Jellied Eels: The News in review

Barnet Council’s latest budget busting has fallen flat, with a plan for allowance rises scrapped following pressure from residents and ministers. According to the Ham & High, Leader Lynne Hillan dropped the plan, in which council cabinet members’ allowance would rocket by 99 per cent, after ‘listening carefully’ to local people. The handling of this u-turn has sparked a leadership challenge from fellow Tory councilor Mark Shooter, who is canvassing support for a vote in the coming weeks. The Barnet council has previously been criticized for its penny-pinching tactics, including the adoption of a tiered service charging model and a reduced size of rubbish bins.

More council budgets have turned to Waste, with frugal fortnightly rubbish collections now facing four Boroughs. Joining Kingston-upon-Thames, Bexley and Harrow, Brent Council’s Assistant Director of Environment told the Evening Standard the shift will save £1.2 Million a year and allow for more recycling. This came one day after Communities Secretary Eric Pickle pledged to preserve weekly refuse rounds.

Haringey has performed its own cutbacks, with trimmed garden hedges being hailed for slashing crime. The BBC reports that ‘natural survellience’ has deterred car thieves by 28%, after the Council’s Edward Scissorhands efforts.
In what seems to be a rare win for residents over revenue, councilors have shut down a redevelopment application for the Greenwich Market. Leader of the Greenwich Council Chris Roberts stated that the plan, which would have added a hotel and offices to the Unesco World Heritage site, was ‘unbalanced and dominant’. The Londonist notes that a ‘re-jigged plan that treats the space more sympathetically’ is in the works.

Following Boris Bikes and designated lanes, the summer of Cycle Love could come to a close with London cyclists facing a ban from the South Bank. Lambeth Council is considering concerns put forward by the South Bank Employers’ Group to make the area between the London Eye and the Oxo Tower safer for pedestrians and two-wheels unfriendly. Public consultation closes on the 10th September.

Livingstone advocates a SXSW-style fest for London

London’s Labour Party members will be choosing their candidate for 2012’s mayoral election during September – with the capital’s live music scene joining transport, housing and the economy as one of the themes of the debate.
Challenger and former MP Oona King – last seen losing to George Galloway in her Bethnal Green & Bow seat five years ago – has made much of her apparent youth in the contest, with the 43-year-old fondly reminiscing about nights out at the Ministry of Sound.

Vicious Cycle: Ringing the bell on the Boris Bikes

The most remarkable thing about Boris Johnson’s “cycling revolution” is that there doesn’t appear to have been one. Despite millions of pounds of investment, reams of publicity and a high-profile cycling mayor, the amount of journeys taken by bike is low and is expected to remain so.

Benefits of work: why the Tory welfare plan won’t work

Making work pay is fine rhetoric but it is fantasy to expect a profit-motivated private sector with an excess labour supply to deliver a society where work pays. As long as workers are superfluous, work cannot provide dignity and livelihood.

Random Interview: Rachel: Beauty Therapist and Nail Technician, Iconic Beauty Salon, Camberwell

Friday morning in Camberwell. Screeching bus brakes fill the air as people carry shopping back home along the crowded streets. A man with a beer can is singing “Maybe I’m because I’m a Londoner.” (sic) The beauty shops and hair salons are a hub of activity as a variety of weaves, extensions and nail treatments are underway. I have decided to visit a salon and nail treatment parlour to talk to beauty therapist Rachel while she treats and paints my nails.

Snipe: What do you like most about your job?

Rachel: Today I might have 10 different customers, 10 different lives, maybe a teacher, lawyer, single mum, I can teach them something about beauty and they can teach me something about life.

S: This shop is very tasteful, but a lot of nail places around here have a sort of 80’s vibe about the decor, why do you think that is?

R: I don’t know really, it’s everyone’s personal preference how they have their shop.

S: Some of the nail extensions I have seen around Peckham are quite extreme, do you like that look?

R: Well I‘m more about the natural look. If I went and did everything in my profession, like if I had my eyebrows tattooed on, had extensions, full make up, you wouldn’t really trust me would you? My job is all about image really. People are wanting to change something about themselves, looking for improvement. but I think if you do too much you end up looking like Jordan don’t you?

