Slightly more touristy than my last trip to Paris, here’s a photoblog fresh from this week featuring most of the city’s landmarks:

Slideshow

(Unfortunately there are no museum trips to report on due to the Paris Museum Strike)

…well, the bits in London, anyway.

Most of us who use trains to get in and out of the city will have noticed the temporary closure of usual routes to platforms over the past year or so while the new touchpads have been installed, and from the 2nd Janauary (a date famous for London public transport users to routinely whine about the fares going up even though it happens every year like clockwork), Oyster card users will be able to touch in/out of National Rail stations up to zone 9.    The aim is to make public transport more convenient and,  presumably, coax more people onto rail services to avoid going from (for example) Balham to Victoria via Brixton, or Ealing to Paddington via Notting Hill.

Click the map for a link to the full pdf

How will rail journeys be priced compared to tube and bus fares?  The Evening Standard reports that fares will change for the better:

The move will make some journeys cheaper as passengers will not have to buy a separate ticket for the Overground. The biggest savings will be on long journeys, such as between Surbiton in Zone 6 and Waterloo for which the off-peak price will fall from £5 to £3.20.

The cost of travelling from East Croydon in Zone 5 to London Bridge in Zone 1 will drop from £4.40 to £2.60 — roughly 40 per cent cheaper. Shorter journeys such as a trip from Lewisham in Zone 1 to Charing Cross will cost £1.70 off-peak and £2.10 peak compared with £2.40 at present…

Whether or not this will affect season ticket holders – arguably the most frequent users of National Rail – remains to be seen.  This is definitely a step in the right direction nonetheless, and will hopefully encourage more people to rediscover London.

Read the full press release here and TFL media briefing here.

• Mew at Shepherd’s Bush Empire 10.11.2009
• Ash at Gipsy Hill Tavern 16.11.2009
• Alec Empire at Islington Academy 19.11.2009

In the morning RSS-trawl I came across an article about the FAME500 – “a comprehensive depiction of where Britain’s shining stars spent their younger years” .  This isn’t really a new phenomenon – actually, between Time magazine and BBC3 you could argue that these countdowns are quite trivial and meaningless, but it’s essentially about how great Britain is, and I’m always down for some British pandering in all but BNP ways.

Perhaps surprisingly, Lancashire came out as the biggest producer of UK talent, even beating Beatles homestead Merseyside, with 1 out of every 29,438 person growing up there becoming famous.  Once you realise that Manchester is in Lancashire (wikipedia explains why there might be some confusion over this) – it’s clear to see why it’s at the top of the list.  Manchester doesn’t just produce famous bands, it creates whole movements, from Oasis’s working class Brit Pop, to the Hacienda era, to the Stone Roses and even post-punk pioneers Joy Division (apart from the guitarist who is from Salford, a very important distinction).

Here’s a pictogram of the top 10 for the geographically-challenged (click for a larger version):

It’s an interesting analysis, but one with an alterior motive.  The study’s  producers, 1click2fame say that it was inspired by the UK’s X-factor fever, and as you may have guessed by the company name, their main objective is to try their own version of the “democratic” audition system.  With the tenuous link that “accessibility to the lime light has always been an obstacle for those in pursuit of celebrity”, the company state that they will be putting “audition pods” in Tesco stores across the country to give people a chance at auditioning, and these videos will then be put to public vote (the site essentially works a bit like youtube in terms of online community).  Head over to the 1click2fame talent competition site if you’re curious.

I probably shouldn’t be so cynical – at least this method gives ANYONE the chance to audition – and that’s the niche talent as much as the crazies, without a judging panel that will filter them out due to “sellability” and good looks, but it probably won’t change the world.  I won’t be engaging in any of this business, but I’m grateful that these guys did something a little useful by way of the study to make up for their bandwagon-jumping!

Yet another group of already-famous musicians (Ken Andrews, Charlotte Martin, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Sharky Laguana, Tommy Walter, Fernando Sanchez, and Jordon Zadorozny) have joined forces to form Digital Noise Academy.  The first single, Melting Inside is free to download here, and it’s actually quite good.

Last night Robbie Williams joined Take That on stage for a charity gig at the Royal Albert Hall.  Both acts performed separate sets, but sang the final song together, along with the evening’s other stars including Paul McCartney and Dizzee Rascal.  It’s all over the print and broadcast news this morning.

image via bbc.co.uk

But hang on, this has kind of happened before hasn’t it?  I remember quite vividly that in December 1997, there was a concert for hope for Princess Diana, organised by Gary Barlow.  Robbie Williams headlined, and other performers included Boyzone and All Saints.  It was even aired on TV.  At the end of the show, the entire line-up sang Let It Be by the Beatles together, and Gary and Robbie hugged, not dissimilarly to the image above.

Here’s a video of that song.  Look, at 03:44, THEY KISS AND HUG!

Mew returned to the UK this week for a short tour, continuing an extremely busy and successful year for the band, with the release of their new album, a European support tour for some band I like, and a museum exhibition in LA.

