Lo’Jo at WOMAD

This was an interesting band that I ended up watching late night at WOMAD. Quite a cool live presence. I’ve located them on spotify now and so I plan to give them a proper listen.

DS Homebrew applications

My friend Concreted0g (Jo) sent me this GB adapter for my DS Lite, and I’ve been looking at some of the apps on there. I’m hoping to spend a lot more time with some of these as they are a part of the history of the early days of mobile music.

The Manganiyar Seduction by Roysten Abel

This was certainly one of the most visually stimulating shows at WOMAD this year. Even if you didn’t enjoy the music (which I did), just the set design on it’s own was really impressive. As you can see, all of the musicians were sitting or sometimes standing in these cubes with lights around them, and as they performed the lights around their box came on. When they weren’t performing their lights went off. There were 40 musicians involved in this performance which lasted about an hour and a half.

Aside from the visual spectacle the music was amazing too and included some really incredible performances. But the thing needed to be seen and heard as a whole really. It was made to be experienced as a package, and so I think it’s difficult to explain or convey just how good it was.

The Arboretum at WOMAD

One thing that I perhaps don’t mention to much about WOMAD is about what a lovely location and environment it is. The Arboretum at WOMAD is a good example of this. It is probably most impressive at night when the installations and displays are lit up and really make the environment come alive.

Though even through the day it’s a lovely place to amble through in between watching great music and finding interesting food. I think I spent  more time there this year than in past years. Perhaps I had to spend more time reflecting this year.