Preview: Ja Ja Ja

London’s best Nordic music extravaganza may have sadly dropped in regularity, but it hasn’t dropped in quality. The September edition features Phantom and The White Album, but headliner Sandra Kolstad is a wonder to behold. Head up to The Lexington on Thursday and see what the fuss is about.

25 Sep 2012

NIL (Liars remix) by The Twilight Sad

Drowned in Sound posted a gushing piece about this track a couple of weeks back and it really is as good as they say it is. I haven’t heard the original but from what little I know of The Twilight Sad (pictured) I bet it didn’t sound anything like the astonishing disco monster streaming below. Involuntary rave faces all round, right? You can download the track for free via The Twilight Sad’s Facebook page; catch them live at Dingwalls October 23. The album, from which it is taken, No One Can Ever Know – The Remixes, is out November 5 on Brighton’s Fat Cat Records.

25 Sep 2012

Dead fish in London's river Lea caused by pollution after a storm

Artists impression of a fatberg on the 4th plinth

London home owners, private renters and social renters 1961-2011

Lilo Evans and Tristan Stocks in the Mikado

Chart showing how Londoners get to work across inner and outer London

Chart showing how Londoners get to work by mode, 2011 data

Chart showing how the way Londoners get to work is changing over time

Map of empty homes or second homes in London

London borough population changes 2011-2012

Map of red kite sightings in London, May 2014

Artists impression of the "Teardrop", as seen from Ridley Rd, Dalston

Poster against Chatsworth Rd market in London

Tim Cresswell's poetry collection Soil, published by Penned in the Margins

VIDEO: It's been raining, so raw sewage flows into the river Thames

When it rains, as it just has, much of that rainwater gets washed into the sewage system. Too much, in fact, for the sewer pipes to hold. So the water, mixed now with raw sewage, overflows out into the rivers, the Thames or the Lee.

This video, by Pete Fry last year, shows the effect on the Thames at Chelsea. It’s disgusting. This happens 50 or 60 times a year. It doesn’t take much rain to do it.

Thames Water have a cleaned-up graphic explaining it all in their promotional material for the proposed Super Sewer.

The proposed super sewer is a good thing.

Shiny Darkly & Thee Attacks in London

Two of Copenhagen’s most touted rock ‘n’ roll exports hit London tomorrow night for a one-off free show at iconic hipster dive The Old Blue Last. Shiny Darkly bring sharp guitar lines with a primal energy that relates back to Suicide and Joy Division as much as Savages and Horrors; Thee Attacks keep it firmly old school with a macho, showy take on garage-rock.

24 Sep 2012

"I'm told that cycling is safe...but my husband is dead" - Debbie Dorling speaks about losing her husband Brian

Laura Borner interviewed Debbie Dorling, whose husband Brian was killed while cycling at Bow Roundabout last year. It’s a very difficult interview to watch.

Ten cyclists have died so far in 2012. We shouldn’t tolerate the status quo.

The whole film, entitled White Bikes, is a cogent run-down of the arguments for improving cycling infrastructure in London. It includes contributions from TfL, the Mayor’s office and the London Cycling Campaign.

Snipe Likes: Capsule by Menomena

Capsule is taken from the Portland duo’s soon to be released fifth album Moms, out September 18 on Barsuk Records. Is it about erectile dysfunction? Sample lyric: ‘Tiny muscle, work your magic now the party’s done, it’s a long haul, you can do it, you’re a natural’. Regardless, it’s loud, scuzzy and terrific. They play ATP in December and Cargo November 26.

24 Sep 2012

Weather and portents for the week ahead. It will rain, but new orchards augur well

Weather

More rain fell on London yesterday (Sunday) than the previous month and a half combined. About 21mm came down, making it the year’s second wettest day after June 11. But don’t let the numbers fool you. That June day may have seen more rain, but yesterday was wetter. June’s wetness evaporated into the light midsummer air. Yesterday’s wetness seeped through skin, muscles and nerves and came to rest inside our bones themselves. It resides there now, in the deepest marrow of our thickest bones, and carries with it this certain knowledge: there will be no drying until the spring.

The forecast for the week of 24-29 September 2012:

Monday – Wettest.
Tuesday – Wetter.
Wednesday – Wet.
Thursday – Wettish.
Friday – Wettisher.

The full BBC weather forecast is here.

Portents
New orchards are being planted across London as part of the London Orchard Project. In the dark ages orchards were considered hallowed ground, and any person who chopped down an apple tree was fined a cow as punishment. The planting of orchards in London must then be considered a good augury for the city’s future.

24 Sep 2012

Snipe Likes: Diana by Shiny Darkly

More joyful noise from the Mary Chain loving Danes, taken from the Shiny DarklyEP, out now on Crunchy Frog

21 Sep 2012

Felix Kunze's portraits of Olympic and Paralympic volunteers

Photographer Felix Kunze took portraits of over 600 Olympic and Paralympic volunteers and they’re great.

21 Sep 2012

Brian Coleman arrested on suspicion of assault

Infamous Tory Councillor Brian Coleman was arrested today on suspicion of common assault:

The Barnet and Whetstone Press report that:

Totteridge ward member Brian Coleman was arrested in connection with an alleged attack in Finchley this afternoon (Thursday) and is currently being held at a central London police station

According to those at the scene, Coleman was involved in a confrontation with a cafe owner in North Finchley after she saw him parking in a nearby loading bay.

Buzz Cafe owner Helen Michael allegedly tried to take a picture of Coleman after which an assault took place.

Earlier this year Helen Michael was summoned to a meeting with Barnet Council after she produced a series of posters accusing Coleman of “murdering” Barnet’s high streets with high parking charges.

The highly effective campaign was widely credited with losing Coleman his seat on the London Assembly, his chairmanship of the London Fire Authority, and his place on Barnet Council’s cabinet.

FRIDAY UPDATE Brian Coleman has been released on bail. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said:

“A 51-year-old man was arrested on Thursday 20 September in connection
with an alleged common assault. He was taken to a central London police station and was subsequently bailed to attend a north London police station in late October pending
further enquiries.”

Were you at Buzz Cafe? Did you see what happened? Email us at [email protected]

20 Sep 2012

London Weather

8°

clear sky

Snipe Highlights

Some popular articles from past years