La Dolce Vita

Being in Montreal for a week (and not just being a tourist but living and commuting across the city) has reminded me of what it's like to live in a cosmopolitan city. I quickly noticed the better quality of coffee and the presence of more trendy items in the cafes (I've never seen a friand in Indiana). Then I stumbled across an enormous concatenation of shopping malls, partly underground (they call it la ville souterraine). It reminded me a lot of the QVB because I couldn't afford to buy much in its very stylish boutiques andbut, more importantly, there's plenty of fancy gelato.

Bloomington is a lovely little town and certainly not a cultural backwater (the university helps a lot, especially the music department). But there's something about the way a small town deals with cultures that's a little different. The only example I can give is when the department secretary asked me if I like "ethnic food" rather than any specific type. I get the impression that having international students just passing through means that their cultures remain foreign to the locals.

Anyway, the thing that most made me feel like I was in a happening place was a musical act I saw Sunday night. Ed and I had just returned from Quebec and went straight out to see one of her favourite singers, Imogen Heap, at a smoky little cabaret in a trendy quarter on the east side of town. It was the most avante garde act I've ever seen and I loved it! The opening act was a cellist who was recording live loops of herself to play over the top of to create a really fantastic sound. Then Imogen Heap came on and recorded loops of herself singing and using various synthesised instruments to create a very rich and interesting sound. But I knew that this was a special city when all the Montrealers remembered their favourite son and called out for Heap's version of "Hallelujah" for the encore.