NIVHEK, Grouper, MFO, The Caretaker, Felicita, Rabih Beaini

Unsound, one of the world’s foremost festivals of electronic and experimental music returns to the Barbican on 8 December as part of its Dislocation series.

Unsound Dislocation: London explores geography and identity though three sets including Unsound-commissioned works, a world premiere, and audio/visual collaborations. Together these works take the audience on a journey through Arctic Russia, Poland, Brazil, the UK and beyond.

NIVHEK (Liz Harris/Grouper) & MFO present After its own death, a paradoxically minimalist work – equal parts harsh and dreamlike – created while resident in the isolated landscape of Murmansk, deep in the Russian Arctic. Halfway through his six-album project exploring dementia, The Caretaker (Leyland Kirby of V/VM), draws on his mysterious collection of 78s to create music searching through memory and time, with visuals from Aphex Twin collaborator Weirdcore.

Then there’s Soft Power, London-based electronic musician felicita working with traditional dancers from Poland’s ?l?sk Song and Dance Ensemble. Folk dances, paired with mournful piano melodies, ambient noise and wild synthetic pop – ‘a stirring affirmation of how cultures can coexist while retaining their own voices’ (The Guardian). And topping it all off is a post-show DJ set from the Lebanese-born and Berlin-based Rabih Beaini, whose intense sets incorporate music from the Middle East, Techno, Jazz and Noise.