Review of 2009

Well its coming to that time of the year when we reflect on all the things that have been happening at Asdescribed towers. We started the year with a new company and hopefully a new way of working, and even though its a difficult economic climate we're still here and things are looking promising into 2010, so keep coming back to the blog to see what projects we've been working on and are planning...

Jim's highlights of the year:
> Starting the company
> Touring overseas with Jon Hopkins, starting with Berlin which was an eye opener through to The Sydney Opera House which was a unique experience!
> The Big Chill - VJ programming and seeing just how hard Adam works (and thats why we love him!)
> Festinho - truely a great community festival and the chance to experiment (headlining with Hopkins to a home crowd)
> Madstock- The peoples edit to be released on DVD next spring
> All the other Madness shoots, including the Camden Crawl.
> Being commissioned by Grasscut to make their AV set, couldn't meet a nicer bunch of gentlemen.
> Vjing with the Bays & Heritage Orchestra at the Tower of London
> Having the first HD documentary released on DVD
> Finishing the year with a well earned 2 week break for the first time in 2 years.

see you in 2010

More Grasscut! - Muppet

Yes yes, there's more grasscut up on youtube!

This is the 2nd single off their forthcoming album and is released mid feb 10.

This is a combination of footage from Adam & Jims archive edited with new footage shot during the summer.. Look out for the keyboard smashing scene towards the end :)

Sophia Hurdley's "Callas" at Cloud Dance Festival 2009

This was such a lovely project to work on with Sophia, and we were so pleased it was so well recieved by the critics. On the tech side, it was also fantastic to spend some time together with a very good friend Ruari Cormack (Technical Director at Riverside Studios)... see you soon Ruari .. Hoots.!!!

Review by Catherine Hooper

A rare Christmas treat for the audience was the chance to see Sophia Hurdley explore the possibilities of choreography. Previously a dancer with New Adventures, Hurdley has an eye for detail whilst still maintaining a bold and stylised creative approach to the piece as a whole. Whilst currently a work in progress, Callas smoothly blends dance, film projection, as well as drama, promoting Hurdley’s skills with multi-discipline performance. The VT clips act as a vehicle for transporting the audience back to the glamorous era of the late 1950s. By utilising the direct interview by .J Murrow, we meet a personal and self-reflective Sophia Hurdley as Maria Callas. Hurdley not only physically resembles Callas but as the score rouses we can almost see the music running through Hurdley’s veins. The choice to not include singing is not an issue as like Callas, Hurdley breathes the score and the connection with music is what is significant. Passionate and intense, Callas focuses on the legend’s infamous relationships, both with her career and the powerful Aristotle Onassis. An emotional highlight is when we witness Callas watching Onassis embark on his love affair with Jackie Kennedy. As the couple perform a duet, contructed of loving partner work Callas echoes the same choreography with the aid of a solitary chair. As Onassis lifts Jackie, Callas struggles but achieves the effect of mirroring their routine. A powerful glimpse into the obsessive world of Maria Callas. The piece is executed to top quality and it is only in the development of the story that we are aware that Sophia Hurdley is presenting a work in progress. I eagerly await the progression of the piece and the opportunity of gaining an insight into more of the legend’s life.

X Factor - Charity Single

We worked for Bluman Associates on the X Factor's Christmas charity appeal single for Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital.

The setup was was 3 x rear projection screens and broadcast playback decks which can be seen towards the end of the above video.

We were very familar with this song by the end of the day and dissapointed that Stacey didn't win ;)

Hopkins 2009

Saturday was the last Hopkins gig of the year over in The Haag at State X Newforms. Other artists that played include Peaches, Battles and Gary Newman.

Its been a fantastic year for Jon, with Jim travelling with him to many of his gigs. Highlights were Berlin back in January, and Playing at The Sydney Opera House as part of Brian Eno's festival.

More dates will appear soon, Columbia for starters in march...

Shhh at Cecil Sharp House

On the 23rd January we'll be out in full force...

Our Grasscut set will be on show during their set, and Jim is headlining with Jon Hopkins for the first date of 2010.

Full details of the other artists available from the above link..

Grasscut - Swallow the Day

first av video up..