All about the cats

My neighbour told me that it was Ginger Cat Appreciation Day, so I sent her a photo of an appreciation Juno, which happens many times every day (by us, and no doubt by various neighbours on his rounds).

This afternoon's main event was a listening experience at the ICA for Jon Hopkins' Ritual. We claimed parts of the floor in various ways – I opted to lie down – then the lights dimmed and in surround sound the album began to play. There were light sequences, but I preferred to keep my eyes closed and zone out. The whole experience was relaxing and meditative until I opened an eye to see someone foot hovering over my head – it was balanced on the knee of someone behind me. I closed my eye again, trusting that the foot wouldn't land on my head (which it didn't). 

At the end of the 41-minute album, Jon Hopkins was interviewed by music journalist Kate Huchinson – she writes about the album here in the Financial Times. Meditation is big in Jon Hopkins' life. What I took away was that the deep purr at the end of the album was the sound of his friend's cat, Peeko (not sure of the spelling).