All Things Considered

The Joy of Books
Posted by Simon Lewin

An amazing piece of stop frame animation that is proving very popular on Facebook and the like...

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 14th, 2012

Ben Bryden
Posted by Simon Lewin

Now living in New York, saxophonist and composer Ben Bryden is back in Scotland for an appearance in Edinburgh on Saturday night.

Ben has collaborated with poet Rab Wilson on 1957 Flying Scot, a book and CD set celebrating Glasgow's great heritage of building high quality racing and touring bicycles. The eponymous marque was once the dream and aspiration of many working class boys in Scotland. They were incredibly expensive, exotic and desirable objects in their day.

Rab's sonnets feature both in the book and read on one of the CDs. The second CD features music inspired by the work, composed and performed by Ben.

The book and CD set is illustrated throughout by Hugh Bryden and published by his Roncadora Press.

On Saturday 7th January 2012, Rab and Ben will launch the edition from 7pm at Ronde Cycle Café, 66-68 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5AZ.

Whilst in New York, Ben also collaborates with fellow tenor saxophonist Steven Delannoye on the Bright Noise project.

An EP of new material has just been released, with an illustrated sleeve by our mutual friend Jonny Hannah. Full details via Ben's website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 6th, 2012

Rob Ryan
Posted by Simon Lewin

Here's a great little film about Rob Ryan and his work.

You can view a selection of tiles and prints over at our online store.

Rob will be exhibiting in Cambridge later this month in a joint exhibition with Angie.

Posted by Simon Lewin on October 12th, 2011

A Sky Full of Kindness
Posted by Simon Lewin

We couldn't get back from the Highlands in time for the launch of Rob Ryan's new book in London tonight - instead we've been up here enjoying the copy Rob sent us.

Here are a few snaps of A Sky Full Of Kindness, available for purchase from Amazon.

Posted by Simon Lewin on October 6th, 2011

Xerox – A Celebration Of Fanzine Culture
Posted by Simon Lewin

Caught By The River are hosting an event at Rough Trade East on October 12th celebrating fanzine culture from the 70s up to the present day.

Robin Turner explains...

"Time and again, we’ve found ourselves saying that Caught By The River is like a fanzine. As longtime fanzine readers, writers and buyers, it makes total sense that there would be something lo-fi and DIY deep inside us; an ever present and excitable urgency to pass on newly learnt information to as many people as possible.

Earlier this year, we decided to join the dots between our site and some of the grassroots mags that had been inspirational to us by holding Tales From The Typographic Ocean, a symposium at Port Eliot Festival to discuss the roots of the UK’s underground press. Our very good friend Emma Warren (formerly of Jockey Slut) hosted a panel that featured Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis, Elektra record’s biographer Mick Houghton and ZigZag man Andy Childs. Tripping back to the late 60s, the talk moved onto punk rock and beyond, painting a kaleidoscopic picture of a time before today’s heavily sponsored, focus grouped music press.

Back in the Smoke, we thought it was something worth revisiting. On Weds October 12th, we’re staging a second fanzine panel. We’re calling it Xerox. This time it’ll go beyond punk, taking in C86 acid house and a whole bunch more. The line up on the night will feature Caught By The River contributors Andy Childs (ZigZag), Andrew Weatherall (Boy’s Own), Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) and Geoff Travis (Rough Trade), all in conversation again with Emma Warren."

The event is free and runs from 6.30pm until 8.00pm on Wednesday 12th October 2011 at Rough Trade East, 'Dray Walk', Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL.

Posted by Simon Lewin on October 3rd, 2011

Words on Water
Posted by Simon Lewin

A quick mention for our friends over at Caught By The River whose social club is presenting this night of 'Words on Water' featuring John Andrews, Luke Jennings, Charles Rangeley-Wilson and Chris Yates.

The event takes place on Tuesday October 4th between 7-11pm at The Stag, 67 Fleet Road, London NW3 2QU. You can purchase tickets online.

Posted by Simon Lewin on September 29th, 2011

Faber & Faber
Posted by Angie Lewin

I was delighted to be asked to contribute to the latest 'Romantics' poetry series from Faber & Faber, illustrating the cover and endpapers for the Percy Bysshe Shelley edition.

Designer Miriam Rosenbloon commissioned covers from printmakers Andy Lovell (Samuel Taylor Coleridge), Ralph Kiggell (John Clare), Emily Sutton (John Keats), Colin Moore (William Wordsworth), Jane Hyslop (Robert Burns), Mark Cazalet (William Blake) and Harry Brockway (Lord Byron) .

There's a great interview with Miriam over at It's Nice That.

You can also order a copy of the book online at Amazon.

Posted by Angie Lewin on September 23rd, 2011

The Map of Spitalfields Life
Posted by Simon Lewin

'The Map Of Spitalfields Life' is a fresh look at an historic neighbourhood, produced by Herb Lester Associates in collaboration with the lauded website Spitalfields Life and illustrated by noted cartographer Adam Dant.

It explores this corner of East London through its distinctive characters and businesses, providing a glimpse into a world few people even notice, where chestnut sellers and story-telling waiters rub shoulders with milkmen, artists and scrap-dealers. From Gilbert and George and Tracey Emin to Molly the Swagman and Sandra Esqulant, landlady of The Golden Heart, all Spitalfields Life is here.

You can purchase a copy for £4.00 from both Spitalfields Life and Herb Lester Associates.

Look out for Tim Rich's interview with The Gentle Author - creator of Spitalfield Life - later this year in Random Spectacular.

Posted by Simon Lewin on September 17th, 2011

Poster Poems
Posted by Simon Lewin

The post below about Martin Clark's poster for Andrews of Arcadia has prompted me to post about another recent project.

Our friends at Tinsmiths currently have a series of letterpress posters - a collaboration between Martin and poet Nick Alexander.

Twelve lines taken from Nick's work made graphic in twelve limited edition posters.

There are just a few copies of each edition left, available from Tinsmiths.

Posted by Simon Lewin on July 11th, 2011

Andrews of Arcadia
Posted by Simon Lewin

Here's the wonderful letterpress printed poster publicising 'The World of Andrews of Arcadia – A Tented Installation of Vintage Fishing Tackle for the Soul' which you'll find in the Caught by the River Field at this year’s Port Eliot Festival between Thursday 21st and Sunday 24th July 2011.

The installation will be created and hosted by John Andrews a.k.a Andrews of Arcadia who can often be found at his stall in Spitalfields Market. You can also view a selection of John's vintage fishing tackle online.

To find out more about the installation visit the Caught By The River website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on July 6th, 2011