Datahowler

We at Snipe like it when someone shows a bit of initiative. Datahowler, a.k.a. Ross Edman from Dallas, Texas, got in touch to tell us how much he loved Snipe and would we like to feature his new single ‘Prophet’ in our MPFree section? Suitably buttered up, we had a listen and it’s pretty darn good: all squelchy synth and laid-back drums, with more than a hint of DJ Shadow.

According to the press release, Ross makes ‘spaced-out instrumental music for androids and humanoids to groove to’. He’s currently trying to raise funds for his debut album, ‘Slowdrifter’: those people kind enough to donate via his Kickstarter page will receive a free EP download for their trouble. Download ‘Prophet’, for free, here.

Datahowler – Prophet by snipelondon

Deeply diverting daily photoblogs

If the success of the internet (and I think by now it’s probably safe to call it a qualified success) proves one thing, it’s that no-one spends any time at work working. They spend it dicking around online. Here are five more ways to do exactly that.

City of Westminster photo archive
This is very good. New as of the start of 2011, a daily picture from the archives of the City of Westminster. Some are photos, some etchings, some little scraps of text…all are very crisp slices of historic London. One a day keeps the crushing ennui of modern living away.

London Daily Photo
As above, but with photos of modern London. So if you’re positioning your cultural persona as “cutting edge contemporary urban” rather than “history is wonderful” then this could be the one for you. It’s well established, so there’s a whole backslew of images to flick through, and it’s the top result when you Google “London photo”. And as we all know, Google never lies.

Astronomy Picture of the Day
This is those Nasa hipsters’ contribution to the daily photoblog scene. It is by some distance the most brilliant and amazing thing on the entire internet. Just mindblowing, every single day.

Kim Jong Il looking at things
This got a lot a lot of internet buzz before Christmas, so the more savvy and plugged in of you will doubtless be raising your eyebrows and kissing your teeth in that jaded way you have. Well I’m raising my eyebrows and kissing my teeth at YOU, kids, because I’ve seen that attitude a million times and it won’t wash with me. Anyway, to return to the issue at hand, this tumblr is inexplicably hilarious.

Tasteologie
Lovely, constantly updated design website which aggregates beautiful pictures of food and tells you how to make it. Also check out sister site NOTCOT which does the same for contemporary design. Here be pretty things.

London agenda for Friday 14 January

1. Catch up on the story of 21st century art with the gritty, psychogeographic tableaux of Gilbert and George [Le Cool]

2. Wonder how subversive the social uselessness of art is at Art: what is the use? [Run Riot]

3. Infiltrate the Stafford’s Wine Cellars [Tired of London]

4. See one of the best shows at the Fringe this year and almost certainly the best show about naval frigates with Jonny Sweet [Spoonfed]

5. Take in in an incredible exhibition of over one hundred photographs that display the stunning nature of the countryside at Take a View: Landscape Photographer of the Year 2010 [Lauren Down]

7. Watch the shorts that were submitted, but not accepted at the London Short Film Festival at Salon de Refuges Here’s Snipe’s review of an earlier event.

Huckleberry Finn, edited for hipsters

So there has been all sorts of to-and-fro over the decision of NewSouth Books to publish an edition of the long-in-public domain work Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with the word nigger replaced by the word slave.

Thankfully, law on public domain allows for other publishers to create their own specialised editions as Brooklyn publisher Dumbo has done with the Hipster Huckleberry Finn. Every instance of nigger has been replaced by hipster, resulting a thoroughly up-to-date book that can be taught in classrooms from Dalston to Williamsburg to Strathcona.

Here’s a sample paragraph:

So the next day after the funeral, along about , the girls’ joy got the first jolt. A couple of hipster traders come along, and the king sold them the hipsters reasonable, for three—day drafts as they called it, and away they went, the two sons up the river to Memphis, and their mother down the river to Orleans. I thought them poor girls and them hipsters would break their hearts for grief; they cried around each other, and took on so it most made me down sick to see it. The girls said they hadn’t ever dreamed of seeing the family separated or sold away from the town. I can’t ever get it out of my memory, the sight of them poor miserable girls and hipsters hanging around each other’s necks and crying; and I reckon I couldn’t a stood it all, but would a had to bust out and tell on our gang if I hadn’t knowed the sale warn’t no account and the hipsters would be back home in a week or two.

You can purchase it here for £12.57 or just download the PDF for free.

Big Brother's Kenneth Tong gives mega creepy interview

Fans of Big Brother may remember rich boy Kenneth Tong, boyfriend of housemate Karly, who was added to the show minutes before she was voted out. The one who was warned by BB producers that telling another housemate, Bea, he could “pay someone to deal with [her]” could be construed as threatening. That guy.

Einar Stray

This 20-year-old Norwegian releases his debut album ‘Chiaroscuro’ on February 7th, through Spoon Train Audio. The title track is an epic, eight-minute mini symphony; the soundtrack to an imaginary train journey through imposingScandinavian landscapes and a showcase for Stray’s intricate piano work (he also plays with fellow Norwegian, Moddi). Download it for free here.

Einar Stray – Chiaroscuro by snipelondon

Killer cover: crosshairs through US history

Seattle’s alternative weekly newspaper, The Stranger, is publishing the above image as their cover today.

(Cover by Dan Savage 
and Aaron Huffman. Yes, the same Dan Savage who is our agony uncle —he moonlights as the Stranger’s editorial director.)

Sarah Palin’s original gunsights image

London agenda for Thursday 13 January

1. Watch the fabulous doc, Battle for Barking, which gives an insider’s view into the warring campaign groups of Labour incumbent Margaret Hodge and controversial BNP leader Nick Griffin, as they struggle for the hearts and minds of Barking’s constituents. At the Frontline [Le Cool]

2. Join Dr. Spooner as she talks about Gothic, Steampunk & neo-Victorian styles in Japanese & western fashion, & immerse yourself in an eve of entertainment with Steampunk impresarios White Mischief [Run Riot]

3. Feel like meeting The Velvet Underground and The Jesus & Mary Chain on a very dark night, after a late supper of magic mushrooms with HP Sauce at Suicide Party [London Gigs]

4. Discover barely concealed venom behind superb, almost rockabilly rhythms at Seven Souls + Brown Brogues + Milk Maid [Spoonfed]

5. Travel to the future at the University of the Arts London grad show [Spoonfed]

6. Remember the 20th century Martyrs [Tired of London]

Museum of Bellas Arts

A tip courtesy of the excellent Amanda’s Music Selection blog, Museum of Bellas Artes are a girl/boy/girl, teen trio from Stockholm. They make sweet electronic pop
music in the vein of St Etienne/Cut Copy and aren’t afraid to use the odd panpipe
– which is to be applauded. Influences include New Order, Four Tet and Cocteau
Twins and it’s worth checking out their recent ‘Days Ahead’ EP, released on Swedish
label Force-Majeure. Download the title track for free, here.

Museum of Bellas Artes – Days Ahead by snipelondon

London agenda for Wednesday 12 January

1. Can I borrow a feeling? Little tiny aprons at the Founding Museum [Le Cool]

2. Say ‘I Do’ to Branchage Proposes Marriage [Run Riot]

3. Drink at the Windsor Castle, Marylebone [Tired of London]