Wasch|sa|lon [ˈvaʃzalɔ̃ː], noun, German (En. = laundromat, launderette)
A community service provided in Vienna social housing complexes. These complexes are characterized by an imposing architectural style, making them largely self-sufficient. In the larger developments, such as the Karl-Marx-Hof, the laundry and bathing facilities are often housed in separate buildings, strategically positioned as “sacral” structures of a sort, and operated by dedicated machinists.
A handful of Vienna-based, forward-looking musicians have taken the liberty of creating an infrastructure of their own, for the purpose of working together to realize their artistic concepts and make them accessible to the public. Absolute stylistic pluralism, subject to no genre restrictions whatsoever, is the collective’s prerequisite.
Everything gets thrown into the washing machine. The highest possible spin velocities are encouraged, but the use of softener is strictly prohibited. Wash cycles calculated on an economic basis, requiring aesthetic compromises, or making concessions to “market logic” are conscientiously avoided. The Waschsalon machinists oppose the use of artificially generated hypes involving trendy soap nuts or similar distractions. Instead, they have pledged themselves to the rigorous use of descaling programs and lint filters, in order to remove fluff and allow a fresh breeze to blow through the machine.
The machinists are firm supporters of the multi-tab method and advocate a community-based, collective organizational structuring of thorough, creative wash cycles. Anything enjoyable, and done with conviction, is allowed.