Chris Palmer
As hot and balanced as possible: South Africa's best engineer sets your record straight
Two buildings that used to belong to the Chinese Seaman’s Association were remodeled by Marcus Neustetter and the Trinity Sessions to form the Academy world in Cape Town. The main studio and a radio station were housed across from the lecture hall and workshop spaces, creating a voyeuristic atmosphere when the sun went down and the lights went on. Throughout both buildings were prime examples of Cape Town’s cultural heritage - from Sam Nhlengethwa’s colourful paintings of singers to Usha Seejarim’s split second photographic narratives, the building radiated a sense of history in the making, rather than repeating itself.
We witnessed audio insights from a range of musical characters, including Steinski, Seiji, Ampfiddler, Prince Paul, Sal Principato, Anthony ‘Shake’ Shakir, Plaid’s Ed Handley, Clive Chin, Metro Area’s Darshan Jesrani and Erland Øye, as well as Cape Town’s own jazz talisman Hugh Masekela, and original b-boy crew Prophets Of Da City. Dr Bob Moog revealed the basics of synthesis science, while Patrice crafted us an acoustic song from the first chord upwards. From kwaito clubs to township jams, street-side bobotjes and minibus sound systems, Cape Town represented in fine style and rare form – it’s not often the sun sets under a tablecloth.