I attended the London show with Mark “Wix” Higgins, who has given the show a fairly accurate review:

On Tuesday 10th November, I popped down to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire (or rather, the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire as it now is) to see Mew for the fifth time as a headlining band.  As you might have guessed, I’m a pretty big fan of this Danish group that’’s pretty difficult to define to one genre – wild, far-reaching prog rock with a hefty dose of ambient dream pop is probably about halfway there.

More here.

The show was equally a pleasure to watch from my left of stage position, an experience possibly enhanced by leaning against the front speakers for the evening.  Mew’s ambient yet energetic rock style holds together a full art spectacle comprising of metal tins, face masks, psychedelia and stop motion animation – a show that bursts with life when not restricted to a 20 minute opening slot.  Highly recommended.

These tidbits were originally published in the 2008 issues of The Carnaby Newspaper

Image by nic0 on flickr

• Celebrated poet, painter, and printmaker William Blake was born into a lower middle class family in the now disappeared 8 Marshall Street, which runs parallel to Carnaby Street.  His parents ran a hosiery shop in Broad Street and, homeschooled, he would go on to produce wonderfully imaginative creations that influenced the likes of Wordsworth and Yates (and, arguably, set a precursor for the cultural tone of his birthplace).  The dedicated William Blake House on Marshall Street remains a centre of cultural activity, housing several events in the poet’s name and a massive celebration in 2007 to commemorate his 250^th birthday.
• Did you know…that Carnaby Street used to be spelt Karnaby Street?  It takes its name from a building erected in 1683 by bricklayer Richard Tyler, called Karnaby House.  The origins of this name is unknown.
• Carnaby on Film: Several well-known films have used the Carnaby area for dramatic effect.  Boris Karloff’s 1967 film The Sorcerers features a search for prey among the young hipsters in the area.  Micheal Winterbottom’s exploration of alienation in Wonderland features a striking scene on Old Compton Street, making use of hidden cameras for an authenticity.
• The London Palladium had a varied history before being transformed into one of London’s most loved theatres.  The grade II listed building that stands today was erected in 1910, but the facade dates back to the 19^th century, when it was a bazzar set up to attract the custom of what is now Marks and Spencers on Oxford Street.  It has since been a circus, an ice skating rink, and a cinema, before becoming the home of variety. The royal seal of approval came in 1914, and the London part wasn’t added until 1934!  Interesting addendum: this building was designed by the same architect who created the London Coliseum.
• The cover of Oasis album What’s the Story, Morning Glory? was shot on Berwick Street, a location famous for its record stores, quirky shops, and proximity to Walker’s Court.  According to the photographer, the shot is intended to symbolise the meeting of the north and south of England, though Noel Gallagher disputes this.

• The Profumo Affair was a scandal in 1963  concerning then-Secretary State of War John Profumo, who lied about an illicit affair in the House of Commons.  He later confessed, resigning from his post.  Several years after the scandal, Profumo reportedly confessed to his son that he had met Catherine Keeler, the showgirl in question, at the Pinstripe Club, an upmarket nightspot frequented by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Oliver Reed.  The story made such a splash that a controversial film based on this story was made in 1989 starring John Hurt and Joanne Whalley.  The club itself has since been reopened as the Kingly Club, on the street of the same name, priding itself on its intimate atmosphere and original cocktail list, and a place to which celebrity starlets still flock.
• Despite the far-reaching history of the area, there is one street in the Carnaby area that is just over a century old.  Ganton Street began life in 1886, when Cross Street, Cross Court and South Row, streets dating back to the 17^th Century, were mereged together.
• Long-term lovebirds Linda and Paul McCartney first met on the 15th May 1967 on Kingly Street at the Bag O’Nails club while watching Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames perform.  Linda later commented on the meeting as “like a cartoon”.  A famous meeting point for musicians at the time, this hotspot was frequented by Jimi Hendrix, Lulu and Brain Jones to name but a few, and served as The Beatles’ wind-down club after a day’s recording.
• It was at Public House in Broadwick Street that “greatest doctor of all time” John Snow uncovered a cholera outbreak in London.  He realised that infected water was coming out of the water mains in 1854, supporting his theory that the disease was not airbourne, but entered the body through the mouth.  He had the handle of the offending pump removed, and cases of the epidemic reportedly began to diminish.
• Great Marlborough Street has had several famous residents in its time.  Marlboro cigarettes are so named because their original factory was located here.  Romantic poet Percy Bysse Shelley and Frank Litz, both resided at number 18 in the 19^th Century.  Today, “Le Pain Quotidien” restaurant and fashion store “Uth” can be found on the ground floor of this building.  More temporary residents of Great Marlborough Street include Oscar Wilde, Francis Bacon and Johnny Rotten, who were both tried at the Magistrate’s Court at Nos 19-21

