The Little Independent Bookshop

There are few truly magical things in life; Jolen mustache dye for women, a full fat moon, clotted cream, 'My Baby All Gone', Gandalf, and perhaps the most magical of all, the little independent bookshop.

Sleeping between chain after chain of mundane shops, sparkling in secret, enchanting those who pass through its doors. Higgledy-piggledy, cosy and warm; its books sit proud on their shelves, feeling special; knowing they are loved by their owner, who sits happily behind the till sipping a cup of tea and nibbling a jammy dodger.

And indeed, love the books the owner must, for it is the only reason anyone in their right mind would ever want to enter into the book industry. As Jamie Raab, VP/Publisher of Warner Books says, 'It's a pretty lousy business model.'

As magical as the beloved bookshop is, the past decade has been a dark one, their resplendence tarnished by digital book sales and monster tyrannosaurus rex bookstores, with their shiny 2for1 deals, dodgy carpets and Duffy lamenting in the background while you browse and sip your frappa-mappa-mocha-chino.

It all began some 20 years ago with the creation of the bargain book and the bargain bookstores in which they lived. Publishing companies, getting a whiff of the possibility for unrivalled profit, sold their souls to the super bookstores, resulting in changes that would cripple the independent book selling industry for years to come.

The jumbo bookstore models resulted in the mass over-production of books, to ensure their miles and miles of book shelves were constantly filled. This lead to copious amounts of extra books and unsold returns which consequently lowered the inherent value of printed books.

All resulting in the birth of the bargain book; 2 for 1 deals, lower prices, discounts on out of print remainders as well as deals on originals and new books.

All the while the little book shop was still charging the cover price, and rapidly losing all its charm.

Once treasured, now no longer needed by the publishers and deemed old-fashioned and over-priced by the public. Independent bookshops were in trouble.

Between 1993 and 2003, the number of independent book retailers decreased by more than half.

All the while the digital revolution was gathering speed and online book sales began to rocket. With the likes of Amazon slowly hammering in the last nails on the little bookshops coffin, as people were captivated by the convenience and speed of the online purchase. Jo Adams, who owns the independent Stoke Newington Bookshop in north London said “It is very hard to compete with the likes of Amazon. We can't sell books at the prices they do - if we did we would go bankrupt."

So it has been an on going struggle and a rather gloomy time for independent bookshops, to say the least. But now it seems the winds are changing. Once deemed the enemy; the digital revolution has given birth to an unlikely saviour; the ebook. Seen by many as the end of the world, the devil, the epitome of evil, when it comes to books. However it has turned the tables on the superstore and closures are now imminent at the hands of their once upon a time ally. Unable to compete with ebook sales and the rapid rise and popularity of new ebook reading technologies and devices, bargain bookstores are closing all over. Barnes and Noble, America's biggest selling bookstore chain, has closed down its four-story shop on 66th Street and Broadway in Manhattan and put itself up for sale. Just one of its 700+ stores across America's 50 states, but is it an ominous sign of things to come? Here in the UK, Borders has met the same fate, closing the doors on all 45 of its stores across the country, unable to adjust itself to grow with the online book selling revolution.

It is estimated that one in five books is now sold online. In July 2010, Amazon reported sales of ebooks for its e-reader, Kindle outnumbered sales of hardbacks for the first time ever in 2010, saying it sold 140 e-books for every 100 hardcover books. So how has the Independent bookshop come back to life in this most formidable of book climates. Well for one, with the dwindling of the big bookstores, the little bookshops have got their sparkle back, there importance and notoriety have been restored. They are once again needed, cherished and enjoyed. But just like the big bookshops, they cannot compete with the ebook. And so its back to that old saying; 'if you can't beat them, join them'. Independent book shops are planning to team up with Google Editions, Googles new ebook selling campaign. Google are on the verge of completing a deal with the American Booksellers Association (ABA) which will make Google the primary source of e-books on the Web sites of hundreds of independent booksellers, according to representatives of Google and the association. This will connect them inextricably to the ebook market, giving them a life line to stay alive. So hopefully the bookshop will live on forever, in this era defined by fast technology and online everything, bookshops stand for something slower, and in a lot of ways, richer.

