Deptford Bridge Over Troubled Water; elephants & castles LAUNCH!
These streets aren't ours. Chris Anderson and Robin Spencer, elephants & castles, Sunday 4th December 2016, Deptford Cinema, London.
'What's Left For Larry and Janet?'. Inspired by the Fat Toad Films documentary; 'Larry and Janet Move Out' this is a melancholic song about the tragic gentrification of The Heygate Estate near Elephant & Castle, with a hint of Beautiful South x beautiful South London.
It is the title track of the new EP from elephants and castles with the songs 'Red Lemonade' (their well matched voices harmonising a nostalgic romance) and 'Concrete Love' creating a triple helping of quality, poetic songs and short film music videos to accompany the release. iTunes link to buy.
Immersed in social cohesion and commentary but always led by by a tuneful song, elephant and castles are a South East London treasure. The video for 'Concrete Love' mixes home and a humour tinted tale, with a hooky tune;
The Old Kent Road and environs are a location of a capital city with a "Here Be Dragons" reputation that leaves it alone to become more independent, colourful and magic. Hollywood movie stars can come for a meal/drink in Peckham or New Cross, and it's no big deal. The punky reggae grime party that is "Costa del Thames" is steeped in working class surreality and fun situationism, though like everywhere else in the crapitalist age, the class apartheid of gentrification is creeping in, callously.
Positive and hopeful, as well as wistful and inciteful, elephants and castles soundtrack this teenage decade of the millennium perfectly. Chris (Batman?) and Robin appeared in Chapter 3 of our picture story book when they appeared live at the Deptford X Art Festival. TheZineUK was also born from #SELondon.
It's the kind of place where you meet Paul Maps of Joyzine Culture Site and Radio Show, round the corner in the Vinyl Record store where the electricity has gone, but there's a cello gig on downstairs and it suits the dark of the bar anyway, before going round the corner to a DIY cinema run by volunteers and have a Peckham Pils before the show. psst e&c fans, check out Day 4 of the Joyzine Advent Daily Download Calendar!
The evening begins with Harry from Bengal Lancers playing a very well received solo set, which included a song he may or may not have been still working on, lyric wise, when he performed it.
elephants and castles had gathered a family and friends fuelled cottage industry of creative talent (and invited some on stage) there was much cheering, applauding, singing along and a house party atmosphere (red lemonade, anybody?)
Music world mover shaker, Jean Genie Graham has got her #redlemonade
The packed out (and marvellous) Deptford Cinema venue hosted the perfect launch to a DIY release. The Musical. Melody, humour, camraderie, uniqulture - alternative pop of the best kind, from 21st Century London's answer to Simon & Garfunkel.
words & snapshots: Caffy St Luce