Recording: Valerie Kuehne

Artist: Valerie Kuehne

Song: Nootropics

Recorded at Gerrard Art Space (Eclec~Tic~Toc Fest, Vol. 1 – Night 2), July 15, 2017.

Valerie Kuehne - Nootropics

Ever since washing up on our shores, Neal D. Retke (who performs as {AN} Eel) has been spreading joy and preaching the benefits of D.I.Y. co-operation. A busy member of the international home-taping circuit known for his many collaborative projects, this festival arose from a desire to bring together some of the different musicians he's encountered here so far, mixing together songs and noises over two days in the G.A.S.'s cozy east-end space.

Valerie Kuehne hit this show on tour with fellow NYC-ers Irrevery, and while each occupy a different musical terrain, one could see the kinship in the highly-energized performance styles of Kuehne and Irrevery's Paige Johnson-Brown — a sort of hyperactive/hyper-stylized cabaret. (And, indeed, the latter came on-stage to help close out this set.) Though without her usual backing musicians, Kuehne filled the room with her story-babbles and the skronk of her unamplified cello. There were a couple mannequin heads to keep her company, too, though her presence alone was enough to make this a memorable set.