http://thequietus.com/articles/19691-kano-interview-made-in-the-manor
im not that into the songs ive heard so far but this is quite a good kano interview.
The whole album is full of real names and real street names - and not just famous people as well but the names of your mates and family members. Are you trying to root Made In The Manor in a particular time and place?
Kano: Yeah, definitely in East London. I was made in the manor and that’s where these stories come from. I grew up in and around Canning Town, East Ham, Plaistow, Stratford… Newham in general. So that’s why it’s heavily descriptive of East London. There’s a moment on the record during the track This Is England where I take it from describing East London to describing England in general.
the thing i find funny about all these places he mentions in east london and east ham is that i know that street he used to live, and upton park, and most of that area is very asian now. i dunno how long its been like that, but its weird to see these 'gritty' and 'authentic' videos shot in the area, with none of that in there. could be wrong, im not there every weekend, but you have to work pretty hard to avoid those places if youre filming around east ham and upton park! then again i suppose it speaks to how all these diff ethnic communities live in east london, and you can kind of exist in your own little strata of the place, if you want, so maybe your experience of the high street might just be say, the black barbers, the carribean take away, etc. you might never have entered for example an indian sweet shop. not sure if thats a good or bad thing. i will admit i have yet to enter a polish food shop, even though i keep meaning to (the meats and bakery items look good).