We have a new home! Which means we will no longer be posting articles on this site. If you’ve subscribed to this blog, we are sorry for the inconvenience, but please make sure you sign up at www.eggmag.co.uk so you can be kept up to date with new posts and EggMaggy goings on.
Thank you!
Roots Manuva – Here We Go Again feat. Spikey Tee
Here’s another class tune by Rodney Smith (aka Mr Manuva) from his latest album 4everevolution. This time the UK rapper has teamed up with ragga-soul singer Spikey Tee (best known for his work with Mr Scruff, Sindecut and Jah Wobble) to produce an intense but soulful track about the childish nature of ‘street life’ and good friendships gone bad. Once again we’re hit with a deep groove and a dose of frank, genuine home truths to nod along to.
You’ll like it if you like:
– British hip-hop
– A filthy bassline
– Honest lyrics
The single is released on 4 December 2011. Buy / preview it on iTunes
Come one, it’s Christmas, we needed to make our gift-guide look nice. Flick through and download our guide EggMag Guide to Christmas.
(NB – you can download the document by clicking on the furthest-to-the-right grey icon, underneath the first page when you hit the link above. It’s the little box with a white downwards arrow inside.)
Jaguar (Panthera onca), Pantanal, Mato grosso, Brazil © 2002 Staffan Widstrand, All Rights Reserved
© Per-Anders Pettersson
Amazon is a free exhibition, currently being held at the brand new East Wing galleries at Somerset House. Showcasing photography by Sebastião Salgado and Per Anders Pettersson, the exhibition brings together some stunning and remarkable images that highlight the plight of the Amazonian rainforest – and the people living within it (see above).
If you are, yourself, a budding snapper, you’ll be interested to know that WWF and Sky are running a competition in conjunction with the exhibition, to find out what ‘Your own Amazon’ looks like. Get out your iPhone or your fancy camera, step into your own local environment and get photographing. In doing so, you will not only help raise awareness of the Sky Rainforest Rescue and their vital work in tackling deforestation in North-West Brazil, but you could also be in with a chance of winning an SLR camera worth £800. Plus, the chosen winning entry and four runners-up photographs will be selected for exhibition in Somerset House for the final week of the exhibition.
You can submit pictures by Tweeting @SkyBiggerPic and including the hashtag #SkyRainforest. All the images will be collated on the SRR Facebook page and winners will be selected on the 22nd November 2011. For terms and conditions and further info, please visit Sky Rainforest Rescue.
When? 2 November 2011- 4 December 2011, open daily from 10am to 6pm
Where? The new East Wing Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2
Web? http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/amazon
Wonga? Free
Mack the Knife – Ella Fitzgerald
Ok, so I know it’s not a new track, but I was listening to it the other day and it struck me that anyone who hasn’t heard this, should.
This recording of Ella singing live at a concert in Berlin is the perfect showcase of what an incredible performer she was. The jazz singer forgets the words as she enters the second verse but makes up some clever alternatives, with a bit of a scat thrown in, all while holding up those incredible vocals. Mack The Knife is a great song as it is, but this has to be the best rendition, by arguably the best female vocalist that has ever lived.
You can hear it on YouTube here, but the quality’s not great.
You’ll like it if you like:
– Music
– Music
– Music
Frankly, I believe you’re not human if you don’t like it. Ella, I salute you.
Get your ghoul on this weekend with some of the capital’s creepy offerings.
1. Alice Cooper: Welcome 2 My Nightmare Movies, £13 (concs £9.75 & members get £1.50 off)
On 28th October, this famously theatrical rocker will walk the ‘black carpet’ to the BFI Southbank and discuss the effect that film has had on his song-writing, performances and life. Alice will present chosen a range of film clips to illustrate his talk before putting questions to the audience. The night includes some special guests and freakish performers, and finally a screening of the classic horror film, Halloween.
When: Fri 28 Oct, 6.30pm
Where: NFT1, BFI, Southbank (nearest tube Waterloo)
Web: bfi.org.uk
Box office: 020 7928 3232
2. Belle Epoque Party: Halloween Special, £20
Step into a spell-binding world of absinthe-tinged fantasy, daring dancers and vampish drama with the Belle Epoque’s seasonal party this weekend. The music hall venue will be draped in velvet and the organisers encourage costumes as elaborate as you dare… Men should look ‘devilishly dashing’ and ladies, you are asked to ‘reach into your inner desires’. Ooooh. Expect a lavish night of cocktails, enchantment and trapeze artists throwing shapes above you.
When: Sat 29 Oct, 8pm-2am
Where: The Grand Hall, Euston Road, London, WC1
Web: belleepoqueparty.com
3. You Make A Cake Halloween Parties, £28 each for groups of age 5+, £35 each age 5+ if attending a workshop
Children (and adults) will love these fun workshops and group baking sessions. You Make A Cake provide all ingredients and utensils, so all you need to do is turn up, follow some simples steps, give your kids a major sugar-overload and come away with 12 delicious cakes. Classes and workshops to help you create creepy cakes are currently being run in the build up to Halloween.
Parties for groups last about 90 mins and workshops attended by individuals last for about two hours. Under-8s must be accompanied by an adult.
When: Until Sun 29 Oct
Where: You Make A Cake, 10 Bellevue Road, London, SW17 7EG
Web: youmakeacake.com
Kill It Kid – Heart Rested With You
If you like a dose of muddy blues-rock you need to get a load of Kill It Kid’s latest single. The second track on the band’s second album, Heart Rested With You, begins with an echoey stadium sound – but don’t let these first seconds fool you. The track quickly builds into the howling, thunderous foot-stomper that it clearly is. Imagine the devil rising up through meaty chords of strum-fire in a sweaty marsh, deep in the south of America. Not the kind of music you’d expect to come out of Bath, but with artfully layered male and female vocals, a larger-than-life sound and no lack of energy, this one deserves to be turned up. Loud.
