48. Alejandra and Aeron
Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson
This episode begins with a sound work entitled “Murk” by the duo Alejandra Salinas and Aeron Bergman.
Taken from a collection of re-edited works called “Ficcion,” it’s a slice of a chapter in this couple’s life together as globetrotting sound artists, which lasted for about a decade starting in 1996. Back then, they were simply known as Alejandra and Aeron. They also ran a record label called Lucky Kitchen, which released albums by dozens of international sound artists like Asuna, Johsua Abrams, Toshiyuki Kobayashi, Pauline Oliveros, and too many more to mention here, but I absolutely love all of the duo’s recordings. Thankfully, most of these rare and obscure records have been recently become available again through bandcamp. Today, they are teaching art in Portland, Oregon, developing a new species of genetically enhanced attack bees (maybe), and producing multimedia works under the name Bergman and Salinas.
Come with me now to Alejandra and Aeron’s backyard garden, where we will meet them (and their daughter Agnes) for the first time over coffee.
Featured compositions this episode:
“Speed” (Ficción, 2020)
“Barbearia Salao Ferreira” (Porto, 2005)
“Mouricada Sobrado” (Porto, 2005)
“Lavadouro” (Porto, 2005)
“Loser,” (2019 Choral performance)
Installed in the garden of Kunsthal Aarhus, Loser is a sound piece developed by the artist duo Bergman & Salinas, and performed by
Blueprint Choir in Portland, Oregon. (Read more)
“Amapola” (Bousha Blue Blazes, 2003)
“Day Night” (Bousha Blue Blazes, 2003)
“Fin Folk” (Scotch Monsters, 2002)
“Tale of Pip 2” (Tale of Pip, 2002)
“Lost Cat 7” (Lost Cat, 2004)
They also sent me a list of stuff they listen to often:
Susumu Yokota. Wonderful, perfect music for painting.
Tsege Mariam Gebru. Sounds like yesterday, and also a million years old. Incredible.
Nuno Canavarro. Reminds us of all our favorite moments in life
Laurie Spiegel. A light-filled fall day, the smell of wet leaves blowing.
Nate Scheible. Sunday morning coffee music.
Asuna. Sounds like an old friend.
Motohiko Hamase. Back deck gardening music.
Joao Gilberto. All of course, but Undiú is almost too beautiful to bear.
Here’s a fun book they made together, “Telepathy” (2018)
You can find new artwork by Alejandra Salinas and Aeron Bergman at bergmansalinas.com.