I also started Sonar on Thursday with a visit to the Cinema and saw the last half of the "Awesome I Fuckin' Shot That" film. The best part was the series of jump edits in "Ch- Ch- Check It Out", which was dizzying in execution. And to emphasise the real time nature a clock was left conveniently on, on part of the footage (Hmmm). A mix of cameras was also used and clearly a mix of abilities amongst the users too, such that one "cameraperson" wasn't sure they were recording sound as well as video;-)

Amongst the "Sound Shorts" my favourite is the piece which has accelerated shadows moving across a room combined with objects falling and re-arranging themselves - superb visual trickery (a concept close to my heart). For instant impact "Die Brucke" with it's green message is best and for everyday use of video to tell a story - "Stong Sorry"

Also took in SonarMatica which this year focuses on the old saw "that modern technology is indistinguishable from magic". Being rather reductive, I kept on seeing the technology and not the "magic". The pieces work well, though, if approached with a kiddish awe. The best being an update of chasing balloons around the room - just motion at them and they move away. The cleverest piece is a floating lightbulb that relies on magnetic fields - get too close and your weak magnetic field causes it to dim and wobble (hence a barrier to stop destructive kids play).

What about the music you ask ...... well Sonar for me is now more about experiencing visuals and art than hearing innovative music (partly because I find it rare that I hear something truly new and exciting). So far the music artists I've seen have performed with a conventional rock lighting set-up, which I find particularly strange with notionally electronic music.

Last night did a spot of low res filming around the port and a set-up for a new signature piece. Will see shortly how it looks.

Martin Picton of D.O.R.