LONG LIVE THE INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOP. 

THE FACE Club Review

'The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about' adorns the wall of The Green Carnation, serving as the mantra for a new generation of glamorous eccentrics enveloped in lavish beauty and hedonism. THE FACE, the product of a collaboration by Rosemary Turner and her son Callum, Steve Strange (lead singer of 80's band Visage) and party extraordinaire Alejandro Gocast is a cross-generational night for the unconventional, the unorthodox and the bizarre, where the club kids of the future can mix with the club kids of the past.

Acting as a safe harbour for the the like minded, creating a platform for absolute freedom of expression, THE FACE becomes an evening of artistic extravaganza where fashion and art meet and merge with an eclectic array of music. With sets from legendary Dj Princess Julia, Jamie Lovatt, (R O M A N C E front man), Callum Turner and Steve Strange himself, playing everything from 80's era synth pop to 90's dance classics and beyond.

The great thing about THE FACE is its spontaneity and the aura of excitement it excretes into the London club scene, you never know who's going to show up or whats going to happen from one week to the next. Mr.Pustra; 'Vaudevilles darkest muse' and Adam Ant have taken to the stage on previous occasions and there are plans to make the night a weekly occurrence with more live acts, including Roman Kemp's band (son of Spandau Ballet bassist Martin kemp), and many more.

THE FACE is not a place for the shy or the conformist, but a place to see and be seen. A place to be opulent, ornate and elegant and a chance to be part of something that may define a decade, like the generations before and the generations to come. 

Post War Years, White Lies Review

The four-piece from Leamington Spa have been wowing audiences all over Europe since the release of their debut album, The Greats And The Happenings, last summer.  They are now back in the UK with their new single, White Lies. A patchwork of jaunty voice sequencing, plucky guitar chords and 

quirky drum beats, that lie on top of one another in delightful discombobulation. The song jitters along energetically with a catchy hook and strong vocals all dissipating at the end to a dreamy whirlpool of hypnotising synths. The bands complex rhythms, angular melodies and discordant chords muster together to produce their mesmerizing math rock. Watch out for their new album, set to be released in January of next year.  

Robyn At Rough Trade East Review

Everybody knows that our current economic climate is one of melancholy, maudlin, doom and gloom.  I'm no banker but I see an ominous 'ribbit' meandering from the froggy mouth of my 17p Freddo.  They say the best things in life are free; love, rainbows, sunsets, all those whimsical sorts of things that curly mustache men write poems about.  But you can't pay the bills with sparkly things or kisses.  No, perhaps the best things in life are really, really cheap instead.  Like my ticket to see Robyn at Rough Trade East that cost me just £9.99, the price of her new album Body Talk Pt.1 (or 58 Freddo's). 

Rough trade are well known for their in-store gigs, many famous artists have played on the little stage at the back of the shop. (Before they got too big to grace it).  So I was surprised to see Robyn's name pop up in the in-store gig list as she has been in the music business since she was 15 (now 31) and has had a number one hit single and numerous album releases to date.

The crowd was smaller than I expected, only half the fill of the shop.  My view was as usual encumbered by a six-foot man, so I wriggled around a bit and eventually landed myself a cosy spot with a near perfect view, just as Robyn crept shyly onto the stage.  She was dressed in a tight red dress, pocketed black leather waistcoat and gold thigh high tights that twinkled every so often in the disco lights. 

With a swoosh of her lily white hair she whispered, 'thank-you for coming' then the synths and solid drum beat of Dancing on my own kicked in.

Her voice was delicate but powerful as she sang her new single, a song of heartache on the dance floor, the natural progression perhaps from With Every Heartbeat, her pop-disco track laced with anguish.  The audience was shy at first, but as the opening track slowed down then escalated to its climax with a rising drum beat and electronic percussion, the crowd awakened with claps and 'whooooooos' and a ripple of motion meandered from left to right and front to back.  Leaving time for only a quick applause between tracks, Dancehall Queen was next, with Robyn's vocals taking on a reggae tone as she bobbed up and down, the crowd mirroring her movements.  

