This wasn't supposed to happen

[alexsarll]

Anybody want the Friendly Fires album? It would appear to be another case where I was dumb enough to believe that a CD might be a Hot New Sound as against Tiresome Indie But With A Synth.

Walking from Victoria to Brixton is quicker than I'd thought, even if you go via the Oval. Which is a weird bloody building - so futuristic and Designed, but some of the spectators have basically got their arses over a roundabout and not even a solid wall behind them. Which I can't imagine is ideal for viewing anything, let alone cricket.
Having arrived at the Windmill, and missed most of the rain, I finally get to see Jonny Cola & the A-Grades - when Luxembourg split, this is where the Bowie-esque component ended up. The set improves as it goes along, always a good sign - compare and contrast La Shark, who are next up and initially impress me by pretending to be French (see also: Travis, oddly) and having a Tom Waits bottom end. Alas, the rest of the sound is just a bit too modern indie. Although any band whose fans include a small lesbian Captain Jack can't be all bad. Then it's O Children, whose singer is a basketball player as Brett Anderson, and who in soundcheck had a voice so astonishing we assumed electronic enhancement. It's not quite so remarkable in the set proper, but they still do a pretty good set in an Interpol-but-less-poised way. Headliners The Lodger...I do like them, but I can't help but contemplate what would happen if Cliff from Feeling Gloomy fronted a band.

I'm convinced that for some time now, Iain Sinclair has just been making up these forgotten London laureates. Not that it would ever be possible to prove my theory, because London is a lot more loyal than she's sometimes painted; recognising Sinclair as one of her great champions, she obligingly retcons them all in to the crowded streets of Fitzrovia's mythic age.

For anyone who thinks Torchwood is better when it's being a big silly romp than in O WOEZ mode (ie, everyone except Chibnall and RTD OBE), the new book Almost Perfect hits about the right note. Ianto wakes up female - with hilarious consequences! The chapter names are all Facebook status updates! It's awash with Girls Aloud jokes!* And it manages all this in spite of being set after the end of the second series, with the newly pared-down team, on territory surely ripe for long and tiresome discussions of Feelings (oddly, the other two books released alongside it still have the full roster; maybe their writers just missed the memo). Splendidly preposterous.

*Unlike the last book I read which, despite being called Graffiti My Soul, didn't mention them once.

Comments

[kenix.livejournal.com]

I liked the single, even though it was just The Klaxons Again, but from what I've heard the FF album isn't anything special.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

The single was 'Paris', right? Track three, so I did make it that far, but it made no more impression than its predecessors. I can only assume it's one of those cases where even a half-decent song can be robbed of all vitality by being surrounded with rubbish simulacra of itself.

[kenix.livejournal.com]

No, the last one - Jump In The Pool, I think it was called.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

That was track one, so I definitely heard it, but beyond that I'm still drawing a blank.

[alexdecampi.livejournal.com]

"the new book Almost Perfect" - that squeaking sound you heard was Del breaking the light/speed barrier to her nearest bookshop.

Wish I had known you were walking down to the Windmill - you could have stopped by and picked me up on the way. Christ, I needed a drink and some rock and roll last night. (I made do by swilling very cheap merlot and watching Down By Law, and turning the sound down every time Roberto Benigni opened his mouth.)

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

Yes, as soon as I started the book I realised there was a certain someone I should inform of the plot outline. And that's not the half of it, but I didn't want to get into spoiler territory.

Where are you based at the moment, then? I hadn't realised you were en route. Indeed, in general I wasn't sure if there was anyone en route, it seemed surprisingly quiet for such a central route.

Liked the 'Book of Lies' video, btw!

[alexdecampi.livejournal.com]

Well, I've been rather quiet/disorganised of late, but I am living just off the Brixton Road at the Oval end... We should meet up for a drink next week somewhere in town as I am fairly not-busy next week.

Glad you liked the vid. It was hell to produce; lots of people Not Listening.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I don't even know how that would happen with animation, but I'm probably better off that way...

Next week I am v.busy (who knew that Mondays in September were the new in time to get married?), but week after, perhaps?

[alexdecampi.livejournal.com]

Week after is London Fashion Week; I'm shooting all week and will be working until 3am each night. Yay! But at least I'm getting paid FOR ONCE.

Blue Steel

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I see. Well, drink At Some Point TBC, then.

[exliontamer.livejournal.com]

I really like Friendly Fires' cover of Your Love, and I thought Paris was pretty good..

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

D'you want the album, then?

[exliontamer.livejournal.com]

Yes please! Thank you sir.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

No worries. You do pretty well out of my grumpiness re: nu-rave, don't you?

[exliontamer.livejournal.com]

Indeed! Ta.