Great Marlborough Street today by flierfly on flickr

• Have you visited the Soho swimming pool?  The Marshall Street Baths were built in 1931 to promote the health and wellbeing of the people, with two sets of swimming pools – one each for the upper and lower classes.  Situated between Carnaby Street and Poland Street, the baths were drained and closed ten years ago, but in late 2005, a collective from the Corridor Theatre produced a site-specific work that led visitors through the empty baths, and asked them to imagine “fragments of memories of past Soho and The Marshall Street Baths in the newly revealed mahogany walled clinic”.  Plans for a facelift have been proposed.
• We are all aware of the Carnaby Street as Fashion, and Carnaby Street as a representation of Englishness.  Perhaps the most (stereotypically) English builiding on the street is number 43, which currently houses a branch of the Whittard Tea Shops.  In the 1960s, miniskirt pioneer Mary Quant ran her studio from a room on the first floor of this building – and Carnaby has not looked back since.
• Reflecting the influence of Carnaby Street and Soho on music and pop culture in the Sixties, several songs have been written about the area.  Most notably “Carnaby Street” by The Jam, “Seedy Films” by Soft Cell, “Dedicated Follower of Fashion” by The Kinks”, and the John Willet translation of  Bertolt Brecht’s “Mack the Knife”.
• The shop deemed responsible for kick-starting the “Swinging Sixties” fashion era was not located on Carnaby Street, but Beak Street, where John Stephens, a grocer’s son from Glasgow, opened “His Clothes” in 1957
• Carnaby Street used to have bright orange tarmac.

As a kid, I used to be completely up to date with the latest pop tunes – listening to the entire top 40 and to the extent that every song on the NOW collections would be familiar.  These days, I’m so busy exploring little ambient and garage bands, that there’s barely time to listen to the radio – I get most of my pop knowledge from Hollyoaks.

It’s probably not as bad as I think, though.   The new Floorfillers (super hip compilations made for the tubthumping youth of today) features several artists that I would consider non-mainstream.  (Well, several artists that get played on XFM, but really if they’re playing Pixie Lott and that new Muse rubbish, they have no reason to think they’re above the Sugababes).

Employing the Facebook-meme approach to lazy blogging, here’s how many of these song I’ve heard of*, from which we can calculate how “cool” (do they still say cool?) I am.

*the songs themselves as opposed to the remixes – I don’t think even the most hardcore clubbers could name those!

1) Cheryl Cole – Fight For This Love (Cahill Remix)

2) Black Eyed Peas – Meet Me Halfway

3) Tinchy Stryder Ft. N Dubz – Number 1

4) Cascada – Evacuate The Dancefloor

5) Pixie Lott – Mama Do (Flip & Fill Remix)

6) Agnes – Release Me

7) Mini Viva – Left My Heart In Tokyo

8) La Roux – In For The Kill (Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Remix)

9) Sugababes – Get Sexy

10) Noisettes – Don’t Upset The Rhythm (Go Baby Go)

11) Alphabeat – The Spell

12) Freemasons Feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)

13) Soulja Boy Tell`Em Feat. Sammie – Kiss Me Thru The Phone

14) Ironik – Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer) (Feat. Chipmunk And Elton John) (Delio D’cruz Vs Paul Emanuel Radio Edit)

15) Tommy Sparks – She’s Got Me Dancing

16) Soft Toy Emergency – Critical

17) Skyla – Ayo Technology

18) Ultrabeat – Use Somebody

19) N-Force – All Or Nothing

20) Kenneth Bager – Fragment Sixteen (I Can’t Wait) Feat. Thomas Troelsen (Clubstar Remix Edit)

21) Dakota – Heart & Soul (Jason Nevins Remix)

1) Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone

2) Lady Gaga Feat. Colby O’ Donis – Just Dance

3) Jay Sean Feat. Lil Wayne – Down (Jason Nevins Edit)

4) Taio Cruz – Break Your Heart

5) Esmée Denters – Outta Here

6) Akon  Feat. Colby O’donis & Kardinal Offishall – Beautiful

7) Mr Hudson Feat. Kanye West – Supernova

8) The Saturdays – Work

9) Shontelle – T-Shirt (Bimbo Jones Remix)

10) Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got The Love (Steve Pitron & Max Sanna Remix)

11) The Ian Carey Project – Get Shaky

12) Girls Aloud – Untouchable (Bimbo Jones Remix)

13) A R Rahman Feat. The Pussycat Dolls  – Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny) – I’m a bit sad to learn this song exists, really.

14) Alesha Dixon – Breathe Slow (Cahill Radio Edit)

15) Styles & Breeze Presents Infextious – Amigos

16) Chicane – Hiding All The Stars

17) Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax (Lockout’s Radio Edit)

18) K.I.G – Head, Shoulderz, Kneez & Toez (Cahill Remix)

19) Lmfao – I’m In Miami Trick – not heard of this one, but any band called “LMFAO” MUST be good!

20) Wale Feat. Lady Gaga – Chillin

21) Javi Mula – Come On

+ 7 acts i recognise

Not bad eh!  Looks like 23 isn’t quite so over the hill.

…are glowing!

“”Robbie Williams has returned to what he knows best… delivering a glorious pop album that wears its influences on its sleeves.” – Music Week

“Welcome Back – Five Stars!” OK Magazine

via Handsome Man at trws.com

You can stream the album for free here (or, if you like a version you can scrobble, here).