The Crystal Ark

Overview

Syncretism is a synthesis of old and new. It's usually used for new religions borrowing parts of older ones, like Haitian Voodoo, or Japanese Ryobu Shinto. It's also a way to talk about musical movements appropriating from other influences. You know, like every sort music.

Musician Gavin Russom combines his own synthesis of technical know-how and personal influences like Brazilian Candomble and bata drumming, into the musical collective The Crystal Ark. The group has staged its shows in high-profile modern art hang-outs like MOMA's PS1, and for Sydney's Vivid they've been commissioned to layer 90 minutes of noise onto the new surrounds of the Opera House Studio.

Gavin Russom is the Jonathan Creek of electronic music. While other artists buy his complex instruments, Russom works out the mechanics behind the scenes. He performs as well, most notably on the keyboards of LCD Soundsystem, but also in his own projects like the Black Meteoric Star and the Crystal Ark itself. At this show, you can get to see the contents of his mind rattle out together. And if too much isn't enough, the show continues til 3am at the follow-up Mad Racket party.