Richard Chartier (L-ne/12K/Raster-Noten) and Matmos performed in a live outdoor show at the SF Art Institute yesterday. Chartier performed a lovely ambient soundscape which seriously mellowed the crowd out, enhanced by the passing of birds in the air and white noise from the neighborhood.

Then Matmos picked things up as they played material from their newly released album, "The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth Of A Beast." Matmos was joined by Martin's SFAI students -- aka the New Genres Orchestra -- who lined the balcony above. While Drew tweaked the electronics, Martin donned a pair of long gloves and played a cow's uterus (!) with a vacuum tube, chimes, percussive hand instruments, drums and a horn. The students chanted, drummed, blew through tubes and rocked rose bouquets until the petals, bloom heads and leaves fell like confetti onto the band and audience below. Twas a lovely sight to behold, especially on a sunny Friday afternoon in San Francisco! Fellow Overlap video artist Nate Boyce joined Matmos for a bit of drumming before the group finished with a superb space-disco piece.

Run and pick up your copy of the new album -- it's fantastic. Former collaborators like Bjork also appear on the album's title track, which is dedicated to Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.