She hardly spoke during the gig, when she did her voice was gentle and soft, almost baby-like.  She introduced her two bandmates; Paul, a skinny brown haired fellow on drums and backing vocals and Marcus, the synth singer man with ginger floppy hair and a big mustache. The two boys sat behind Robyn on either side, enthusiastic and energetic in their movements.

It was mesmerising to watch the intricacies of Robyn's songs being sewn together on stage like a patchwork, particularly in the song, Fembot, a shimmering display of impressive synths and vocal distortion behind Robyn's infectious and playful robotic lyrics.  It was met with the loudest applause yet to which she replied, 'thank-you, thanks for coming out'.

The show which up until then had been a fireworks display of complex rhythms, big beats and sophisticated electro-pop, slowed down with the penultimate track, Hang With Me, which showcased the strength of Robyn's voice, only a piano accompanying her with a gentle melody. The gig then reached its finale as Marcus grabbed an acoustic guitar from under his keyboard and began to strum the cords of hit single, With Every Heartbeat, the crowd recognising the song, cheered excitedly.  It was the perfect ending to a flawless performance, the song gently building with the repetition of the hook and a crescendo of drum beats, synthesisers and piano keys, culminating in an explosive ending and rapturous applause from the crowd. Robyn took a bow and said 'thank-you, thank-you so much' and crept off the stage, just as she had crept on some 30 minutes earlier.  Everybody continued to cheer in the hope of an encore, but as the lights came back on, a collective 'oow' floated up from the crowd and they began to disperse.  I listened in on a few conversations, all of which sang praise, there was a lot of 'she was amazing' and even an 'i well fancy her now'.  The general consensus seemed to be a positive one.  And rightly so.  Robyn was modest, almost adorable, seemingly unaware of her talent and put on a magical show of what seems to be her best work yet; more melodic, rhythmic and intricate than her previous music. 

Definitely 100% more enjoyable than 58 Freddo's.

Crystal Fighters, In The Summer Single Review

On their new track, In The Summer, Crystal Fighters continue to produce their own groundbreaking brand of folky electronica. Combining ecstatic electronic wizardry with traditional Basque folk instruments, captivating vocals and catchy, jocund lyrics.  

Imagine a Basque native in a swooshy dress, atop a sunny mountain, banging a tabor drum, dancing happily to a frenzy of electronic beats.  The juxtaposition of the two genres seems unimaginable at the best of times. Jumbling folk music and contemporary electronica conjures up a hodgepodge of noise, not to friendly on the ears. (Picture Joan Baez strumming a synth guitar, or Chromeo ditching their talk box for a harmonica). But Crystal Fighters music is anything but unfriendly to the ears. It is a unique fusion, producing a genre defying sound that scintillates and sets the band apart from their contemporaries. 

As the band do the rounds at the festivals this July and August, this song will definitely be a crowd pleaser and as essential to Summer as the flake in the your 99.

Silver Columns, Cavalier Single Review

Silver Columns crept into music lovers gaze last year as an enigma, wrapped up in tinkly stardust noises that were as sparkly as their name purveyed. Since then the mysterious, faceless duo have revealed themselves to their cult fan base as Adem and Johnny Lynch aka the Pictish Trail, two artists who would not have been suspected to be behind the dizzying, dreamy electro beats of Silver Columns, both having their musical roots in mellow, acoustic, folky genres. 

The duo released two limited edition white label singles before revealing their identity, 'Browbeaten' and 'Yes, and Dance' which both combine synths with whispy, honey-dripped vocals with a slight Bronski Beat feel.  These two singles brought the duo into the limelight and earned them a dedicated group of followers.

