Fans of sinister sounds finally have something to sink their fangs into. Hot on the heels of the Hungry Ghost Festival comes an undead-themed audiovisual project from Zai Kuning, Dickson Dee (Hong Kong) and Otomo Yoshihide (Japan). Book From Hell is a 70-minute experimental composition commissioned by the Esplanade, an aural tapestry of cryptic chants, hissing, and video of eerie text – some of which are Zai’s own words. Traditional Asian mythology – based on a fascination with the dead (think ancestor worship, reincarnation, general interaction between spirits and the living) – ties everything together under a canopy of irregular percussive arrangements.

Book From Hell unfolds into a beautifully executed sonic underworld, switching effortlessly between layers of minimal electronica, free jazz and extreme noise. It bears an uncanny resemblance to drone metal, a niche genre with a small but dedicated fanbase in the US and Europe. Dronemetal outfits like Sunn O))) and Black Boned Angel are known for intense use of reverb and feedback with agonisingly slow buildups that can exceed 20 minutes. Though not as monotonous as drone, this hypnotic work is a similar return to abstract noise, demanding an open-minded approach to a genre notoriously diffi cult to listen to. As for the culprits behind the music, they seem as difficult to pigeonhole as their art. Local visual artist Zai has a background in choreography and traditional Malay music, while Yoshihide, a former ethnomusicology student, was involved in the ’70s Japanese punk scene while dabbling in free jazz. Turntablist Dee produces ‘new classical’ creations and has organised performances in Hong Kong for avant-garde icons like John Zorn and Mike Patton. Add a liberal dose of supernatural folklore and you’ve got Book From Hell, a refreshing departure from the Esplanade’s usual live fare.

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