Peoples Republic of South Devon

Feel the power

The race for local power is on, and as the campaigning gets under way, our political correspondent Aitch (not to be confused with H, formerly of Steps) tells you why you should vote. This is power to the people stuff, people - don’t waste your voice purely on fruitless tv telephone phone in competitions!
“When something goes wrong, everyone blames the council, they don’t do this and they don’t do that and why are they wasting our money on blah blah blah…

The thing is, that to justify your moan, you should do something about it.

On May 3, everyone has the chance to say who they want to represent them at parish and district level.

Turn out is notoriously low because people think that the general election is the important thing, and most don’t even bother to vote in that.
But local politics is the bit that really affects us, like bin collections, clean streets, dirty beaches, dog poo, you know what I mean.

Parish and town councils are at ground level and can hear your views and make representation for you, they have a bit of cash from the precept and run some things on their own, like your allotments, toilets or pathways.

District Councils have a lot more power, they decide on your planning applications, on what development is going to happen in the future, on your leisure centres, bus stations and a load of other stuff.

It really matters that you decide who will best represent you and who has ideas like your own.

You might say that it’s a waste of time because they all do what they want anyway, and the whips in some district authorities cut out freedom in voting on big decisions. Yep, that does happen.

So why not make sure that you vote for your favourite to help them gain a majority?

There’s plenty of worthy reasons to vote, like it is a privilege of the free, and you ladies owe it to that Wilding Davison one who hurled herself under the King’s horse for you.

And if you don’t give a poop about that, do it for the smug feeling you get when you walk from the polling booth, thinking you know something of politics after all.

Posted by Aitch

April 5th, 2007

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Talula vanquish

We’re hoping to get an interview with big boys Talula for next week’s Melting Pot podcast. Til then, here’s Tom Weymouth’s review of their cavern gig the other day.

Talula – 29/03/07 – Exeter cavern

Home grown and fiercely proud of it, are gathering momentum like a rolling snowball.

It’s the voice that really grabs your attention. Jake’s vocals are passionate and distinctive, and the harmonised cross rhythms blend effortlessly.
Alex’s beats are what you would expect from something a bit more metal than this. But when the kit hits on the syncopated beats, there is almost a hint of a jazz influence to the brash sound that takes the lead. Jamie’s bass almost comes across as a second guitar - filling out the sound by adding to each climax as well as the mellow sections.

I was wracking my brains to find a suitable comparison to Talula. I ended up with Biffy Clyro from the vocals and overall impression, but there is a hint of Muse and something a bit heavier.
The riffs themselves seem like a reinvention of the British mod scene with more alternative vibes and their own twist of energy and experimentation.
Awesome live performers, they are slick and tight, and although it wasn’t the mosh pit out the front that you would expect with heavier bands, the intelligence of the song writing and delivery meant you just had to listen, and stare, as you got taken on the ride.

This was the last night of their extensive cross-country tour promoting the new EP. Ripped Up and Violent is available from HMV or via the band’s website.

Posted by Tom Weymouth

April 5th, 2007

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