They bring folk traditions into the present: The mesmerizing Catalan vocal duo Tarta Relena draws on flamenco, Georgian laments, and the mysticism of Hildegard von Bingen, blending these influences with electronic experimentation. We look forward to an evening of deep presence and intensity when the Catalan duo visits ALICE. The evening will be opened by the Danish, experimental vocal group ilinx.

ilinx
ilinx is known for their heartfelt choral works and performances, where there is room for both vulnerability and pop star paraphrases. Behind the vocal group are the three composers and singers Anna Maehl, Laura Marie Madsen, and Amanda Appel. By merging their musical backgrounds and influences—ranging from classical music to folk, R&B, and experimental electronic music—as well as their personal narratives, ilinix creates a sound that is both innovative and traditional. As music magazine Seismograf described their debut album Memory, it’s like “chiming voice messages that have traveled from the Middle Ages and the future.” Powerful, gentle, abrasive, piercing — the voices of ilinx can be all of this as they explore the voice as a primary compositional material, crafting mesmerizing sonic landscapes in harmony this evening at ALICE.

Tarta Relena
They sing in Spanish, Catalan, Greek, Italian, Latin, English, and Ladino—the language of Jews with Spanish roots. Marta Torrella and Helena Ros, the musicians behind Tarta Relena, merge Mediterranean folklore with experimental electronic productions. Their polyphonic choral arrangements incorporate elements of flamenco, Georgian laments, and Hildegard von Bingen’s mystical compositions. With their voices at the forefront, the duo creates an immersive sound where timelines, languages, and mythologies collide. Words become raw material as they are repeated, modulated, deconstructed, and even sung in reverse.

“This is music of primal essence and unnameable longing, full of frequencies that seem to tap an ancient ache in one’s bones,” Pitchfork has written about the duo, whose latest album, És pregunta, was released on the French label Latency in October 2024. Tarta Relena has previously performed at major festivals such as Sonar, Le Guess Who, Mutek, and Primavera. We look forward to an evening of profound presence and intensity when the experimental folk duo takes the stage at ALICE!