Music Review: Oblique Strategies

Oblique Strategies by Far Out Labs

Have you ever had writers block? Well, this app just might help you to end your writers block! This application doesn't apply to just writers… anyone that does anything creative can benefit from this simple to use tool.

Oblique Strategies

The original Oblique Strategies is a deck of cards created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt, first published in 1975 and now in its fifth edition. (Yes, that Brian Eno, the musician from Roxy Music, who has worked with David's Bowie and Byrne, produced 7 albums for U2, etc etc.)

Oblique Strategies is a simulated deck of cards with "over one hundred worthwhile dilemmas". Each card contains a phrase or an obscure comment to make you think outside the box. Draw a card by tapping the screen. Each time you touch the screen a new card is shown. The phrases are random to help you to think more creatively.

okey dokey

Access the options through the information icon to switch between editions. So the next time you are staring at that blank screen, or canvas, or whatever, whip out your device and pick a card and put that card into action.

The only downside of this app for me is that I would like to be able to have access to all five editions at the same time, rather than having to choose just one.

This app is available at iTunes for free. If you like the iPhone/iPod Touch app enough to want more, you can still buy the 5th edition of the card set for £30 at Brian Eno’s Official Store.

I give this app 4/5