It's The Taking Part That Counts - Paralympic Discount

While protestors picket the DWP in defiance of a Paralympics sponsored by a company whose specific remit is to cut access to benefits for as many disabled people as possible, we are nonetheless happy to announce a games-long 30% discount on all silver edition copies of It's The Taking Part That Counts. 

WIAIWYA's sporting compilation features tracks from Saint Etienne, Darren Hayman, White Town, DJ Downfall and many, many others - including yours truly, Monster Bobby. To access your special Paralympics discount simply follow this link and enter the code "paralympic".

ATOS is a French multinational IT services and consulting corporation, contracted by the Tory government to assess the 'fitness for work' of those on disability allowance. Its testing procedures have been condemned by everyone from a Commons Select Committee to the Citizens Advice Bureau and the British Medical Association. 

Only today, BBC news reported on a 51 year-old woman from County Tyrone who died form cancer, just a few months after being declared fit for work by ATOS. In fact, the same could be said of over a thousand people. For more information about ATOS and how to protest against their involvement in the Games and the UK benefits system please follow UK Uncut and Disabled People Against Cuts.

For more information on how the current UK government is discriminating against the disabled, read this article.

In the meantime, here's Saint Etienne, with the Steeplechase...

Fear of Water ... by the Sea

In what may become a continuing series devoted to things I have named despite otherwise having very little to do with, allow me to introduce you to Margate's hottest new night of "off-beat cinema, wayward sounds and frequent surprises". Starting Monday the 2nd of September at the delightful little Tom Thumb Theatre and continuing weekly from there on, Club Hydropathe (for that, indeed, is the name I humbly suggested) promises music from "Bluegrass to Blue Velvet; New-Wave to No-Wave via a smattering of Noir". It kicks off at half six, there will be a "mystery screening" at half seven, and apparently "drinks and delights thereafter." You may inform the Big Other of your intention to attend here. I, alas, cannot make it. At least, not this time.

For those of you wondering where the name comes from, Les Hydropathes were a French literary club, founded on Paris's Left Bank in 1878 by the author and journalist, Émile Goudeau. Though short-lived, the Hydropathes could count amongst their number many of the personalities (Gill, Cros, Allais, etc.) who would later make up the lively cabaret scene around the Chat Noir and other Montmartre establishments, somewhat further north. At its height the cercle would boast some 350 members before it disintegrated into smaller factions such as the Hirsutes and Incohérents. The name, which probably derives from Goudeau's favourite waltz by the popular Hungarian composer Joseph Gungl, refers to those who would become sick from drinking water - and must, therefore, drink nothing but alcohol.

Fourth Interior

Featuring the voice of Jessica Jordan-Wrench, of Amy Made Me and GUM.

Coming Soon: A Little Orchestra in Mile End, with Banana and Louie, Lisa Bouvier & Model Village

The lovely Librarians Wanted present an album launch party for Banana and Louie, aka Matt and Sarah from A Fine Day for Sailing, with support from Lisa Bouvier, Model Village and our very own A Little Orchestra. All this will take place at The Victoria, Mile End, on September the 7th. Entry will be free. I tentatively predict multiple interlinked collaborations between the evenings various acts.

For updates and more information, do check in at the Librarians Wanted Tumblr or the Facebook event page.

In the meantime, see and hear members of A Little Orchestra in this library-set video for the title track to Banana and Louie's album, Alphabet Soup.