Abul Mogard & Grand River^IT

Image Credit: Helge Mundt

Abul Mogard is the musical identity of Rome-based artist Guido Zen, whose work drifts between drone, ambient, and electroacoustic music. Acclaimed for his emotionally charged compositions, Mogard delivers warm, haunting soundscapes that feel both industrial and deeply human. Releases on labels such as Ecstatic, Houndstooth, and VCO have established his presence in underground circles, while his practice has since expanded into film, contemporary art, and orchestral commissions.

Returning to MUTEK Montréal after a standout performance in 2023, Aimée Portioli is a Dutch-Italian composer and sound designer who records and performs under the alias Grand River. The name Grand River evokes natural scale and flow—core ideas in Portioli’s work. Her ambient music is a combination of experimental electronics with a cinematic sensibility. With a background in linguistics and a deep interest in the psychology of sound, Portioli seeks to explore music as a form of communication beyond language. Since the release of Crescente — named by XLR8R as one of the best releases of 2017 — she has delivered several acclaimed albums, including her latest, Tuning the Wind (2025).

Abul Mogard & Grand River — In uno spazio immenso
Live | North American Premiere

Drawing from their album In uno spazio immenso, Grand River and Abul Mogard craft slow-moving, resonant soundscapes that strike a knife-edge balance between booming, operatic grandeur and soft-focus simplicity, illuminating the subtle outlines and illusory rhythms as much as the dense, almost overpowering textures. Their live performance balances weight and stillness creating space for each listener to wander inward.