Rhymes With Opera unveiled the world premier of Book of Gazes, a composition by Jenny Olivia Johnson, at the Annex Theatre this weekend. The production, featuring the hip hop band Soul Cannon, was said by Johnson to be rooted in the recollection of a dream that she once had. While dreams are often the impetus for creativity, they can often be the most difficult subject to render. Book of Gazes frames its theme elegantly.
This idea plays out in a melancholy indie pop sensibility that gives way to moments of fleeting dissonance and unsettling time signatures. The characters in the piece return to themes time and again in what appears to be an effort to recreate a sense of déjà vu. All of these elements combined with the video projection were indeed successful at giving us a sensation similar to the one experienced when in the midst of waking, yet still not quite finished dreaming.
The evening came to a close after the chairs were removed allowing Soul Cannon to perform and bring the boogie down hard on Station North which proves the notion that Hip Hop can compliment any occasion if given the proper leeway.
Rhymes with Operais taking the Book of Gazes on the road so forward this email to your friends in Philly and New York and tell them to follow the link for details.
