Mar
28
Let’s Get the Blockchain into the London Design Museum
March 28, 2018 | Leave a Comment
Many thanks to the wonderful folks at dezeen for letting me put forward the case that the Blockchain is a sublime piece of design. And if you’re really interested you can also check out my petition on change.org to get the London Design Museum to recognise it as such . . . I must confess […]
Sep
16
Will the Paralympic after-glow go global?
September 16, 2012 | Leave a Comment
“They always loved you John, I just gave them permission“. Thus spoke film director Quentin Tarantino who, according to legend, felt the need to explain to his star and sometime muse John Travolta just why the latter’s career was hitting the stratosphere a in 1994 after languishing in Hollywood doldrums for what seemed like aeons […]
Jul
3
Andrew Young FSI
July 3, 2012 | 2 Comments
BBC World Service radio leaves Bush House this year. The final broadcast will be a news bulletin on 12th July at midday UK time (Newshour’s final broadcast was on the night of Sunday 1st July, podcast here) so I’ve decided to commemorate the move by trying to find out who Andrew Young was. This fine […]
Oct
27
Juliette Lewis, Shep Bush Empire, 23rd Oct
October 27, 2009 | 1 Comment
Is Juliette Lewis an over-privileged Hollywood star just playing at being a rock star or is she for real?
Apr
16
Mamer, Eagle
April 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment
The production on this album is astounding. If folk music from the western Xinjiang province is not your bag then at least marvel at the rich sound of this Chinese gem. Mamer sings with a warm bassy croak while gentle guitar and lilting dombra fill in the gaps and if at times the morose low-fi […]
Jul
19
Mugison, Corsica Studios, 9th July
July 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
At a guess there are probably a few converted railway arches posing as venues throughout London, Corsica at the Elephant & Castle proudly skips on the ‘converted’ — despite the incongruous picture of Dickie Davies that greets you upon entry and the balsa wood bar, nothing much can hide that you are in fact under […]
Jun
25
Jorge Drexler, Union Chapel, Thurs 19th
June 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Jorge Drexler was one of South America’s best-kept secrets until he went an won an oscar in 2004 for the soundtrack to Che Guevara flick “The Motorcycle Diaries”. Although the softly-spoken Uruguayan now lives in Spain his appearance at London’s Union Chapel was his first ever UK performance.
Jun
15
Gnarls Barkley, Bush Hall, Fri 13th
June 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The following review appears in the latest edition of London’s premier music ‘zine, London Tour Dates When I was at school odd couples peppered the playground like a rash, everyone remembers their own version of the über-cool dude with the happy-go-lucky sidekick. While happy boy was dressed like a scruff only too pleased to please, […]