Active for almost 30 years, MOAN is a one-man project for which Rafał Sądej is responsible. Although his work is mainly described as industrial ambient, Sądej often experiments with musique concrète, drone or noise. Computer manipulation of field recordings, classical instruments or found objects plays an important part in MOAN’s compositions, giving his music the characteristics of acoustic sound and digital coldness.
In addition to several solo releases, MOAN’s discography includes collaborations with Genetic Transmission (“Collaboration 1”, “Dedicated to Luigi Russolo”), Dead Factory (“Onset of Oblivion/Abandoned Heritage”), Innovative Landscapes Laboratory (“Caught in Time”) plus remixes of songs for, among others, WHALESONG, BISCLAVERET, PALSECAM and C.H. DISTRICT. Rafał Sądej was also a co-founder of the Hated Bruit Kollektiv project.
Apart from creating his music as MOAN, he is also involved in production and mastering for other bands associated with labels such as Zoharum Records or Sublime Retreat.
MOAN has performed in numerous concerts in Poland, the UK, Ireland, the Czech Republic and Germany, both as part of festivals (Wroclaw Industrial Festival, Temple of Silence, Prague Industrial Festival) and in intimate and unusual places such as an abandoned church, a zinc mill museum, a Napoleonic fort or in a cave at Ballintoy Harbour.
MOAN’s performance at the XXIV edition of Wroclaw Industrial Festival will be his third, and a recording from the first WIF edition (in 2001) is documented on the album “Live in Wroclaw”.
