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Steve Montambault at Ultimatum Festival 1985-05-01
The following is a transcription of Steve Montambault’s performance at Ultimatum, Wednesday, May 1st, 1985 at the Foufounes Électriques bar and performance space in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. The Ultimatum festival pamphlet lists Montambault’s performance as "Poesie Sonore" or "Sound Poetry". The recording features electronic sounds, poetry, vocal performances, and microphone distortions.
Annotations
00:00 - 00:01
Audio Description
Light static.
Recording
00:00 - 00:00
Alan Lord Commentary
Montreal poet Steve Montambault—dressed as a medieval monk—warbled his text through a voice-altering device, accompanied by sound tapes and a hypnotic video
Event Description
00:01 - 02:16
Audio Description
Performs piece, recites poetry with distorted voice [English and French] [underscored by electronic sounds and recorded voices].
Steve Montambault
02:16 - 02:27
Audio Description
Applause.
Audience
02:27 - 02:41
Audio Description
Room noise.
Foufounes Electriques
02:41 - 02:42
Audio Description
Scratching sound.
Unknown
02:42 - 02:49
Audio Description
Room noise.
Foufounes Electriques
02:49 - 08:41
Audio Description
Performs piece, recites poetry with distorted voice [French] [underscored by electronic sounds].
Steve Montambault
08:41 - 08:49
Audio Description
Applause.
Audience
08:49 - 08:50
Audio Description
Shouts something [unintelligible].
Audience
08:50 - 08:56
Audio Description
Applause [continues].
Audience
08:56 - 09:02
Audio Description
Room noise.
Foufounes Electriques
09:02 - 09:03
Audio Description
Chord rings out [possibly synth, keyboard, other instrument or recorded sound].
Tech
09:03 - 09:08
Audio Description
Room noise.
Foufounes Electriques
09:08 - 13:41
Audio Description
Performs piece, recites poem with distorted voice [English] [occasional electronic sounds].
Steve Montambault
13:41 - 13:45
Audio Description
Applause and laughter [possibly recorded, possibly coming from audience].
Unknown
13:45 - 17:29
Audio Description
Continues piece, recites poem with distorted voice [English] [underscored by electronic music, electronic sounds, and recorded voices].
Steve Montambault
17:29 - 17:37
Audio Description
Sound cuts, light static, low buzz, very faint voice audible.
Unknown
17:37 - 17:39
Audio Description
Thump, static buzz [possible tape change].
Recording
17:39 - 17:41
Audio Description
Room noise.
Foufounes Electriques
17:41 - 19:07
Audio Description
Various electronic sounds.
Music
19:07 - 22:48
Audio Description
Distorted speech in French and English over top of electronic music [possibly Montambault speaking live, possibly pre-recorded]. Recording
Unknown
22:48 - 23:04
Audio Description
Static.
Unknown
23:04 - 23:04
Audio Description
[End of recording].
END