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It is a bit tempting to think that an oblique phrase on a randomly selected card inspired the latest million selling Coldplay single. Given the end product of some of these recording sessions, it’s not surprising that in some quarters the Oblique Strategies cards have developed an enigmatic and almost mystical status. The cards were apparently used by David Bowie while he was making his Berlin Trilogy of albums (Low, “Heroes”, Lodger) and by the likes of REM and more recently Coldplay.
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This is essential stuff for musicians (and managers) who are burning up expensive recording studio dollars with the equivalent of ‘writers block’. There are some rules but you will need to get hold of a set of cards to read for yourself (I’m not about to stray into copyright territory here). You literally remove a card from the deck, read what’s written on it and have a think about what it means. The idea is that you use the cards to jolt you out of familiar thought patterns, and into a mindset where you explore something different. Remove ambiguities and convert to specifics7.Withdrawing in disgust is not the same thing as apathy.Look closely at the most embarrassing details and amplify them.It’s when you look at rest of the plain white cards that things start to get a bit interesting, all sorts of ‘oblique’ phrases appear such as: Oblique Strategies were produced by Brian Eno and Peter Schmitt in 1975 and come in a black box, with gold writing and the top card bearing the words “over one hundred worthwhile dilemmas”. That prompted me to obtain a set of Oblique Strategies cards (2001 version), picture above. I must thank my colleague Alastair for introducing me to Oblique Strategies and this BBC Radio 4 programme by Simon Armitage, which I’d recommend. This post is about a technique to disrupt familiar thinking patterns, that was used to great effect in the music industry almost 40 years ago. Sorry to disappoint those hoping for some pointers on ‘creativity enhancing pharmaceuticals’ (although these may be necessary on the team away day). Question: What has David Bowie and Brian Eno, a 1970’s recording studio, the “Heroes” album, and a pack of cards called ‘Oblique Strategies’ got to do with your Corporate ‘brainstorming and innovative creativity’ team away day session?