A Physical Fraction

Some Of My Photography / Inspired By Themes Of An Imaginary Film

2012-01-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

I have updated my online portfolio with more of my iphone photography so if you reading this and you into cool photography then take some time out to check it out, you wont be sorry. In fact you will be happy, because you will be looking at some really cool visuals. Personally, I am addicted to visuals of many different kinds. Photography is my new hobby thing slash obsession, but i have always been into it. Its actually quite mad because when camera phones came out (the first I saw was a Nokia) I couldn't believe it. I thought it was the coolest shit ever. The idea that you could have a camera built into your phone just blew my mislead rebellious teenage mind. That was in 2002 or 2003 I think. Wow thats long time ago. Whats my age again? Anyways. Below is a gif I made as a kind of psychedelic teaser to the photos I took. Watch it move and let it entrance you with its crazy mad colour. Breath it in.

You can view the whole set over here.

Obvious Online Withdrawal Syndromes & The Artist Ruben Ireland

2012-01-10T00:22:00.000-08:00

I try to draw everyday, even if its a doodle. Even if it ends up in a bin, or as a tissue or something. I still try, even if it amounts to nothing but abstract lines on a page. I spend a lot of time on the internet, in fact, I came to realise that the internet is my friend, a good friend, actually, one of my best friends. I cant live without her. Well I have been for like a month now but god knows that it has been eating me up from the inside. I end up doing things I wouldnt usually do because without the internet at home I dont have a release. It sucks.

Soon that will change. I hope. Its all I can do for now. Found a new artist today. (See, this is why the internet is my friend) I get to find artists from all over the world and I get to share it with like minded people like yourselves. His name is Ruben Ireland and he is fucking awesome. His work is very minimal, and you can see that he puts a lot of effort into it. He uses traditional methods as well as digital, and it says on his website that 'he creates thoughtful and dreamlike images that carry emotional weight as well as a relevance to daily life.'

Click for his portfolio website.

Yöshi Sodeöka And Psychedelic Moving Images (Third Eye Open)

2012-01-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

I, like the guys at Changethought, have a deep respect for people who makes gifs. Its a lot of hard work! And the end result if done correctly is just mind blowing, because in your heart, you know its just pictures moving. Its so analogue and real. Here we have Yöshi Sodeöka, with some crazy psychedelic moving images. Stop. And stare. Thats the vibe.

Symmetry - Themes For An Imaginary Film (The Drive OST Extended)

2012-01-09T05:23:00.000-08:00

I don't eat. I don't sleep. I do nothing but think of you...

You keep me under your spell...

(sigh...) How super jus is that song? (Desire - Under Your Spell for those of you who are not wys)

So whoever watched the movie Drive, will have undoubtedly heard the OST. They go hand in hand, physically and spiritually. I for one, downloaded the soundtrack a couple of seconds after watching the movie. What can I say? I fell in love. Deeply in love. I was a huge a fan of Desire way before watching the movie, but getting reacquainted with them again was like having your ex girlfriend sneak into your room in the middle of the night for some cuddle action.

The purpose of this post isn't too get all mushy over the Drive OST (thats so last year) lol no just kidding that album deserves eternal love and affection. This post is about a band called Symmetry, who consists of non other than Glass Candy, Chromatics, Mirage, & Desire. This band was responsible for the first couple of tracks for the Drive OST.

Anyways very long story short, they have released an album called 'themes for an imaginary film' and it sounds like a early 80's party thrown in Heaven (hosted by Daft Punk of course). Its like the first couple of tracks from the Drive album, except, there are 37 tracks! Yes mother fucker. You read right. 37 electronic disco dust synth love. So put your headphones on, and take your pants off, and then, when the beat drops, break it down like a skitzo disco dancer! Disco Disco!

Heres an extract from the soundcloud: Themes For An Imaginary Film is two hours of claustrophobic cinematic bliss compiled for Painters, Writers, Photographers, Designers, Cruisers, Night Walkers, & Dreamers. Adrenaline drips thick like syrup across a horizon where memories become blurred scenes behind the windshield & yesterday's faces fade as the road strobes to aggressive rhythms. Romantic melodies linger in the rearview mirror as chimera bells saturate the electric fog that's slowly rolling in.

Listen to it here: Soundcloud

Objects Of Desire / Motorcitysoul - Space Katzle (Sydenham Remix)

2011-11-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper take on the open road in East Rider - 1969

Play this song, while reading this post. It will enhance your mental wellbeing.

Motorcitysoul - Space Katzle (Jerome Sydenham Remix)

I have always been a huge fan of motorbikes. Always, I think its because of Grand Theft Auto. All the stunts and stuff. Or it could be watching 'Easy Rider' with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper with Jack Nicholson. That was a really cool movie. Released in 1969. What a great year on Mother Earth. The same year as the legendary Woodstock festival.

But why do I love bikes? Well, for me, its just the sound of starting a bike, to getting your helmet on, to that idea of you being alone, taking on the open road. That ultimate sense of adventure. Nothing can take that away from you. That feeling, I guess thats why I love the movie Drive with Ryan Gosling so much. I relate to that character a bit. The relationship he has with driving a vehicle. I feel that with a motorbike. Vintage and custom motorbikes is an indulgence of mine, even if its just looking and admiring. Super bikes are cool, but vintage and concept bikes, thats like epitome of mechanical love. Here are some of my favourites. Imagine riding one of these beautiful machines.

