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>>djpaulette [back
to postcard archive menu] As one trip finishes another one starts. Not that I'm complaining, mind, but the strategic planning of the last two weeks should have had a 'Cape Canaveral training programme required' sticker stamped right across its middle. Yet, whilst the Devil waited excitedly for me to falter and then tutted impatiently on the sidelines scuffing his hooves as I didn't, I became aware that my hands have refused to become idle: not for the one with the funky feet, not for me, not for anybody. But whenever God says 'slow down' I have to listen. Monday April 15th: Ashley Beedle and Diesel from X-press 2 possibly won the award for the most humble DJs I've had on my radio show so far. 'Lazy' is still in the Top 10 3 weeks after release (I am optimistic and personally hope that it holds for the rest of May): success couldn't have come knocking for three nicer people - even if Rocky couldn't make it. The remainder of that week passed again in a blur. I have a vague recollection of signing my track 'Laugh' to Automatic, going to the Channel 4 screening of Matt Wynn's (D*note's) dry and darkly comic new film 'Out Of The Game' and meeting fantastic people at Kinky @ the Honey Club (go Sima!) so I know I found a point of focus somewhere along the way - even if it was swaying slightly at the bottom of one of many glasses of vodka and orange. But don't mention the cast of thousands aka the X-press 2 album launch party at Crash: I didn't regret being driven back from Brighton at all. As wrecked as I was, the atmosphere at Carey's in Coventry
(20/4) crackled like dangerous wiring and believe me, that's a compliment.
It's nice to see such a consistently enthusiastic crowd of up for it regulars
who absorb everything you give I hotfooted it back to London for Stuart Patterson's Sundaysonic night at Notting Hill Arts Club to find that Ron Trent had suddenly cancelled his 15 date tour. I hear money was the root of this evil but (you can correct me if I'm out of line here) surely $4000 US per show IS a fair price? Not easily disappointed, we still managed to party into the wee small hours and the club was still busy. Shame though, I always respected Ron. You can catch me at Sundaysonic on July 14th. And I won't be charging $4000 US for it either. Estonian Vibe FM residents, DJs Pjulm and Meri aka Rulers Of the Deep sent such a lovely mix after Miami that I had to broadcast it on my show - watch out for their track 'Temptation': it's a deep, tracky speaker phreaker that has apparently been signed to Roger Sanchez's R:Senal label. The rest of that week after the show was spent wining, dining with agents and friends and bodily fixing and mending. If you need a deep tissue massage that chases the marbles and boulders out of your muscles Rosario is your woman. All of this was in preparation for one of the most exhausting 'headlining' weekends of my life. Friday's gig at Guesthouse in Geneva was mental: my set more than made up for my pauvre francais! With a choice of 3 skirts and one pair of pants, trousers won out and it was just as well, since the floor of the DJ booth was glass throughout and the booth itself was suspended directly above the dancefloor. Cue lots of excited men looking up. The management had placed bets as to whether I was going to wear a skirt or not - they all lost! Had the ultimate Duty Free experience - and now own Gold on Black mirrored Christian Dior shades to prove it. Saturday in ex-pat Britspot Benalmadena was a personal reality check and a reminder to avoid Summer tourist spots in Spring. Sure I was paid well, the owners were nice enough and those rattling around in my collection plate stayed till the end and cheered but still... I'm unfortunately anti- Euro now too since I lost £30 converting my wages overseas. Sunday in Marseille and Tuesday in Zurich redressed the balance: both preceded local Bank Holidays and saw hoards of well-heeled and well-oiled party people baying for music like a pack of starving wolves. Neither location had a to-die-for system and the Plastique / Kunzlei party in Zurich certainly didn't have air conditioning but both parties rocked into the early hours. Thanks to Blue Cube's Simon Patterson and MIguel Pellitero (DTPM / Fiction) for inspiring one of my funniest shows so far. That's the beauty of live radio with guests: the energy exchange can be so amazing. Unfortunately Miguel didn't keep his records in any order at all so there is no track listing for his mix - it just goes in one ear and out the other with some people, doesn't it? This week's Time Out has put W10 (my postal area) on the des. res. map (as if I didn't already know that - that's why I bought here. Not. I bought here because it was cheap-ish three years ago and has a comforting community vibe). But I take offence at the 1/10 for picturesque and 4/10 for shopping and why suggest Kensal Green Cemetery as a place of relaxation!! Okay so it was the first cemetery in London but really, they're looking on the wrong side of the road! The Grand Union Canal runs the length of Harrow Road and is far more conducive to a relaxing state than the cemetery. The sunsets we get here are phenomenal and Meanwhile Gardens is a peaceful oasis for wildlife, birds, walkers and families (and granted, the odd vagrant) in the middle of a concrete urban landscape. And as for shops, there's Rellik for vintage clothing (Trellik Tower), The Cobden Club, Canalot Studios, Cafe Lisboa, the Oporto Patisserie and the Golborne Fish Shop amongst many other cool places to shop and hang out. So there. After blubbing throughout Dr. Benton's departure from ER, I died the expected death on Wednesday but had made plans to watch Xpress 2 smash it at Bedrock on Thursday. Yet again, I could not persuade my body to leave my flat: first it started raining, then I got stuck online and then I fell asleep. I think. Maybe shopping for my god-daughter Hannah's first birthday present and my waxing appointment with Otylia Roberts at Daniel Hersheson wrenched my get up and go out from its roots. The day's high point was being star-struck when a radiant Nancy Dell Olio (Sven Goran Erickson's girlfriend) left Daniel Hersheson's salon sporting a freshly coiffured, drop-dead sexy mane of jet black hair and as for the slick outfit & figure, she looked every bit the part in a knee length, midnight blue tailored pinstriped jacket, crisp white blouse, faded jeans, platinum and diamond jewellery, black Christian Dior shades and Gucci brief case). I was never an Ulrika fan and that clinched it. Then, as if that wasn't a thrill enough, I was booked in for waxing just ahead of Gwyneth Paltrow and Dido's in tomorrow (Otylia called her Dodo so I had to correct her. Bless! ) It's accounts hell day on Friday - but not before I've massaged my muscles into a state of peaceful acceptance. Then you can catch the resultant blancmange either spinning at The Zap Club in Brighton on Saturday or trolling around New Opera on Sunday when Louie Vega dazzles us all with MAW magic. We live in hope. Oh and Feli - I am really looking forward to your sparkling Swiss company next week! I've bought a new pinny for you in celebration! Until the next time - have a great Bank Holiday. I'm out of here like I stole somethin'! [click here] for the Postcard archives |