desert

The i-sense music I've been listening to evokes prior mystic moments. Whether travelling, being at one with the living desert or looking at a thousand stars there are wonders under these infinite skies.

I've visited deserts of the middle east and deserts in america; they are quite, quite different. Heres some slightly old mobile phone blogging from the middle east. You can tell it was a blast.

leafcutter john's forester

From yesterday's gig, here's one of the pieces of software that leafcutter john was using to make the ambient effects. This version is a free version for the Mac. His live version had a playstation controller to operate some effects, too.

i-sense

One of the main people that got me into creating music with synths and voices was the person behind the formidable i-sense. The new album is released on 24th September, but I was lucky enough to get a preview copy.

Several of us sat together in Chelsea today to unveil it and it lived up to promise. A shorter recording than the last couple, but highly evocative of the middle east and mysticism. There will be unknown messages wrapped in the braids of the music and it may take a time to unravel.

Mixing spoken vocals with strong bass, sweeping and combed synthesizers and emphemeral effects, this is a fine work and one which I've already listened to about four times. John even flipped on his Fender and jammed some eastern accompaniment when we'd had the first listen through.

So jump across to myspace and be swept off to the beautiful deserts of the middle east. More when I've iTuned it.

Ronnie Scott's

Not my typical venue, but a very famous club in Frith Street, nonetheless. I was asked to go there on Monday to get some tickets for a forthcoming event, in the knowledge that the tix went on sale at 12:00. Only thing was, they actually went on sale at 10:30 and by 12:00, they had all sold out. Ronnie Scott's has 300 seats and were absolutely deluged with requests for the gig which is taking place on the 23rd September. I wasn't even trying to buy the tickets for myself, but lets just say that Julie is rather disappointed that she won't be seeing her pop icon.

another invader

This is not just any brick wall, this brick wall has another one of those space invaders half way up it.

I spotted it a few days ago during my travels around London.

You may have to look carefully to see it as well as to wonder how it got there in the first place.

hope

Last night was 'The Last Night of the Proms' in London. This is a traditional night at the end of the series of inexpensive concerts put on throughout the summer at the Royal Albert Hall. They are rooted in classical music, though the definition becomes broader every year.

On the last night everyone attending dresses up and takes flags, streamers and similar and there is always a conclusion with stirring British music comprising sea shanties, "land of hope and glory" and "Jerusalem".

Tickets for the Alb are like duck's teeth, so along with several hundred thousand others, we ambled to the Park to watch it on the big television screens. Actually there's a full show also from Hyde Park and we managed to get very close to the main stage and also near to one of the big screens, so it was easy to see everything.

Whilst the main performance from the Royal Albert Hall comprises classical music, the Park has a mixture and this year included Lesley Garrett, Juan Diego Florez, a T-Rex tribute band and Julie and Andrea's favourite, Will Young. More of that later when I can load some mobile phone video.

Great evening, with much flag waving as well as various sporting victories for England along the way, winning the soccer against Israel, the cricket and then beating the USA at rugby. Not bad!

babble

Lunch today in Sloane Square with friends. We had a great laugh and a few too many cocktails. Imagine my surprise afterwards when I found this picture on my phone. Its us leaving Oriel's! I've no idea how I took it.

OTA : Wordless Wednesday

New London Parking Penalty
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iTouch

Well, my post about the new iPod was speculative and slightly wrong, but not that wrong, really. Here's the real thing. To my surprise, the initial capacity is the same as the last Nano. I'd have expected a disk based system with maybe 10 times the capacity at launch. Oh well.

iPod 6?

iPod 6th generation preview?



...or just more speculation.



You decide.

dome vs wembley

A minor comparison of the Dome vs Wembley as a venue. Not a "Sports" comparison, but for audience care and facilities. The Dome crushes Wembley in a moment. Better transport access, better entry logistics, better free space areas, better range of on site facilities, better restaurants and cafes, better food. And as a venue for live, 20,000 seats at the dome still seems fairly intimate whereas 50,000 seats at Wembley creates distant dots.

And an £8 disgustoburger at Wembley is no match for the £7 chinese at the Dome.

C'mon Wembley, fix it.

purple

I never meant 2 cause u any sorrow

I never meant 2 cause u any pain

I only wanted 2 one time see u laughing

I only wanted 2 see u laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain purple rain

Purple rain purple rain

Purple rain purple rain

I only wanted 2 see u bathing in the purple rain



A great gig with Prince keeping the whole Dome on its feet from the opening chord to the very, very, very end of the show. Consumate performer, robust band, great dancers, many great tunes mixin it up between soul, jazz, funk, fusion, blues, rock, pop. The Prince threw a great party for London.



strictly no cameras allowed, so you'll have to imagine the rest