Devolution is here, as DEVO were to state later - and I don't think they were talking politics.

One of the most thoughtful performances of Sonar, occurred at the end of the day sessions - Tres' Blackout Concert #20. A piece based on attentive listening and the qualities of silence, was disturbed by some people's penchant for continued play with their techno toys. Admittedly, my inability to find a comfortable seating position didn't help either, when I caused (what seemed like) an almighty screech when the soles of my shoes rubbed the floor. However, that was definitely "old skool" disturbance and the sort of thing that always happens (like someone coughing and yes that happened too). As I was listening attentively, I could hear the low hum of the "techno toys" in the crucial final moments of the performance even after Tres had seemingly (through the magic of a mobile phone admittedly) managed to even extinguish the sound of the Ramblas.

The techno toy culprit(s) left in the knowledge that they could say "I was there", although I doubt they gained anything from the experience. A classic example of the "tick-off" culture and intellectual devolution.

Mira Calix's performance earlier in the Hall was accompanied by a classic simple abstract video - items being placed or drawn on the platen of an overhead projector and then filmed. A show I felt would have worked better from the sitting position (which many people did for White in the same space on Thursday), however they resolutely stood. Odd. I feel, the Hall doesn't really work as a space for these performances and I wonder at Sonar's bizarre decision to use the ambient/chill-out friendly Convent dels Àngels as a ticket office!

As well as DEVO, whose music deliberately stays uncompromisingly in the eighties, other artists on Saturday night were looking backwards too. Mogwai described as pushing "back the boundaries of post-rock as far as possible" could be best summed up by that immortal phrase "never trust a hippy".The only boundary they pushed, being their scheduled time on stage. Our response - to explore the artistic visual possibilities of the building instead ;-)