S: …which could be a bit scary. Hair salons in this community seem to be vibrant places – would you agree that they are important socially?

R: Yeah it is, especially the hair dressers. It’s gossip time I think that’s what hair and beauty is about. People come in and we have a chat about what has been going on. At my previous job there were people that came in all the time.

S: Sometimes it feels like there aren’t enough places where people can come together..

R: Yeah I would agree with that. Community is important especially when we live in an area where everything is not really peachy is it?

S: Also there are so many kinds of people that live here, but it can be frustrating sometimes that we all live quite separately ..

R: Yeah – everyone is kind of in their own lives. But here it’s just nice to relax, to chat about things. This is beauty therapy, and you know, like with a therapist you can get some things off your mind.

S: It’s strange how beauty is something you think of as being quite physical but there’s something about this that is actually quite therapeutic and soothing mentally …

R: Yeah it is, I guess it’s just letting yourself unwind and not think about something in that moment, you know you are just thinking about what colour nail varnish you are going to put on.. But you know, most of beauty is about home care, that’s what I believe. I mean you can come in for a facial but if you’re not doing anything at home, and following your own beauty routine, having a balanced diet, then how’s it going to work? You are just giving your money to someone for nothing really.

S: Around here there is an abundance of fast food. Do you think it’s difficult for people around here to maintain that balanced diet?

R: There’s nowhere for me to eat here, I don’t eat chicken or chips I think it’s about quality rather than quantity. Less healthy foods are cheaper so people say buy it, if you can’t afford it though then what can you do really? Food should be at a lower rate especially for people growing up – teenagers are eating a lot of fast food, and you can see why their skin becomes oily.

S: Have you always considered beauty to be an important part of your life?

R: I fell into it. When I was 15 I left school I was one of those girls that didn’t really like school. I was quite intelligent though. I left school in July, in September I decided I wanted to go back to school and they didn’t let me back, so I never got to do my GCSEs, I got sent to Lewisham college but I was learning the same things, and it felt like I was already educated and I always had the option of beauty, and eventually I thought – I’m going to try it.

S: Do you think you have made the right decisions?

R: For the meantime I think there are so many areas in beauty to explore – if you want you can be the best nail technician. I’m interested in being a beautician on a cruise ship and there’s competitions, you could be the best nail technician in the UK.

Caffeine Nation - testing the East London disloyalty card over one day

A cool, and novel, “disloyalty card” scheme has been set up by a group of like-minded, high class independent coffee bars in East London. Try a coffee in all eight, and get a free one in the ninth. I’m no coffee connoisseur – in fact I’m not used to anything stronger than Nescafe – but this was a great excuse for some reckless self-improvement. Below, reproduced in their entirety, are my notes from when I toured all eight joints in one day.

11.45 am The Espresso Room. Great Ormond Street
What a lovely day in leafy Queen Square. The Espresso Room is small, wood lined, and nordic. I order a latte from the friendly barman, sit and drink it next to a woman perusing the London Review of Books. A suited man, a consultant from the hospital perhaps, comes in for his morning drink and is greeted by name. This is wonderfully civilised. The latte is creamy and slides down easily. Eager to get on with my mission I neck the final couple of inches. Lovely stuff. I feel: Optimistic.

12.25 pm Dose. Long Lane
That latte has barely touched the sides. I’d better speed things up. I’ll have a macchiato. Dose is very busy, very brisk. My macchiato comes in an adorable little glass. Down it goes. This is going to be a breeze. I feel : Enlivened.

1.10 pm Whitecross Street Market
What a great food market. I buy a ciabatta. Delicious. Switch back to a long coffee here, that seems sensible. God I’m making so many good decisions today. This is such a good day. I should do this every day. A white americano, very smooth. I feel: Great.

2.00 pm Taylor Street Baristas. New Street
Strolling down City Road, waves of exhilaration brushing through my hair with the breeze. I skip through to Liverpool St station, past umpteen suited men and white-bloused women, city drones, pushing their numbers around, making their money. They’re not free. I’m free. There’s wind in my sails and caffeine in my blood. Arrive at Taylor St Baristas. Very busy. I order, giving my name. “Mike. Who’s Mike?” That’s me hot barista. “Mike can we make your cappuccino a large for the same price? Otherwise we have to throw some away?” Erm…well that’s not such a good idea really cos I’m…oh yeah sure you have a pretty smile. That’s actually really nice of you thanks hot barista! I feel: High.

