Exeter Respect 2009

Earlier on during the Respect Festival I just had a walk around the site seeing what was going on. I made a few recordings while at it. One of the things I picked up on was the band previously covered - Ainote-san, travelling in 'locomotive'-fashion while making crazy noises with plastic bottles, cowbells and a melodica. All good.





Recorded on 11 July 2009

Exeter Respect 2009 : Ainote-san 2

At the end of the set AInote-san concluded with an improvised piece under the Whaletone Opera banner that was much more avant-garde and eccentric - as on might expect from improvised music! Members of the collective disbanded into the audience where they basically tried to 'freak out the squares'. They did, and it was good. All in good humour!









Recorded on 11 July 2009

Exeter Respect 2009 : Ainote-san

The Exeter Respect Festival takes place each year, and as you might be able to spot, I've taken my recording equipment along to this event in the past. Previously the festival had been held at the Phoenix Arts Centre but this was the first year for it to be held at Belmont Park, and I think it worked really well.

We didn't get to see a great many acts, but those that I saw I really enjoyed. Specifically, a band named Ainote-san, who had been billed as the Whaletone Opera. The Whaletone Opera project is primarily a a collaboration between Makoto Nomura of Tokyo and Torquay musician Hugh Nankivell, however the set began with a number of songs performed by Ainote-san, Makoto Nomura's band.




I really enjoyed the set - they combined fantastic musicianship and originality with a great sense of humour and charisma. Some of the instruments were constructed out of household items such as plastic bottles, and in one piece some extra percussion was provided by one of the band members slapping parts of his body eccentrically.




Recorded on 11 July 2009

Ustad Asad Ali Khan Sahib

I encountered the following video on the blog of Sunn O))) member Stephen O'Malley. I'm enthusiastic but not very knowledgeable when it comes to Indian classical music, I find the drones and textures compelling. Anyway, this video caught my attention this morning and I thought I'd share it.

I'd be very interested in knowing whether or not visitors to this blog would find posts on sound art / music to be a valid inclusion amongst the field recording updates. Please let me know what you think!

Train from London Paddington to Heathrow

This is very back-to-front I know. But I just couldn't resist posting the recordings made in Japan before those made on the way to Japan.

Our journey began by taking the train from Exeter to London Paddington, and then on to Heathrow - also by train. We travelled light, so this wasn't so bad.


Recorded on 13 March 2009

Japan : Strolling around outside Kyoto Station

Recorded on 27 March 2009