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nine-sum sorcery LABOUR | 2019
Kraftwerk Berlin for Berlin Atonal                                                       


hani mojtahey sitting on a stool in front of the microphone hatam of labour is at the computer there is a vertical screen playing videos behind them on stage colin hacklander of labour is playing drums on stage during nine-sum sorcery from a distance you can see hatam at the computer with a large vertical screen behind the stage playing 3d visuals for the nine-sum sorcery performance hani mojtahedy is singing on the microphone while colin hacklander and farahnaz hatam of labour are playing drums behind her on stage hani mojtahedy is wearing a latex robe and is on stage she is looking to the distance and she is backlit the three panels of nine-sum sorcery are displayed side by side with snake drawings and a surreal landscape in the middle panel the 3d landscape of a city in which oil is running like a river is turned on its side you see a silhouette of a hani is seen superimposed hani mojtahedy is looking to the right with a visual screen behind her she is wearing latex and is back lit
                   nine-sum sorcery by LABOUR featuring Hani Mojtahedy | photo credits: Hiroo Tanaka

“Dust is the real nomadic entity.  It migrates elsewhere, spiriting itself away an illusive ground.  When dust particles are composed, they combine countless terms, languages and materials belonging to entirely different kingdoms.” -- Cyclonopedia:  Complicity with Anonymous Materials

nine-sum sorcery can be understood as an occult incantation to the dark energies, natural, political and otherwise, that are released when oil is extracted from the ground. This ritual is focused through the enigmatic electronic and percussion composition from LABOUR which alternates between foreground and background for the haunting vocal performance of Mojtahedy, who interprets Kurdish and Persian verses.

The work's visuals by Enes Güç, Evelyn Bencicova and Zeynep Schilling combine different approaches from 3D to graphic illustrations over three chapters (The Wheel, Cyclone and Xerodrome).

nine-sum sorcery debuted at Berlin Atonal in 2019 as Mi†ra, and exhibition versions have since been presented throughout Europe.  In November 2020, the music was released on vinyl and digital by Studio LABOUR. 

Video by Fact Magazine




LP release on studio LABOUR (SL001)

(…) an agonising depiction of strife, grief and pain that blends traditional and contemporary music into an operatic montage.- The Wire, January 2021 issue (Chloe Lula)

4.5/5 stars - Rolling Stone Germany (Jens Balzer)


concept, direction & composition: LABOUR (Farahnaz Hatam & Colin Hacklander)
 
vocal composition & performance: Hani Mojtahedy 
video art direction: Evelyn Bencicova, Enes Güç, Zeynep Schilling  
light: MFO (Marcel Weber)
latex offsprings:  AGF HYDRA
flowers: Mary Lennox
special thanks to:  Callie’s and Berlin Atonal 

Performed at Kraftwerk Berlin August, 2019.