Ephemera - Sound and Scent - Unsound

Curators Malgorzata Plysa and Mat Schulz of Unsound have developed a project in which three musical pieces: Bass, Drone and Noise by composers Steve Goodman, Tim Hecker and Ben Frost respectively act as direction to perfumer Geza Schoen in creating three parallel perfumes. At a time when random or forced "synesthesic" connections are becoming ubiquitous, this is a direct and articulate attempt to demonstrate an emphatic linkage between two inherently distinct sensory realms. It works surprisingly well. Schoen, known to fume-heads as the maverick behind the Eccentric Molecules line (championing synthetic molecules in a way reminiscent of composer Eliane Radigue's rigorous electronic minimalism of the 1960's) and his more maximalist, luxurious creations for Ormonde Jayne, is a perfect collaborator. He has produced three scents which are spacious, active, textured and diffusive. Bass echoes Goodman's composition in its darkly reverberant undertow: ember like incense notes creating a real sense of weight. Drone links quickly to Hecker's oceanic drift with a gently marine, airy harmony, layers shifting in and out of focus as it unfurls. Noise produces a distinct particulate, fizzing, granularity which connects perfectly with Frost's warping, indeterminate aural veils. The project has been popping up as an installation in various cities. Alas I have not yet experienced it in this form but based upon samples of the perfumes, music and accompanying videos (by Marcel Weber) which can ben seen on the website, this is definitely worth catching.