[fringe] no one knows the bad man, the sad man, behind blue eyes

Of my four favourite musical instruments (voice, violin, cello, and percussion), I find voice to be the most powerful. Especially when you get a lot of trained voices working with enthusiasm and in harmony. Thus I have always been a fan of choral and a capella works. [Although my favourite performance was a version of the Carmina Burana that featured all four instruments – even if the xylophone fell off the stage mid-performance.] And there is something special when a pop song is translated into a different format, be it string quartet, symphony orchestra, or choir. For one thing, it usually means that it was quite popular for someone to have gone to the effort to do so. But the reinterpretation of the piece in a different form adds new depths to the song that may not have been previously apparent. And when you add more musicians to the piece, it naturally increases its gravitas. The Dark Side of the Choir is the Adelaide University Choral Society's [AUCS] reinterpretation of a number of classic pop songs, from The Who's Behind Blue Eyes (one of my favourite all-time songs) and The Beatle's Paperback Writer to Seal's Kiss From A Rose and Coldplay's Fix You. Interspersed in that was a wonderful a cappella version of Toto's Africa (originally arranged by the King's Singers if I recall correctly) and a splendid medley from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Although my favourite was an old cornerstone of vocal groups, The Turtle's Happy Together. Although soloist Nic Lock (an old AUCS-alumni) must be congratulated on his interpretation of Queen's Teo Toriatte, which was superb. My only real complaint about the performance was that too many choristers were singing into their music folders, rather than at the audience, which tends to drag the energy down a bit (even if it is still excellent musically). No doubt this will improve as they do further concerts (both of this one and others in the year [the September 12 concert of TV themes, opera choruses, madrigals, part songs, and motets looks fun]). And they probably should have had a special encore song prepared – just in case. Although I really had no complaints about hearing Africa again. The venue was a bit cluttered for a large performance, with the bar badly placed and inconvenient sight lines, so if you do go to next Saturday or Sunday's performance go early and grab a good seat (and a meal too). The bar and kitchen staff have to be commended for not doing anything during the performance and actually making huge efforts to keep the noise down, even if it meant increasing their workload after the performance. Too many venues really don't bother. And after the performance I went to the Fringe Park and watched monks on a giant metal viking ship spouting flames beat musically on giant pieces of metal with hammers. Percussion! And The Twoks gives me screaming violins later on in the Fringe. Now all I need are cellos, and my musical tastes will be complete! Anyway, next on the agenda is more a capella, this time in the form of The Idea of North.

must get frog

And while I remember Dandelion Wine will be in Adelaide on their last Australian tour for a while (they are off to Europe again). This tour is for their new CD, Selected Anarchronisms, and is ably supported by Brillig (good) and Corpulence on the Catwalk (unknown). It's on at Live On Light on Light Square on March 6th from 7:30pm AUD$12. I just hope The Adventures of Stoke Mandeville, Astronaut and Gentleman doesn't run overtime. Even so, I'll probably miss some of the support act(s) unless they are running on Australian Central Daylight Saving Pagan Time (advertised time + 2 hours).

Ὦ ξεῖν', ἀγγέλλειν Λακεδαιμονίοις ὅτι τῇδε κείμεθα, τοῖς κείνων ῥήμασι πειθόμενοι

I have to admit I generally like what I call syncretic role-playing games that meld different genres/tropes together, so it would seem that a game based on transplanting the ancient Greek culture into space would be an instant win for me. Well it was, which was why I bought a copy of Hellas: Worlds of Sun and Stone before it actually came out. The fact that it looked absolutely gorgeous was just extra syrup on the halvas. ( first impressions )

oh, they're hooker's

And speaking of syncretic games, This Favoured Land is accepting preorders now. This game is a One Roll Engine game [Godlike, Monsters and Other Childish Things, Reign, Wild Talents] set in the American Civil war, and like Godlike, features superpowers in a historical context (although it also apparently plays well without the superheroes, or Gifted, as they are known). Considering the excellent job they did on Godlike this is rather tempting. If only it wasn't for the freight cost and exchange rate... And if only I had the capability to run more than an insignificant fraction of the games I've already got. <sigh>

(no subject)

Cool. There is going to be a second season (of eight episodes) of Being Humam. I did like the ending, although I shall miss [Name deleted]. Meanwhile Primeval should be starting RSN. ( Primeval Season 3 Trailer )