2.10 pm Nude Espresso. Hanbury Street
Hmm. Nude is only 5 minutes walk from Taylor Street Baristas, and I’ve got a large cappuccino in my hand. Oh well. Better have an espresso, don’t want to be double parked with two big drinks. Oh. Waitress says I can’t keep the first drink. I’ll have to finish it now. There’s still half a large cup. Damn you Taylor St barista! Down cappuccino. Now espresso. I stir it. It’s very black. Another stir. Black like night. I down it. Fuckmethatsstrong. So smooth on the back of my throat the rich flavour so good but so strong. Get out. Air. Hanbury Street. Jack the Ripper killed someone just there. Espresso black like death. I feel: Woozy.

2.55 pm Taste of Bitter Love. Hackney Road
Google “caffeine poisoning” on phone. Need water. Buy water. Could I die? Google says no. Feel my heartbeat. Fast. Thinking about fast heart makes heart beat faster. Get on bus. Trusty Ol’55 bus. Reach coffee shop. Don’t want coffee. Lovely looking cakes. Latte. Can drink slowly. Sip it. Is it good? No idea. Sip water. Water is good. I feel: Deranged.

3.40 pm Climpsons. Broadway Market
They do decaf. What? No it’s not cheating. My mate Edge arrives. He says decaf is cheating. Flat white. Can’t we have a pint in the Dove instead? No. I’ve come this far. I owe it to Snipe. I owe it to the poor coffee pickers. I owe it to myself. I feel: Sick.

4.30 pm Tina we Salute You. King Henry’s Walk
Handbags on wall that’s mental lets just get in and get out I’ll have an espresso can’t deal with lots of liquid here goes I drink [PASSAGE OBSCURED BY BROWN STAIN] don’tfeeelsogood can ? go now. Retch in the street. Have done that in Dalston before but not at 4 in the afternoon. I feel: Hot cold flush sweat.

9.00 pm
Sick.

1.00 am
To sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream. Need sleep can’t sleep. So awake and the night so black like death, black like espresso

720 Hours

ZOLA JESUS » 1 September
CAMP Basement | 70-74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ

Hailing from Madison Wisconsin, Zola Jesus is the latest musical incarnation of the classically trained 21-year-old Nika Roza Danilova. Both haunting and beautiful in equal measure, Danilova’s gloomy stentorian voice is punctuated by menacing synths, sparse percussion and cautiously uplifting melodies. Call it ‘Drag’, call it ‘Witch-House’, call it whatever the hell sub-genre you feel you need to, just please don’t repeat ad-nauseam whilst glossing over the much more complex and interesting reality of Zola Jesus’ ethereal output – especially not without experiencing such breath-taking and dramatic overtures firsthand. Lauren Down

The Tim & Sam Band » 8 September
The Rest Is Noise | 442 Brixton Road SW9 8BH

Pastoral, pretty and increasingly popular, this band’s currently diminutive monicker has been trimmed from “Tim and Sam’s Tim and The Sam Band with Tim and Sam”, a name made more odd by the fact that none of the nine musicians credited are called “Sam” at all. But, possibilities of Fight Club style alter egos aside, the name may refer to the use of multiple instruments and looping technology on seemingly every song as they weave their sun-dappled melodies. You can observe their current configuration of musicians and judge for yourself at this intimate show at Brixton drinking den The Rest Is Noise. John Rogers

Les Savy Fav » 10 September 2010
Cargo | 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY

There are bands whose records you should sit and spend time with. Then there’s Les Savy Fav, who come into their own playing live arena. The last time I saw them was at ATP in 2007: it started with crazed, giant, bearded, balding frontman Tim Harrington performing stand-up while receiving a haircut, continued with at least five costume changes (leotards, animal costumes, Victorian bathing suits), made an imprint of his face in some poor sod’s t-shirt using fake blood and got everyone to chant “WE WERE THERE WHEN THE WORLD GOT GREAT, AND WE HELPED TO MAKE IT THAT WAY”. THIS WILL BE WORTH IT. Jonathan Fisher

