Improvisations with Otomo Yoshihide (Lasalle Creative Cube, 19 Feb 2011)

An awesome night of improvisations by Otomo Yoshihide (Guitar and Turntable), Leslie Low (Guitar), Brian O'Reilly (Upright Bass), Yuen Chee Wai (Electronic), Darren Moore (Drums), Tim O'Dwyer (Saxophone).



Set 1: Otomo Yoshihide, Leslie Low, Brian O'Reilly, Yuen Chee Wai, Tim O'Dwyer




Set 2: Otomo Yoshihide, Darren Moore, Tim O'Dwyer




Set 3: Otomo Yoshihide, Leslie Low, Brian O'Reilly, Yuen Chee Wai, Darren Moore, Tim O'Dwyer



There is something almost classic about the arrangement of the second set, which was simply saxophone + drum kit + guitar/turntable (if one can even speak of "classic" combinations of sounds where experimental music is concerned!). The highlight for me was the second half of the second set; a kind of ecstatic free jazz frenzy.

The Observatory Live at Enter Twilight (Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, 3 Dec 2010)

The Observatory played three sets of their songs from over the years at the waterfront on 3 Dec 2010. Sound seemed a little muddy at the venue, with volumes peaking during the harsher noisier songs, but the softer, acoustic numbers were a delight to listen to.


The Observatory - Another Passerby (Live, Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, 3 Dec 2010)


The Observatory - Time of Rebirth (Live, Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, 3 Dec 2010)


The Observatory - This Sad Song (Live, Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, 3 Dec 2010)


The Observatory - Live Excerpt (Live, Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, 3 Dec 2010)

Leslie Low + Yuen Chee Wai + John Hegre + Lasse Marhaug - Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 27 Nov 2010

We climbed to the top of Pasir Panjang Hill, to a homely chapel building, overlooking the port and the sea, to listen to improvised music by John Hegre (Norway), Lasse Marhaug (Norway), Leslie Low, Yuen Chee Wai, as part of a series of gigs played in Norwegian Seamen's Missions all around the world. Strong coffee (no sugars), waffles, and jam. All four had begun the set together with an epic half hour jam, followed by two duets. I particularly enjoyed Leslie Low and Lasse Marhaug's duet - Leslie's melancholic guitar song underscored by crackling glitchsounds set off by Lasse Marhaug's giant hands crushing circuit boards together. Yuen Chee Wai and John Hegre's set was somehow not as cohesive, the elements seeming more disparate, and certain sort of sine waves, beeps and clicks seeming a bit out of place when played in a warm, organic church.


Improvised set by Leslie Low + Yuen Chee Wai + John Hegre + Lasse Marhaug
(Live, Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 27 Nov 2010)


Improvised set by Leslie Low + Lasse Marhaug (Live, Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 27 Nov 2010)


Improvised set by Yuen Chee Wai + John Hegre (Live, Norwegian Seamen's Mission, 27 Nov 2010)