London agenda for Friday 23 March

1. Listen to the ethereal, gentle, and folky music of Christa Vi [Le Cool]

2. Watch a defiant, brazen, half-cut version of a faded comeback gig by Frontman [Run Riot]

3. Hear Leeds-born dubstep producer Rusko at Fabric [Flavorpill]

4. Unwind to low slung beats, building up to dance floor grooves late into the night at Socio Disco [Don’t Panic]

5. Gaze at the stars and the moon at the Hampstead Observatory [Ian Visits]

6. Browse at Chelsea Military Antiques

A few happy words with artist Stefan Sagmeister

Stefan Sagmeister is best known in the art world (and real world) for his explorative graphic design work. He’s has worked on projects ranging from the commercial, the cultural, and some which have allowed him to cross over into other industries, perhaps most notably, with his album cover designs for Lou Reed and the Rolling Stones.
 The New York based Austrian recently embarked upon arguably one of his most interesting projects yet, one which would ask serious questions about the human condition and methods in which we all partake to achieve happiness.

London agenda for Thursday 22 March 2012

1. Celebrate the end of the world at the Tricycle [Le Cool]

2. Listen to London Fields Radio live at the London Fields pub [Run Riot]

3. Hear the spine-tingling music of Tokyo-born / London-based electronic musician Masaaki Yoshida at Cargo [Flavorpill]

4. Play a mutant form of bingo at a secret location of the Underground Rebel Bingo Club [Don’t Panic]

5. Learn how Stalin fought his most mortal enemy: Mother Nature [Ian Visits]

6. Attend a talk at Dr Johnson’s House [Tired of London]

Eikon by Two Wings

There’s something instantly enticing about the debut single from newish Glasgow five-piece Two Wings, signed to Tin Angel Records. Perhaps it’s Hanna Tuulikki’s woozy, unique vocal style, or her band’s (including ex-Trembling Bell Ben Reynolds) polished but laid-back blues. Catch them at the Betsey Trotwood, April 10th. Debut album Love’s Spring is released April 30th.

From his home in Prague, founder David Boulter talks about bringing the band into the light

Tindersticks are a decidedly late-night band—all bar room loss and swooning lovers—so it is strange to speak to founder member and organ player David Boulter in the bright light of morning. David is at home in Prague, just returned from London after the cancellation of the band’s four Soho Theatre shows due to singer Stuart Staples’s laryngitis. They are disappointed—“it was quite a lot of intense work building up to this”—but could clearly not go ahead without Staples’s distinctive voice in good condition and will reschedule the gigs for later in the year. “After a year of recording the album it feels like a release to go out there and play it,” he says.

London agenda for Wednesday 21 March

1. Visit an exhibition where the images will either be tattooed into your skin or burnt at the end. Burning Ink [Le Cool]

2. Hear Snipe favourites Summer Camp at Scala [Run Riot]

3. Regard the humble postcard [Flavorpill]

4. Chat up Catherine Deneuve at a screening of her new film, Beloved [Don’t Panic]

5. Make passes at girls who change social norms with regard to eyewear [Ian Visits]

6. Walk on Streatham Common [Tired of London]

London agenda for Tuesday 20 March

1. Listen to the intricate fretwork and elegant melodies of M Ward [Le Cool]

2. View the cartoon depictions of violence – a fabric axe, stylised bloodstains – of Craig Fisher: Pretty Disastrous [Flavorpill]

3. Subject oneself to the house, grime, garage, and bass of No Bull$h!# [Don’t Panic]

4. Run from The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms [Ian Visits]

5. Have lunch at Wesley’s Cafe [Tired of London]

The real winner of the Mayoral poll: "I don't know"

Adam’s already picked the bones of the Ipsos Mori Mayoral election poll (PDF).

I have one thing to add.

Always remember this about the Mayoral election: Most people aren’t really listening and they don’t really care. Hence the following emphatic triumph for “I don’t have the faintest idea”.

Who has the best ideas on Transport?

Johnson 36%
Livingstone 31%
Paddick 1%
Jones 1%
Don’t Know 29%

Who has the best ideas on Crime?

Johnson 26%
Livingstone 22%
Paddick 8%
Jones 1%
Don’t Know 39%

Who has the best ideas on Environment?

Johnson 23%
Livingstone 20%
Paddick 2%
Jones 7%
Don’t Know 42%

Who has the best ideas on Creating Jobs?

Johnson 27%
Livingstone 27%
Paddick 1%
Jones 1%
Don’t Know 40%

Who has the best ideas on Housing?

Johnson 18%
Livingstone 28%
Paddick 1%
Jones 1%
Don’t Know 47%

What’s interesting is that when asked to choose which of the two main candidates they like the most, or would do best in a given situation, the number of don’t knows shrinks. So people have firm opinions on the candidates but not on the policies.

Which means this election is going to be fought and won on personalities, not issues. But then we knew that already, didn’t we?

Ken Livingstone slipping behind in transport battle

Ken Livingstone is losing the battle on transport in the Mayoral election, a new BBC poll suggests.

Asked which candidate has “the best ideas so far” on transport, 36% chose Boris Johnson and just 31% chose Ken Livingstone.

Previous polls by other polling organisations, have given Ken Livingstone a significant lead on transport related questions.

Ken’s policy of cutting fares is still overwhelmingly popular with 72% of those polled supporting it.

But the headline figure suggests that he has not done enough to set out a broader agenda for transport in the capital.

It also suggests that headlines such as “London’s transport would face collapse” under Ken Livingstone may have had an effect.

The launch of Boris’s new bus could also have had an impact on the results, although it is impossible to tell from this one poll.

Other results suggests that Boris Johnson’s campaign to portray Ken Livingstone as untrustworthy is having little effect.

The public believe Ken and Boris to be almost equally trustworthy with 31% thinking Boris the most trustworthy, 30% thinking Ken and 20% thinking neither.

Ken Livingstone is also still well ahead on the question of “who most understands the concerns of ordinary Londoners?” 49% of Londoners picked Ken and just 26% picked Boris.

The poll will make dismal reading for Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick.

Paddick, who is a former policeman came in fourth place behind Green Party candidate Jenny Jones on all issues apart from crime.

Even on crime, just 8% of Londoners believe he has the “best ideas” on the issue.

Update A new poll has just come out showing that Boris has widened his lead over Ken.

Konx-Om-Pax

This young Glaswegian chap supported Snipe favourite Blanck Mass up in Newcastle this week; in fact, we found out about him through Blanck Mass’s enthusiastic tweeting.

It’s interesting stuff – hypnotic loops with processed sounds and vocal samples with wobbly tape-texture samples set against harder electronic sounds. You can hear more of his work on Soundcloud.