WHALE WATCHING TOUR » 27 September
The Barbican | Silk Street EC2

The London date of this tour from the Icelandic Bedroom Community label was ashed off during the Eyjafjallajokull last year, but thankfully this unmissable bill has rescheduled. The tour features four singular talents. The brilliant Sam Amidon you can read more about a few pages on. Ben Frost makes textured drones and long instrumentals in a fusion of post-rock and electronica. Valgeir Sigurðsson is most famous for his work producing Bjórk, but his recent soundtrack piece Draumalandið is also well worth a look. Nico Muhly is perhaps the brightest in this constellation after his universally acclaimed mould breaking contemporary classical opus, Mothertongue. Apparently the four play during each other’s sets live just as they do in the studio: this is an essential show. John Rogers

BRAINLOVE TOUR » 28 September
CAMP Basement | 70-74 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ

As Autumn sets in, Brainlove Records sends out four solo artists for eleven dates around the UK. Pagan Wanderer Lu and Napoleon IIIrd have new records out, the former writing from the head, the latter yelping from the heart, but then meeting somewhere in the middle in a meld of hyperactive electronic pop and programmed beats. Stairs To Korea and Mat Riviere, however, start in the same place (bedroom recordings of pop songs) and end up poles apart, the former crafting huge indie anthems and the latter sharing misanthropic howls with jagged instrumentation. Wrap up warm, this is a must-see. Jonathon Fisher

Diary: Internet Forever

Day One
This studio time with James Rutledge has been in the pipeline for what feels like years, so it’s exciting to finally get down to it. But of course first all the drums and bass have to be laid down, so Chris does that awesomely whilst me and Craig play table tennis. I tell Craig about 35 times that my Dad used to be County Champion but he never seems impressed.

Day Two
By the time I arrive Craig’s nearly recorded all the guitars. I sit there and tell him where he’s done them wrong and he, rightly, sulks. Chris plays afrobeat guitar over everything and does takes of playing with a pocket fan and a violin bow. All Internet Forever pretentiousness is kept firmly in check after this when Craig insists we watch Justin Bieber videos on the studio’s massive TV screen.

Day Three
Today I finally get to record the vocals and I enjoy it, but I’m pretty sure there’s nothing worse than singing sappy lyrics you wrote 4 years ago to a control room full of grown men. Must write less embarrassing songs. Later on in the day we have our friend Sophie pop in to add some violin parts, and Pete Fraser comes to wow us with his improv sax skills. It’s all coming together now and starting to sound rad.

Day Four
Today is officially final final overdubs and editing day. I ask our engineer, Brendan, what he would describe our music as. He says, “Afrobeat-y, weird pop. Dirty pop? A bit like The Go Team?”. Pretty sure that beats all the twee/shambolic/DIY descriptions we’ve had in the past.

You can hear James Rutledge’s version of Break Bones on the Huw Stephen’s Wichita compilation that will be released sometime soon. This will be followed by singles from us in the winter.

Internet Forever is Heartbeeps, Laura Wolf, and Christopher Alcxxk

Deez just wanna have fun

Spaghetti-limbed singer, dancer, lover, philosopher, rapper and alleged tap enthusiast Darwin Smith sits piled under a tree on a hillside in Oxfordshire, balancing a dictaphone on his elbow. He’s talking animatedly about a new mini-project he’s working on, a rap concept album. “It’s all sampled from the original Willy Wonka movie,” he smiles. “Someone said Lil Wayne had done it already, I’m gonna check that out on Wikipedia and if he’s done it already it’ll be a bummer because I’m four songs in!”

Future Islands are making the year’s best pop songs a reality

A quick chat with Future Islands front man Samuel Herring could easily turn into a 3 hour discussion about what it means to be making DIY music today. Jumping between topics without pausing for breath, he explains how bands can go on world tours but still come home with no cash, laughs wickedly about how he wants bands to devise an acappella version of their album (just to fuck with people of course) and talks at length about the merits of “being taken seriously”. Like any good rock star, somewhere along the way he nips out to his car to get a cigarette. At another he disappears completely.