The word “sae” (冴え) in Japanese means clarity, crispness, lucidity, the feeling of winter air before dawn, or the sharp brightness that comes with something suddenly becoming clear. Berlin-based violinist, vocalist, and improviser Biliana Voutchkova did not know its meaning while singing its intuitive, suggestive resonance during free improvised sessions with Greek live sound processing artist of acoustic instruments Giorgos Varoutas. But this word, alongside the other sung word “little”, defined the atmosphere of this first-time meeting, almost as if the music had quietly named itself.
Voutchkova and Varoutas, who is also a guitarist exploring extended guitar techniques with analog and digital means, spent several days recording and performing at the Underflow art gallery, record shop, and label in Athens in December 2024. There was
