Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Arlo Anwin holds court at Roland's Denmark Street Store - with a unique mix of Demo, Interactive Tutorial, Masterclass and Gig - based on the flagship Boss Loop Station
I first met Arlo Anwin - one of the 2 main projects for multi-instrumentalist Chris Woods - at Boss’s ’In The Loop’ event at Studio 9294, Hackney Wick back in October of 2022. His other main project is The Chris Woods Groove Orchestra. And Studio 9294 is now the home of the London Synth and Pedal Expo - and benefits from a superb canal-side location, with excellent sort of gastropub next door - the Number 90 Bar.
Chris and I have maintained our friendship since that landmark event - Boss really needs to do more of those! And I keep encouraging Chris to do an album of IDM Techno Classics Covers in his own style - including The Aztec Mystic (DJ Rolando) 'Knight of the Jaguar'. Looping technique as such is very similar to House and Techno 4-Bar Phrase build-up - and with Chris leaning more into the Cello these days - he already delivers the perfect instrumentation for an entirely acoustic take on those sorts of seminal tracks - I have a whole list of recommendations for those.
At the In The Loop event - Chris played a track which very much reminded me of one of those Techno Classics - which is why I'm on this mission - Chris would be the perfect musician for that project - and he can then add a 3rd Main Project to his repertoire.
At the Roland Store we were frequently interrupted by individuals playing loudly on the pianos next door - and having an impromptu full-on session on Roland's V-Drums right next to the stage - which clatter made it occasionally difficult to focus on Chris's music. I don't feel there were enough respectful people in the store that day, and the staff didn't seem to do much to encourage people to be conscientious about Chris's performance on the stage. Chris is a pro though - and despite repeated 'interruptions' he soldiered on regardless.
The next event at the Roland Store is Sophie Burrell on the 17th - which is a closed event - and people will need to register to attend - as indeed I have done!
I arrived around 2 o'clock, and stayed until nearly 4 - which session I very much enjoyed - in particular Chris's rendition / variation on his 'A New Sea' song - as featured in the video at the base of this article.
I captured a number of images of Chris on stage - playing every instrument he brought with him from his base in Cornwall - it's quite an operation to bring all that equipment up to London. I think he said he had stopped off at Exeter, and came directly from there! I didn't envy him the return journey!
Chris Woods / Arlo Anwin has music on Bandcamp and the usual platforms - including Spotify and Apple Music. He's engaged in a number of other areas besides his 2 main projects, and does a fair amount of Tuition and Tutorials too - which he really excels at - he seems to have infinite patience - and an incredibly even temperament! And he can keep on playing with perfect timing and dynamics - even in the face of multiple simultaneous noisy interruptions!
In any case I thoroughly enjoyed the session (despite the many interruptions) - and with a couple of others, I finally managed to sort of cordon off a suitable space in that room - and crowd out the nearest drum kit!
Here follows the photo montage from the day, followed by my favourite track from that session 'A New Sea' :
Acoustic Guitar
'Uke'
Kalimba
Mic'd up Cello - note also the use of Logjam Prolog Beat Stomper (under Cello)
Back to 'Uke' !
A Parting Bow!
Arlo Anwin - A New Sea
