In Geert Goiris’ video In tongues, performers Romy Beats and Scale look straight into the camera as they produce wordless tones and rhythms. The sounds emerge from the acoustics of their bodies. Using their vocal cords, throat, mouth, nose and tongue, they produce controlled vibrations and air movements. Although no external instruments are involved, the sounds bear a strong resemblance to artificial sounds and rhythms.
Sometimes their voices seem to blend into a conversation, more often it degenerates into chaos. We witness an exchange in which we cannot participate. It is as if we are watching androids having a conversation in machine language, or as if we are listening to possessed individuals speaking in tongues.
