MUTEK at the Maison symphonique: Sound in Its Purest Form

For its 27^th edition, the MUTEK festival is making a stop at the Maison symphonique in Montreal. Spanning three evenings, the series—titled X/Visions for the occasion—will take advantage of the venue’s exceptional acoustics to celebrate sound in its purest form.

“The only other time MUTEK took over the Maison symphonique was back in 2013, for a memorable evening that brought together Nils Frahm and Pantha Du Prince & The Bell Laboratory,” recalls Alain Mongeau, General Director and founder of MUTEK. “It’s a memory that has left a lasting impression on festival-goers and our team. Returning to this exceptional venue today demonstrates a desire to continue to vary and amplify the MUTEK experience.”

In terms of variety, audiences will have the opportunity to hear a wide array of major and innovative figures in contemporary music—in a setting offering optimal conditions. “The Maison symphonique opens a new dimension for MUTEK,” emphasizes Mongeau. “It’s a monumental listening space in which the works take on an almost cinematic scale!”

The Hypnotic Charm of the Organ

The series begins on August 27 with a double bill that shines a spotlight on two avant-garde creators: Montreal’s Kara-Lis Coverdale and American artist Kali Malone. The latter is known for her contemporary approach to the king of instruments, with immersive compositions deeply rooted in drone and minimalism.

As for Kara-Lis Coverdale, who began composing at the age of 14, she has established herself as a key figure on the electronic music scene. An organist and music director in several churches since her teen years, she is distinguished by a sonic approach combining the nobility of acoustic instruments with the power of digital technologies, synthesizers, and real-time signal processing.

Sound Sculpture

On August 28, New York artist Tristan Perich and British organist James McVinnie will make their way to the Maison symphonique, with its Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique, offering a perfect backdrop for their talent.

A former assistant organist at Westminster Abbey, McVinnie has notably distinguished himself through his numerous collaborations with iconic figures in the world of contemporary music, including Philip Glass and Jonny Greenwood.

For his part, Tristan Perich has established himself as a key creative figure by putting 1-bit sound at the centre of his practice. Pushing the limits of digital processing, he composes radically minimalistic music in which the audio signal is stripped of all nuance, reducing it to its binary state. What’s it like? 100 speakers on stage, interacting with the organ to erect an astonishing three-dimensional acoustic sculpture.

Bringing the evening to a close will be Donato Dozzy and Neel, united under the name Voices From The Lake, who will lead the audience in a techno-ambient meditation guided by slow rhythms and fluid basslines.

Between Nostalgia and Avant-garde

To end the trilogy on a high note, the show on August 29 will have the audience join the duo of Ah! Kosmos and Hainbach on their sonic odyssey, before making way for Austrian guitarist and composer Christian Fennesz, accompanied on stage by visual artist Lillevan. Together, they will celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the album Endless Summer, an undisputed ambient glitch-pop masterpiece.

Released in 2001, this seminal album blends electric guitar with complex digital processing. Fennesz deconstructs harmonies, transforming them into majestic waves of sound. Inspired by the aesthetic of The Beach Boys, it’s an ideal entry point for those just discovering experimental music.

“It’s always great to perform in venues that also play host to orchestras,” says Fennesz about the Maison symphonique. “In my experience, the acoustics in these kinds of places suit my sound very well.”

For this performance, Berlin-based artist Lillevan will act as a true instrumentalist of the image. Using abstract compositions and cinematic collages, he will project a live video presentation that reacts in real time to Fennesz’s flights of fancy, adding to the evening’s overall atmosphere. “Lillevan has spent a lot of time developing the visual concept,” Fennesz told us a few weeks ahead of the show. “It’s a bit of a leap into the unknown, but it could result in something truly special!”

The X/Visions series at the Maison symphonique, August 27, 28, and 29, 2026.