Biography
Australian Oren Ambarchi is a sound artist with longstanding interests in transcending conventional instrumental approaches. His work focuses mainly on the exploration of the guitar, “re-routing the instrument into a zone of alien abstraction where it’s no longer easily identifiable as itself. Instead, it’s a laboratory for extended sonic investigation”. (The Wire, UK). Ambarchi's work on harmonics and resonance has led him to define serene spaces of fluid, shifting sound, both fragile and physical. Ambarchi has numerous releases on influential international labels such as Touch, Southern Lord & Tzadik. His solo releases Suspension and Grapes From The Estate have transcended the guitar into a zone of alien beauty and sonic impossibilities to critical acclaim. In 2003 his live release Triste received an 'honourary mention' in Prix Ars Electronica digital musics category. He has performed and recorded with a diverse array of artists such as Sunn 0))), Fennesz, Otomo Yoshihide, John Zorn, Voice Crack, Keith Rowe, Masonna, Phill Niblock, Toshimaru Nakamura, Evan Parker, Keiji Haino and many more.
Ambarchi was the co-organiser of the What Is Music? Festival, Australia’s premier annual showcase of local and international experimental music and has recently co-produced a television series on experimental music called Subsonics.