London agenda for Friday 28 January

1. See excellent photo journalism at The Book of Destruction [Le Cool]

2. Something about comedy and a garden produced by the Royal Opera House [Run Riot]

3. Hear something loud with Yokozuna, Small Machine, I Saved Latin, One Man Team Dance at the Hope & Anchor [London Gigs]

4. Watch an exploration of mortality and the theme of death throughout cinematic history at Oliver Pietsch [Lauren Down]

New Amsterdam? Haggerston is now the red-light district of Hackey

Hackney Council has banned all sex-shops and strip clubs in the borough. However, the four existing sin dens are grandfathered in and permitted to remain open. And where is every single one located? Haggerston.

Here’s how estate agent Foxton’s describes Haggerston:

The proximity to Hoxton and Shoreditch has made the area popular with students and workers in the creative industries.

Abel

Here’s one: a heartfelt directorial debut from Mexican actor Diego Luna, about a young boy who has this mental condition where he thinks he’s his dad, so he comes home from the hospital and orders his family about, checks their homework, meets their boyfriends for approval and such like. Sounds funny? It’s all right.

ISO50 Dry Waves Compilation - Fade Me Out by Little Foxes

This compilation has been knocking around since November—I can’t recommend it highly enough. Amazing electro/ambient, featuring the likes of Little Foxes, Warm Ghost and Teeel, the whole thing is available for free, via the blog of San Francisco based musician/artist/designer Scott Hansen, a.k.a. ISO50. Why not check out his rather fine print and photography work while you’re there. Compilation artwork comes courtesy of Com Truise.

Little Foxes – Fade Me Out by snipelondon

London agenda for Thursday 27 January

1. Be entranced by Cyprien Tokoudagba’s paintings at Voodou Magic Juju [Le Cool]

2. Fly Girlcore Airlines at Catch 22 [Run Riot]

3. Hear the blank generation with Suicide Party at the Amersham Arms [London Gigs]

4. Put together the vintage collage art of John Stezaker [Lauren Down]

5. Hear poetry straight from the pens of Guantanamo Bay prisoners [Jon Davis]

Preview: JA JA JA at the Lexington

Tomorrow (Jan 27), this monthly music-fest at the Lexington goes all Nordic on your ass. There’s jaunty indie-pop from Iceland’s Benni Hemm Hemm, Norwegian disco-funk with an 80s melodic twist from Montée and ear-bleeding epic rock, courtesy of Finland’s Murmansk. Hosted by BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson, this promises to be a belter. Doors 7.30pm, tickets £5 Adv.

Purity Ring - Ungirthed

Not much is known about this Canadian duo. They consist of Corin Rodick (of ‘Gobble Gobble’) and singer Megan James, they’re Canadian … and … um … it doesn’t matter, they make ace, warped electro with a nice pop aesthetic, at least judging by recent self-release Ungirthed. Download it from their tumblr site here.

Ungirthed by PURITY RING

How the Daily Mail uses Melanie Phillips as clickbait to lure in all you pinkos

There are days I wish Melanie Phillips would act like a proper troll and only sally forth from under the bridge to harass passing goats. But as the Daily Mail columnist you love to hate, Mel wouldn’t be doing her job if she didn’t cause a shit storm once in a while. And that’s what she’s gone and done this morning with her latest rant, ‘Yes, gays have often been the victims of prejudice. But they now risk becoming the new McCarthyites’ (you can read the snappily-titled piece here without having to visit Mail Online).

London agenda for Wednesday 26 January

1. Hear Emma Forest talk about herself at Lutyens and Rubinstein [Le Cool]

2. Find out what it means to be über cool at Dr Lida Hujić’s book launch The First To Know [Run Riot]

3. Hear a seriously pissed-off Nico, Anika, Gyratory System, Joseph Coward at the Lex [London Gigs]

4. Watch an exploration of mortality at Oliver Pietsch [Lauren Down]

Now the normals want to live in Shoreditch - and they've set up a website to encourage others

Is this degentrification? Try it here if you’re looking for an old man pint or a towel: www.normalinshoreditch.com/

H/T Ian Visits