Neurotic and the Punk Voice Choir (PVCs)

>> Andrew is the Director of Music for Neurotic, an installation by Fiddian Warman where giant pogo-ing robots attend 3 punk gigs. Neurotic questions how learning develops through the empathetic responses of the brain. The robots' own neural networks are modelled on so-called 'mirror neurons' in the brain which stimulate mimicry. Each robot is exposed to punk records that Fiddian collected as a youth. The intention is that the robots develop their neural connectivity through 'listening'.

Andrew has formed the band 'Neurotic and the Punk Voice Choir (PVCs), fronted by Fiddian who will, at the ICA gigs, perform to younger robotic versions of himself, Fiddian fronts the band Neurotic and the PVCs. The full line up includes drummer Chris Bashford (Chelsea) and bass player Rob Bartram (Chester): members from the support acts will be in the PVCs. Andrew has written songs especially to test the robot's acquired taste in punk music. Neurotic and the PVCs and support bands aim to excite the joint mechanical and human audience to the point of synaptic dancing delight.

At the gigs, the robots' instinct to pogo highlights the neurology of pleasure, learning, taste and ageing. Neurotic invites consideration of how taste is embodied in human neurons or Artificial Neural Networks. The scientific and cultural issues related to Neurotic will be explored on a dynamic website and open forum before, during and after the performances at www.fiddian.com. Neurotic also highlights issues in the aesthetics of music which will be explored on this site soon.

You can hear some of the songs that Neurotic play at www.myspace.com/neuroticandthepvcs.

You can join in the debate about aesthetics of music that Neurotic raises here.

The support bands for the ICA gigs are: Fumadores, Gertrude, Red Eyes, Viva Las Vegas, Scrotum Clamp and Toxic Slut.

Neurotic is funded by the Wellcome Trust and will tour later this year.

© Copyright Andrew Tweedie 2008