Monkey Business

If you speak to people in the music industry these days, there seems a lot to be depressed about... And rightly so, perhaps. BPI's annual review of key developments in the sector does not paint a pretty picture: industry revenues fell by 13% in 2007, with the focus shifting from developing new talent to cutting corporate sponsorship deals. Industry people no longer dream of signing "the next big thing", but about cutting deals with Nokia, Coca Cola, and Burger King. Meanwhile, aspiring artists looking to get discovered fill the internet with DIY digital doodles in a desperate bid for attention... God bless the digital revolution! To be fair, it aint all bad, some of it's pretty good, some of it even brilliant. But I'm the first to admit that I can feel overwhelmed by how much crap we have hurled at us 24/7.

So thank God for this light in the darkness! I had been excited about seeing "Monkey: Journey to the West" for months, and finally had the chance last Saturday. Why was I excited? Mostly because its creative team included Damon Albarn, enigmatic singer of Blur and The Gorillaz, who I've had an intellectual crush on since (at the age of 12) I heard him say that "music these days is not intelligent enough". Sweet. And Jamie Hewlett, who animated The Gorillaz and whose vision of the world I would love to borrow for just - one - day. Please? These big-brained giants of British creativity teamed up with Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng to create... a Chinese Opera!

I surprised 2 good friends with tickets to see it at The Royal Opera House and can confirm that Monkey is pure magic. The production features a cast of circus artistes and martial artists that would give Cirque du Soleil a run for their money, as they weave their wondrous path through Jamie's exquisite designs and spellbinding animations. Damon's musical score is otherworldly, haunting, and perfectly delivered by a choir of ethereal Chinese muses.

If I had to pick at it, I think Monkey could have benefited from having a stronger plot and storyline. I did not engage with the characters on an emotional level and felt the music/choreography could have easily evoked something deeper. But I'll forgive it this tragic flaw because Monkey managed to sweep its audience (myself included) off their feet, not by pushing our usual buttons, but by attempting that perilous thing of using new media to reach us - and surviving the experience. More than than, the creators achieved something of genuine beauty and harmony. This is entertainment for future generations.

Apparently it's coming back to the UK in autumn... Go on, treat yourself.