You’ll like it if you like:
– The Dead Weather
– Filthy blues-rock
– The Black Keys
I feel it’s slightly unfair homing in on one track because the whole album is pretty delicious (make sure you cop a load of Pray on Me), but rules is rules… Find out more on the band’s MySpace page.
Zoe Robinson finds ethical fashion is really kicking off at Pure
Earlier this month I spent a day in the bizarre bubble that is London’s Olympia to visit the fashion trade show Pure. This bi-annual event takes place for buyers and press to have a good old gander at what designers have created for us all for Spring / Summer 2012.
Over the last few seasons the ethical offering at Pure has grown, largely thanks to the Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF), ‘the industry body dedicated to a sustainable future for fashion’, who also runs seminars at the show. Primarily geared towards buyers, their must-see seminars focus on how to put together a great ethical fashion collection in store, and with sales of eco clothing having grown by 72% in 2010, retailers really have an incentive (and in my opinion a responsibility) to source their stock ethically.
At Pure, EFF also present the winners of the EFF Innovation Award which recognises excellence in design, quality of product and ethical credentials. Here are just some of my favourites from this season’s Pure, starting with one of the Innovation winners Chichia…
This exciting new collaboration between Made By Africa and Chichia is produced in a fair-trade certified factory in Tanzania. The colourful and highly wearable designs combine jersey with African prints in organic cotton (see above).
Nancy Dee now produce their entire collection in the UK using eco friendly fabrics suchs as organic cotton and bamboo. In addition to their wonderful and much-loved printed jersey dresses (above), they have some great tailored pieces for SS12.
If you are a regular reader of EggMag you’ll know we do love London-based brand Lowie so I was very excited to see this 50s style dress (above) in a cute boat print – the first print they have had designed exclusively for them.
This image doesn’t do justice to this ultra feminine dress by Komodo (above) – it’s a really beautiful print and such a versatile style.
There is so much to like about this sublimely simple, versatile and very soft organic cotton dress (above) from Stewart+Brown. How can I style thee? Oh let me count the ways…
It was great to discover this very exciting new Colombian brand Cyclus at Pure. Crafted from highly durable inner tubes these these bags are a triumph of expert design, upcycling and local production. Loathed as I am to recommend a new ‘it’ bag – or utter the words ‘must buy’ – but if you invest in one hot new accessorise brand next season, let it be this one!
I have my eye on this new style from Makki (above) which would go with just about anything. Made from eel skins that are a by-product of the food industry it’s sustainable and stylish, just what we like.
Beautifully feminine bag from Coco Barclay (above) – the vintage gloves can be removed for a more casual look and if it’s cold outside they will keep your fingers cosy.
The brilliant Beyond Skin are a vegan brand who make efforts to be as sustainable as possible. Some of these stunning (and surprisingly comfortable) shoes are produced using a super soft fabric made from recycled plastic (see above).
Meher Kakalia’s amazing footwear and bags are produced in Karachi often using ‘found’ materials (some weaving embellishments are done with thin strips or ‘threads’ of plastic bags), utilising tradtitional techniques and supporting local, highly-skilled artisans. I love them so much I took extra photos, which are below for your shoe-ogling pleasure.
See Zoe’s website www.think-style.co.uk
Twitter @zoerobinson1
Facebook Think Style
Michael Kiwanuka – I’m Getting Ready
It doesn’t happen very often, but occasionally someone appears on the music scene, that gets real music lovers into a bit of a tizz. Michael Kiwanuka is having this said effect. I have so far heard two radio DJs verbally hugging the guy and frankly, I am finding it very hard to get him out of my head too. Kiwanuka has that rare mix of respect, elegance and honesty in both his music and his character, which, when mixed with his undoubtedly brilliant musicianship and big, velvet pillow of a voice, culminates in something supremely special. I’m Getting Ready is the second song released by the artist and after his first, Marvin Gayesque Tell Me A Tale, is proof that he ain’t no one-trick pony. This new tune has its feet deeply rooted in folk music, and although one may argue that his sound is nothing new I personally think that this is, in fact, its appeal. Keith Richards said in a recent interview ‘I really look at myself as more of an antenna … that thing of “I created this” … is a little bit presumptuous I think.’ So maybe our Michael is a new antenna, picking up soul and folk signals from the seventies and re-inventing them for us now. Let this track wash over you, with it’s subtle, piano and vocal harmonies while feel the warming effects of Kiwanuka’s future vintage style.
You’ll like it if you like:
– Nick Drake
– Soul and folk
– Chilled out summer songs
Find out more about Michael and his tunes here
Anna Calvi – Suzanne and I
First things first. I love seeing a petite lady strapped into a guitar like it’s a weapon. I also love hearing melodies belted out from deeper inside a singer’s gut than I ever thought possible. Anna Calvi does both of these – with gusto. Her self-titled album is available to buy now, but if you just want to dip your toes in first, Suzanne and I has to be the best track on it. Think mesmerising, powerful vocals and big, echoey drum-beats. It’s what you might get if you stuck Shirley Bassey, KD Lang and Richard Hawley into a pot and mixed them up. And yes, lads, it’s a pretty lady singing about another lady.
You’ll like it if you like:
– powerful, almost theatrical music
– hearing a melody getting ripped up, slapped about, punched in the face and generally attacked with force
– Errr, Shirley Bassey, KD Lang and Richard Hawley
Buy the album and find out more here.
eggmag 