Live electronic music can be a challenge to pull off. How can an artist bring the energy and spontaneity of a live set to music that is often inherently synthesised and sequenced? How can you provide a satisfying visual experience built around music often made on – and played from – a laptop screen?
With his innovative AV shows, UK-based musician Max Cooper has set out a brilliant example of how to navigate these challenges. Although, at its heart, his setup is based around a simple setup of laptops and MIDI controllers, a combination of reactive visuals – split across multiple screens, creating a 3D effect – and carefully calibrated audio effects, create an experience both more immersive and more unpredictable than many electronic live shows.
