Here Today: The New Wave revival
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Something's afoot at the Camden Palace. A dodgy indie disco, usually frequented by drop-outs with long, lanky hair and Suede T-shirts, its habitues have gone all smart. Suddenly, everyone's turning up in natty suits, shirts and ties: especially the girls. The unisex hairstyle is a short, slick bob, tucked beneath one ear. It all looks so very . . . early Eighties.
Elastica have a lot to do with this. The current music press starlets, and pop's great white hope for 1994, Elastica are both entirely wonderful and entirely receptive to their influences. They sound like Blondie, the Rezillos and Wire, and they dress like the Jam.
Early Eighties music is now so popular that even Duran Duran are cool again (huge in America and currently working on a covers album of their musical heroes). What's it all about? Ask any teenager. Most of them seem to have one thing in common: their first sentence was 'Hit me with your rhythm stick'. The song of the same title, by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, was number one in the charts at about the time today's pop consumers were learning to talk. It was catchy then, and it's catchy now. They were new wave babies. Now they want to be new wave babes.
Camden Market is the best place to find a good new wave two-piece suit. There are also great second-hand record stalls, where you should be able to buy the whole Blondie back catalogue for under a fiver. For the music to dance to, try the Camden Palace, 1 Camden High St, London NW1
Camden Market, Camden High St, London NW1. Stalls all week, but main market on Saturdays and Sundays
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments