cities are great, people feel good documents BEATRICE BEISPIEL at the core of her practice: live composition as a fragile, political, and physical act.

Across three pieces, these recordings capture the essence of her early concerts — a microphone treated as an instrument, loopers and effects driven to their limits, and a synthesizer weaving sparse melodies and harmonies through dense layers of sound. Clicks, crackles, teeth, breath, voices, and noise merge into texture and rhythm.

Rather than polished studio works, these tracks preserve the raw immediacy of performance. Here, live electronic music, closely entangled with acoustic sound worlds, is less a genre and more a working method — improvisation, repetition and endurance shape this experience.

The tape edition extends this idea into the physical realm. Each cassette case is individually melted by hand, allowing the collage artwork to surface differently every time — no two copies are alike. The five-fold cover and analog duplication emphasize the EP’s material nature, embracing process and imperfection as integral parts of the work.

Music, production, and lyrics by BEATRICE BEISPIEL. Parts of cities draw inspiration from Tout va bien and La fête est finie. Recorded at Local Mâche during the hot summer of 2024 by BEATRICE BEISPIEL and Ivan Crichton. Mixed by Ivan Crichton and Formen. Mastered by Formen at Empty Space.

The visual concept was developed by BEATRICE BEISPIEL and Maxence Neveu, with photography and artwork by Maxence Neveu. Each cassette case was melted by hand by BEATRICE BEISPIEL and Ines Emertasol, while tape duplication was handled by T.A.P.E. MUZIK.

This release also carries the presence of those who accompanied it along the way. Thanks to Gabrielle d’Alessandro, Samet Öztürk, Maxence Neveu, Stéphane Robert, Jeanne Jacob, Michell Beriger, and Zyril W. Supported by Stadt Biel/Bienne and Kanton Bern.