The concert life has been incredible. One notable highlight was the Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester performing the second symphony of Gustav Mahler at the opulent neoclassical Konzerthaus. The performance was an overwhelming experience of nineteenth century Teutonic vision.

At the other end of the musical spectrum were my beloved Boredoms. On Monday 22 May the Boredoms performed at Maria am Ostbahnhof. The stage was a relatively simple setup with three drum kits and assorted electronics.

The performance was akin to a Javanese gamelan. It felt like I was participating in some sort of contemporary tribal ritual.

Yamatsuka Eye was a postmodern shaman and led an intense two and a half hour journey into an exotic and primitive musical space.

Primitive chanting and crazed electronics. Precision Taiko drumming and wandering freeform improvisation. Early American minimalism and psychedelic freak outs. Telepathic communication and gospel call and response. Propulsive force and butterfly grace. Postmodern music without affectation.