This was the year we returned from separate travels, moved in together and tested the durability of a hitherto cast iron friendship by spending much time in a considerably more confined space than our very small flat – our beloved Ford car, Lance Percival.
Probably the only perk of abysmal senses of direction, no sat nav and averaging an extra hour to all long and medium haul journeys are the conversations we find ourselves having when not blaming each other for being lost. Last week talk turned to what we’ve loved and loathed in 2007 and what we predict will have more than a bit part in the worlds of A&A in 2008.
It’s always nice to find yourself ahead of the game, nicer to be leading the pack with your best mate and not so nice when everyone else cottons on. Double Dressing, previously every girl’s worst nightmare is being pedalled as the look to rock next year. For four years now, we’ve avoided coming to handbag blows over dressing similarly (at times identically) and have batted off sarcastic jibes from couture challenged chancers bold after several beers.
To suggest we were the originals would be arrogant and untrue (parents of same sex toddlers have been doing it for decades) but we’ve colour coordinated, accessorised and worn identical outfits with pride - long before it was cool. Nor do we claim to be the best at it: that accolade surely goes to Amber and Nisha, aka The Broken Hearts two of London’s hottest DJ’s, a gorgeous girlie pairing who’ve put us to double dressing shame with their theatrical costume creations and hip swinging tunes. They look so good they could play pre-polyphonic ring tones and get away with it.
(Slightly) less aesthetically delightful but no less aurally pleasurable are Justice who AA had the pleasure of seeing last week. Remember Kanye getting in a huff over not winning best vid at last year’s MTV Europe Music Awards? The band he lost to were French ‘sexy boys’ Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay of Justice. This funky electro duo has been tearing it up for over a year now; Grammy nominated for 2008, we’re crossing our Francophile fingers.
Amy is linguistically urbane, Antonya looks the part; they have the name we were going to give ourselves, but they’re too good to resent: Black Kids. Admittedly we’re not indie lovers and until fairly recently thought the revival of garage was just about the best thing to happen musically this year, but then we heard: ‘I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You’. An extra special mention to guitarist/vocalist Reggie Youngblood who Antonya barked drinks orders at last week, long before it dawned on her who she was using as a skivvy.
(Antonya: Reggie, you’re a gentleman and I’m ashamed to admit that the penny only dropped when I spotted you dancing like a king with a bevy of ladies who looked like they’d all got the cream.)
Speaking of which, Beard Papa’s cream puffs have been quite possibly the discovery of the year. The canny Japanese have given the world (and since 2006 the top end of Oxford Street) the most delicious, ambrosial desserts available over the counter.
We’re talking crispy choux pastry shells filled with something halfway between custard and cream, probably not as “fresh n’ natural” as they claim but worth storming through crowds for.
Trust us people: these things are heavenly.
AA x