uncarved.org blog

I’ve not had a chance to write about the Red Bull Music Academy events, or their daily newspaper which is an omission on my part.

I was too knackered to make the now legendary 4 way soundclash between DMZ, Trojan, Soul To Soul and Metalheadz at the Roundhouse last week, but is sounded wicked. Check Laurent’s write up and the only-to-be-expected disagreements in the comments.

You can listen to the four rounds of the clash here (no downloads tho).

The most recent Daily Note includes a nice piece on fanzines which mentions Woofah and says it has: “consistently proved that informed, considered and informative journalism continues to exist outside the internet and mainstream monthly music titles”

Which is the sort of thing which makes it all worthwhile! One for the Woofah Love page I think!

Previous issues of the Daily Note have included a two part piece by Melissa Bradshaw on the history of UK Soundsystem,  Dan Hancox on the cops and grime, a cool Weatherall interview and a series of pieces on different areas of London, including Hackney. It’s all available for download as pdfs on the RBMA site.

woofahmag.com

I can barely believe I’m saying it but the new issue is here and ready to get out to you all!

Believe me it’s worth the wait – up to a massive 92 pages this time and some incredible content that I am completely amazed we managed to secure. And it’s still the same price!

In the shops next week, but you can order direct NOW:

woofah magazine » Buy.

(copies to contributors and allies will be mailed out early next week, or can be got from me in person)

Hackney Heckler No 2 now available for pdf download | Hackney Solidarity Network.

Check it out folks! All yer news and views from London’s most exciting borough.

Including: Top Ten Hackney Novels centrespread!

weareie: Finally!!.

Woofah issue 4 just landed at Chateau Droid. The shipment will now cross the Irish sea and reach London early next week.

Hit the link for more info or stay tuned to this channel…

I’m excited – you should be too!

Issue 2 of Hackney’s best (and only?) radical lefty rabble rousing free-sheet is out now.

This time it includes:

• Top Ten Hackney novels
• Hackney’s unemployed standing up against the job centre
• Plus a load of smaller news pieces and a roundup of upcoming events.
• And a whole lot more!

Copies will be available in various places around the borough over the next few weeks. I’ve got some as well, so let me know if you want a copy (or a small bundle for mates/co-workers/neighbours).

Irie Up Vol 1 Issue 1 Jan Feb 2010 – magazine.

From Berlin, in English. Looks very interesting!

Blog closed until further notice… « Mister Trippy.

An interesting review of Stewart Home’s latest blogging incarnation and some comment on blogging in general.

Surely everyone has got hold of the King Midas Sound album now? So you’ve all been enjoying Roger’s vocals and lyrics to the full for your winter soundtrack.

Perhaps it’s also time to curl up by the fire with a good book?

Adventures in 3D (Lubin and Kleyner, 2002)

A collection of short stories. Some nice themes including someone being scared of splitting up with their girlfriend because she is a sixth dan in karate, making your own crop circles, office politics, blood fetishes, weed dealing. I think it’s really well written – not overtly “extreme” despite some of the subject matter. Some nice wry observations.

Suitcase (Waterways, 2004)

His first collection of poetry. You know how I really don’t get on well with poetry, right? Well Roger’s stuff is the exception (along with Tim Wells). I guess this might be because he covers topics which resonate with me or because there is a subcultural/sonic association. Or maybe I am (gasp!) simply getting into poetry.

It helps a lot to be able to hear Roger’s voice in your head when reading this, I think. (Same as William Burroughs, innit). I like the powerful quietness this book conjurs up.

Lots of well observed, well crafted poems about girls, growing up, Trinidad, England. There is nothing extraneous here – nothing flowery, just precise evocative words making pictures for you.

“Uncle Robert’s letter to my Father” is an incredibly powerful tale of a young Caribbean man who happens to fancy other men.

Suckle (Waterways, 2009)

His latest collection of poems. Similar themes but maybe more emphasis on music:

“In 1984 my sister was serious about dancing.
She was the only girl dancer in the Emperor’s
dance crew. Probably the only girl breaker
Trinidad, but that wasn’t enough for her…”

(Electric Boogaloo)

or how about:

“Uncle Clyde had acquired a collection
of old calypsonians on shellac 45s.
Each started with a pr0longed scratch
and hiss. As the orchestras kicked in
and the singing hit, you could see him
doing the silliest of made up dances.
Not for my entertainment; that
was what the music made him do…”

(The Urgency of Sound)

Order Adventures in 3D, Suitcase and Suckle direct from Flipped Eye.

http://www.myspace.com/rogerrobinsonmyspace

Tom Vague.

“I was completely obsessed with Vague (and to a lesser extent with RE/SEARCH and Rapid Eye, they were a bit too professional, ha ha) – such a great combination of underground culture and music, like this window into a strange London-centric counter culture of squats and revolutionaries and occultists and bohemians.”
(me – interviewed by Simon Reynolds earlier this year)

Fanzine legend now has something resembling a web-presence, courtesy of Housmans – one of London’s best alternative and lefty/anarcho bookshops.

Lots of nice cover scans – even of the early issues which I had never seen before. And a nice bit of documentation of Vague issues 1-54. Tom’s gone a bit Tony Wilson with the numbering with various books, websites and pdfs thrown in.

Vague #54: 50 Years of Carnival 1959 – 2009 is just out.

Housmans have some Vagues for sale online and links to downloads…

idle thoughts for idle moments.

Matt reviews Reggae Hit the Town by Jenni Stalmach which is a brief history of reggae in Huddersfield.

I’ve got this and would echo his comments. I might review it more fully in issue 5 of Woofah which I guess is due some time in 2010. Issue 4? Soon come…