Bloody hell, is there nothing that Damon Albarn won't do to look "eclectic"? This sounds absolutely terrible:
"Monkey: Journey to the West is a new opera. Directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, composed by Damon Albarn with visual concept, design and animation by Jamie Hewlett. Monkey is based on the ancient Chinese legend and combines Music, Animation, Chinese acrobatics and martial arts to tell the story of Monkey's quest for enlightenment, along side his travelling companions Tripitaka, Pigsy and Sandy."
I watched a documentary on the making of this a while back....
and it was really interesting. Some of the instruments used I had never seen before and the process they went through to put it altogether was very impressive.
He is a bit of a tit Albarn but he has written some great stuff and is always looking to do new things.
Maybe but
the way this is worded makes me howl and cringe.
This happened last year
Hm
Then why have I just got an email about it? It's playing soon.
la
where's the playing? Better not just be manchester!
It looked and sounded amazing on that BBC doc.
Where have you been for the last year.
This news is prehistoric!
I think it was originally on in Manchester for a year.
And now it is travelling around? Or something like that?
i think ita on at the albert hall too
i also watched that making of thing ages ago, and it left me wanting to see it i must say. i also saw that program on bbc four with that guy (i think ex editor of the guardian or something?) who was obsessed with piano and wanted to talk to similarly like minded people.. including albarn, who had the most immense collection of keyboards iv ever seen and was clearly masterful on each.
fair play to him i say.
Monkey
was originally the flagship show from last year's Manchester International Festival (Like a poor man's Edinburgh, but getting better). I went to see it and it was visually stunning, but after about half an hour you kinda stopped noticing Albarn's score, which I guess is what a score is supposed to do. If you're into watching some amazing circus tricks with contortionists and a hefty dose of fighting, you'd probably enjoy it. It's a bit like trippy kung fu with monkey masks. In no way is it like a gig though, so be warned...