i Magstræde in Copenhagen. An hour-long performance created by Ukrainian director Ira Nirsha, involving actors, lighting, and video recording, where the band’s tracks were woven into an absurd musical theater production about illness in the modern world and the absurd ways with which we try to heal. The performance uses tennis, love, and personal liberation as themes to tell the story, all while the band explores the collective process and gets the audience dancing.
From the beginning, Vs DooM has focused on the collective and moved away from individual fixation. Everything was driven by a vision to create a large, inclusive, and colorful orchestra that engages in open communication with the audience, often involving theater, storytelling, and physicality. The collective nature gives Vs DooM a breadth and uniqueness that sets them apart from other Danish bands. Thirteen musicians, a good mix in terms of gender, age, and genre. From the completely inexperienced to the seasoned veterans. Wildly growing in its own way, with elements from both established and Experimental realms.
The lyrics of Vs DooM focus on the way we use language, specifically how religion, ideology, and cultural homogenization steal and exploit our language to brainwash us. The band represents a counter-culture that resonates in all recordings – a shout and advice against puritanism and the white, patriarchal world order. Through its mere existence, music, and lyrics, Vs DooM unfolds an activism against this homogenizing, dumbing – down mass culture through its insistence on collectivism, love, imagination, and human liberation.
“Live at Xenon” is produced by M. Rexen and Mathias Bang Madsen and set for a release October 20, 2023 via acclaimed Danish Experimental label ILK.
Purchase and Stream the album here: https://orcd.co/qj5kqy2
Tracklist:
- Rune Lude
- 1000 Years
- Nikki (Vs DooM)
- Yolo Pipe
- Sweet Young Psychopaths
- Point of No Return
- Kisses by The Harbour
- Two Lights (Vs DooM)
- Talk Talk (Vs DooM)
- Me and My Friends (Vs DooM)
Lineup:
Michael Rexen / Vocal
Henry Gibbs / Vocal
Nina Baun / Vocal
Liv Lumia Hurtigkarl / Vocal
Mads Lund Egetoft / Saxofon
Lise Munch / Horn
Mathilde Schelin / Clarinet
Erik Kimestad / Trumpet
Kristian Tangvik / Keyboards
Kristian Haarløv / Guitar
Peter Danstrup / Bass
Rune Lohse / Drums
Sylvester Kallesøe / Percussion