End of an era

So tonight is the closing party of legendary London club The End. I first went eight years ago, eyes gleaming, a naive young thing, head and heart full of dreams of being a music journalist. Well, I was doing work experience at my favourite magazine in the world ever. I wasn’t new to clubs, I was all about them in fact. My defining thought before setting off to university four years previous had been I want to go dancing. That was all that mattered. Being on a dancefloor, swallowed up by the music, in a blur of light, heat and sound. I knew who I was when I was dancing. It was the only time my body did what I wanted it to. I had complete command. It was all so exciting, so new, so right. Wherever I was, and my friends and I travelled far and wide to dance to the DJs we loved, on that floor it was about me and the music. 

And then we came to London. (A brief aside: before you live in London, it lives in you. It’s always there, on the fringe of your existence, somewhere in the corner of your eye. It’s more than a city, it’s an idea, an ideal, an aim. And no wonder, it’s built with 8 million hopes and dreams, both dashed and realised.) Life in London was different.  It was both scary and seductive. Unlike my warm and cosy northern city, it had harder edges. London is Industry. London is Media. London is Money. And it made the people harder. Eyes wouldn’t meet, lips would purse, faces saying they’d seen it all before. Apparently it was cool to look bored.

But not at The End. The End was different. The End was music you’d never heard before. The End was people who smiled. The End was dancing and dancing and dancing. And as London became home, it’s cold facade breaking down to reveal ordinary people all chipping away at their dreams, The End became home too. I have had so amazing nights on her dancefloors, jumping up and down, full of music and love, catching eyes and smiles that are full of the same. It’s more than escapism, it’s more than a good time, it’s more than a Saturday night on the town. Being together, dancing together, enjoying music together is a celebration of who we are as individuals, as a community and as human beings. So tonight I will be celebrating one last time at The End, with people and music I love, and I can promise you it will be one special send-off.

Soundtracking

Songs currently lifting me out of monotony are David E Sugar’s beautifully paired down Although You May Laugh and La Roux’s 80s epic Quicksand. Both of which came to my attention through the rather brilliant Kitsuné Maison 6 compilation, which I bought for the inclusion of We Have Band (yes, I am still love love loving them). Perfect for elevating your mood on grotty public transport and pretending you’re in a music video.

More dancing more

Want music with substance that also makes you want to jump around like an idiot? You want We Have Band. Just. Bloody. Brilliant. I’ve been liking their sound for a while now and finally saw them live last night. They completely blew me away. Now, I love dancing but I’ve not leapt about like that for quite some time. It put the biggest, silliest grin on my face. They’re currently unsigned (wha’?) but booked up to play a string of London dates. Go see them, let hair down, jump around.

Hurt

Music can heal. Or, at least, spark the process. 

And the music don’t feel like it did…

I’m a sucker for a good song. Music seduces, infusing the momentary with immortality. It makes sense to – and of – every part of me. Currently making my head spin are The XX. Only 18 and already heartbreakers. Somebody give them a record deal please.

Update: Someone did give them a record deal – they signed to Young Turks in Feb 2009. Which means we’ll be able to get hold of hard copies of tracks including their beguiling cover of Womack & Womack’s ‘Teardrops’ in the not too distant future. Hurrah! Get more music recommendations and reviews here.

The sun is shining

And that means today is all about fun. We all need a bit of fun in our lives. Here is some fun. 

Dancing…

…makes me feel like a whole person, every part of me connected, every muscle, every joint, every atom of my being in flow, in rhythm, making sense, in control and losing it all at once. ‘Scuse me while I let my hair down…

Canadian music…

…has a lot going for it. Soundtracking my current delirium are Kevin Drew and Jason Collett. I like the place that music takes me. It makes me smile broadly instead of the self-conscious lip-biting I usually do when passing people in the street. I feel free to move my body and I don’t care if they see. Nothing mental, just a bit of foot tapping, hand clapping and thigh slapping. But one of these days I’m really going to dance down the street. Wave my hands in the air like I just don’t care. Yeah.