Through his electro-acoustic soundscapes, which fuse complex electronic music with traditional Iranian instruments, Sote addresses Iran’s harsh sociopolitical reality and the human condition. ALICE has previously had the pleasure of presenting this legendary electronic musician and sound artist. It will be dark and beautiful when Sote returns to Nørrebro with his new album Ministry of Tall Tales (SVBKVLT, 2024).

In the wave of exciting electronic artists emerging from Iran, Sote, aka Ata Ebtekar, is undoubtedly one of the most prolific and intriguing. His unique ability to combine complex electro-acoustic structures and microtonal sequences with hypnotic polyrhythms and elements of Iranian folk music makes him a distinctive voice on the international electronic music and sound art scene. He is widely recognized and has released music over the past 30 years on leading labels such as Warp, Sub Rosa, Opal Tapes, among others. He has also performed at venues like Berghain, Unsound Festival, and Cafe Oto. Furthermore, he co-founded the mythical electronic festival SET in Tehran and has created numerous sound installations.

In his music and sound art, Sote explores abstract musical forms as a critique and reflection on Iran’s social and political reality and the human and mental state that accompanies it. His music challenges the listener with unpredictable passages, sharply contrasting moments of fleeting melodic beauty with painful dissonance and abrasive noise. The contrasts in his work have only intensified in recent years as an attempt to process the immense frustration, anger, confusion, helplessness, and fear that he and the rest of the Iranian population have experienced. Sote himself describes his latest synth-heavy album Ministry of Tall Tales (SVBKVLT, 2024) as “an equally dark, melodic, and noise-driven reflection on corruption, oppression, and murder.” ALICE has had the pleasure of presenting Sote before, who always delivers a captivatingly beautiful live show. It will undoubtedly be dark and beautiful when he returns to ALICE in November with his new album.