Vienna- and Paris-based ambient electronic pioneer Christian Fennesz, more often known simply as Fennesz, got his start in the late-'80s Viennese noise-pop group Maische. After experimenting with techno in the early 1990s, Fennesz settled on his trademark approach: diffuse soundscapes built around guitars, synthesizers, and laptops, punctuated with beats and glitch textures, and washed over with waves of white noise. Albums such as 1997 debut HOTEL PARAL.LEL, 2001's ENDLESS SUMMER, and 2004's VENICE earned Frennesz a cult following; through collaborations with Sparklehorse, Jim O'Rourke, British singer David Sylvain, and Mike Patton.