Simon's arguments for London's centrality while compelling seem to come with a whole slew of caveats:
1) Coventry and Bristol are actually NOT provincial cities but "London-esque" by merit of their strong ethnic mix. (Such sleight of hand, Oh Master!)
2) We're asked to only consider the time-span 1990 till the present. I'm firmly of the opinion that the 50s/60s/70s/80s are still firmly on the horizon.
3) We're told that folk with any talent move to London as soon as they're aware they've something to offer. Luka also hammers this point. This is NOT true. These artists often move to London when they're knackered creatively. Certainly true with AGCG's, Simon's case history. It's ALWAYS their work out of the metropolis that generates the original spark, the distinctive flavour which would bleach away in London. Aphex in Cornwall. Tricky in Bristol.
4) We have to ignore the fact that whether or not Jungle was concieved in London or not, a huge proportion of it's talent came from outside the capital.
I love London. I've lived here for 9 years, though maybe not forever henceforth. It provides an insanely intense feedback loop of a life, but it sure as hell aint the be-all and end-all of the UK. The very best culture comes from resistance, from standing still and saying "I am here." This applies to global culture too. Think Krautrock. The argument I'm positing isn't about political-correctness. It's ironic that that is what I like in UK Garage, and yet all you lovely folks in the USA and Australia maybe (caution here) like it because it's "exotic." I wonder if you'd like Dizzy Rascal if you lived in Stratford? Cos let me assure you Grime is as ordinary and ugly as mud. Certainly none of the trendies round here like it.*
It fills me with a weird mixture of sadness and anger that people are so quick to damn the "little." If I was in a small city I'd do my own thing, set up my own club night, foster a small gang, patch the ill-fitting connections, do my best. That's what we did in Edinburgh with the club Tribal Funktion, and hey look it got a mention in "Trainspotting" (eternal pride). Why let the local be burnt out in the glare? I don't get it, surely we should be cheering from the sidelines?
*apart from me of course.
Posted by Woebot at September 18, 2003 08:43 AM