They are now releasing their third single, 'Cavalier' the first proper release off their label 'Moshi Moshi', (Au Revoir Simone, Hot Chip, Slow Club) and the first track from their forthcoming album 'Yes, and Dance'.  It’s an odd sounding bit of electronica, starting off with pulsating space organs and breathy call-and-response vocals with fluctuating pin-ball noises sprinkled here and there, which while pleasant enough lack any real substance and the song never really reaches a culmination that makes you want to listen again.  It fails to seduce your ears in the way that 'Browbeaten' and 'Yes, and Dance' do, but two out or three isn't bad so perhaps the album, out on the 24th May, will hold some more gems.

I Am Kloot, Sky At Night Album Review

The Sky At Night is a magical, ethereal collection of songs with a oneiric quality and an uplifting melancholia. In the opening track Northern Skies, John Bramwell’s lyrical beauty and warm vocals begin to tell a story as he invites us to 'see the stars and constellations and sit beneath their congregations.' Through beautiful melodies and heartfelt lyrics the story sparkles with    instrumentation and airy percussion. To The Brink is a lonely tale told from the bottom of a whiskey bottle with a sadness resonating from the crescendo of the orchestral arrangements. Lately takes the album down a bluesy jazz road which emerges again towards the end of the album on tracks Radiation and Same Shoes, with Bramwell’s vocals lingering over saxophones, cellos and violins. Behind the intricate strings, subtle drums and moving narrative there is a beautiful simplicity to this album, and an undertone of heartache from a lonely walk home under a twinkling night sky.  

Columbia Road Review

On Sunday in East London there are always handfuls of people wondering along clutching enormous bouquets of flowers, their resplendent colours wrapped up in messy brown paper bags. If you ever wondered where they've all come from, it's mostly likely Columbia Road Flower Market, and they probably got those beautiful blooms for "THREE FORRA FYVAH."  Columbia Road is a magical, bustling little market, located down a cobbled street between Shoreditch and Bethnal Green, it is the only place in London where you'll find rows of little old beer-bellied men with fags dangling from their mouths shouting "tulips, tulips, two for a fiver", in the huskiest cockney accent around.  The market is a wash with colour, flowers in every shade of the rainbow sparkle from either side of the road, from fox gloves to fuchsias, lilies to lavender there isn't one plant you won't find here, whether you're a serious gardener or someone just looking for some peonies for your window box. As well as the market, hidden behind the flower sellers there are rows of unique shops, cafes, bars and bakery's, and a handful of busking musicians strumming double basses and guitars while you wonder along.  The market starts at 8am and runs until around 3pm, it's best to get there either really early or really late, really early to beat the flower mobs and avoid getting a cherry blossom in the nose and really late to get a bargain as the vendors scramble to sell off the last of their flowers.  No matter what time you get there,  Columbia Road Flower Market is whimsical and a lovely way to spend a lazy Sunday.

Broadway Market Review

On a beautiful summery Saturday in London there is no better place to be than wondering down Broadway Market.  Sandwiched between Regents Canal and London Fields, Broadway is one of London's most exciting and culturally diverse markets.  With some 80 stalls lining the street selling an eclectic mix of goods from local farmers, world cuisines, arts and crafts people, Broadway is an amalgamation of the best of every London market but without the hype or crazy prices. The market has everything you could ever want, from fresh flowers, to rhubarb rose cupcakes, Portuguese roast hog to Caribbean curry, an entire stall devoted to selling old buttons and ladybird books and delicious cake stalls selling the most gigantic eclairs in the world. Not to mention an ever growing vintage clothing section with the best sparkly sequinned jumper rail in London.  And while you peruse all the beautiful stalls there is the ever present double bass player, serenading the passers by from underneath a cherry blossom tree with his lively baritone covers of songs both old and new. The market is also home to some excellent bars, restaurants and cafes; The Gossip Cafe is a little hidden gem in the market, with free wifi and more flavours of tea than you could shake a tetley bag at, all of which arrive in a little teapot with a complementary custard cream, (everyone loves a free biccy).

Broadway is a lively enchanting market with an unpretentious charm that makes it irresistible and the perfect way to spend your Saturday afternoon.