2010 in Twelve Days - February

[millionreasons]

Song: Oh the Divorces - Tracey Thorn. Plain Sailing, 25 years on. Love the reference to one Mr J Lekman.
1520 by The Phenomenal Handclap band. Indie-funk
Get Out of My Dreams - The Clouds. Its drum intro and minor-into-major verses just got into my head and wouldn't leave.

Book: On Brick Lane by Rachel Lichenstein. Well-researched exploration of the East End via social and oral history; Lichtenstein tries to bust the heritage myth that the Huguenot-Jew-Bengali inhabitation of the area has been seamless and decries the yuppie-hipster invasion (whilst making it absolutely clear that she moved into her artist studio in the Truman Brewery way before 93 Feet East etc opened.) Her notion of authenticity (criminals selling stolen goods on Brick Lane market) vs inauthenticity (anyone who moved there after 1995 and/or lives in a Huguenot house) becomes tiresome, but all in all, a fascinating tome as she weaves her, and others', stories into the history of the area.

Days Out: Secret Lonodon

Holiday - Gibraltar, nr Spain