Triumph Helrich Custom Cycle aka The Retro Streetfighter

BMW R75/5 Custom (1972 Model)

Harley V-ROD Custom

Chappall Customs Yamaha XS650

Kawasaki Z1 900

The Jetsons - Imagining Flying Saucers Atoms And Parabolas? Um. What?

2011-11-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

I always loved The Jetsons. How could you not, with all its bright colours and all its cool retro 60's swingers pad like architecture? You just don't get better than that. I like modern design, minimalism. Negative space. I like all of that. But. I would love to live in a space like something from The Jetsons. Everything is just so vivid.

Its super retro, but in a kitsch futurist kind of way, its playful, and very design friendly (did he just say that? What does he really mean?) Plus, all the awesome colours, I just wont be able to say no. I would choose that style of architecture and design over our modern day version of design in a heartbeat. It just speaks directly to my design senses and creative subconscious.

I always knew that the ideas behind The Jetsons were way before their time. Like any good science fiction. These people (the creators) somehow have the ability to foresee some parts of the future (of design) and they put that into their work and it doesn't seem weird at all, until you really think about it. I mean, the show was made in 1962. Dude. 1962 is like way back then, thats like almost 50 years ago. So just think about that for a second. And watch an episode of The Jetsons, but like really take note this time, and be prepared to be mind fucked. Below is some information I came across while channel surfing the internet like I was looking for something cool to watch on DStv.

What better epitomizes the visionary futuristic utopia of the 20th century than the Jetsons? Created in 1962 the primetime animated sitcom took place in 2062 looking 100 years into the future (cool right?). Besides the futuristic gadgets and gizmos, surely ahead of their time, the architectural influence is clearly that of Googie design. Including 'upswept roofs, curvaceous, geometric shapes, and bold use of glass, steel and neon, Googie was also characterized by space age designs that depict motion, such as boomerangs, flying saucers, atoms and parabolas, and free-form designs such as soft parallelograms and the ubiquitous artist’s palette motif.'

Envisioning tomorrow is of course an attempt to predict the future. Technology is still a heavy influencer on the architectural form. Many architects have looked to the forms of ships, airplanes and other mechanics of industry for inspiration. To be modern still means a 'promise of the future.' The term 'thats so Jetsons' has become part of our current cultural language. But when these visions of the future become a reality, and have come and gone, it seems that our current environment is still unchanged.

Stick By This: An Interview With The Duo Behind Dusky

2011-11-03T04:26:00.000-07:00

Please note that I have stolen this interview from another website, which is obviously much more cooler than this website. The website in question is called 'House Music Essentials' and I wasn't joking when I said these cats are cool. They are fucking awesome! Their slogan is 'Sex, Drugs, and House Music' for crying out loud! Now how can you not agree with that? Go over there and show some love bitches!

We at House Music Essentials (and A Physical Fraction lol) feel exceptionally lucky to bring to you our recent interview with Dusky. After previewing the forthcoming album 'Stick By This' we were so compelled by what we heard that we did our best to reach out to the duo in order to have our questions answered. Imagine how ecstatic we were to hear back from the label that we would be granted an interview. From the bottom of our hearts, we hope you enjoy the answers received as much as we do.

You mentioned in your interview with Anjunadeep that your sound naturally evolved into what is now recognized as Dusky. Can you attribute this evolution to anything in particular or is this truly just a case of nature taking its course?

It’s definitely just a natural progression – part conscious and part subconscious. We have broad tastes and we decided to start using more eclectic influences in our music. We don’t feel it’s natural to create the same sound, or same music over and over.

Do you find it difficult to return in full force to Solarity style music after time spent with Dusky productions?

No, not really. While we were making the album we were also producing Solarity tracks so we’ve been keeping it going. We still enjoy producing the Solarity style tracks.

Was there ever any question about releasing the identity of Dusky? Michael Cassette, a fellow Anjuna artist has yet to publicly acknowledge his identity, what was the reasoning behind telling the world Dusky is Solarity?

We didn’t see any point in hiding it. There are connections between the sounds – for example the use of strings, and there are a few tracks on the album and in the pipeline that are borderline Solarity/Dusky in style so we thought it natural to keep our existing fans in the know.

You mentioned also in the Anjuna interview that Lost in You has a natural environment in London, does the spirit of London act as your muse in a lot of your productions?

Definitely, we’ve lived in London our whole lives and it’s impossible not to be influenced and inspired by your environment. London is a very diverse city and we reckon that comes across in our music

Please click here to read the rest of the interview.

Dusky - Stick By This (Anjunadeep) EDM With Depth & Soul

2011-11-03T04:03:00.000-07:00

I got this killer album from ma nigga ziyaad lalla, which I have been listening to on repeat for a while now. The album is by Dusky, aka Solarity and is released through legendary deep house label Anjunadeep. The album has some deep grooves going on (no surprise there seeing that its Anjunadeep) and as I was listening to the title track 'Stick By This' I thought I was listening to some fucking Gabriel & Dresden. Thats how deep this music is. I would recommend this album to anybody who wants to feel a deeper connection with the music they are listening to. It really is the best EDM I have heard in quite sometime, the whole album holistically just fits perfectly together, like a masterpiece puzzle of art. I am obsessed and lalla if you reading this dude when I see you I am going to give you a very big hug! I love you man.

Hit play and prepare to be AMAZED! Play it loud and make sure your equalizer is set to PERFECT!

Lost In You feat. Janai (Original Mix) by Dusky

Heres some more on Dusky:

Previously existing as progressive / melodic house entity Solarity, Dusky are London based musicians Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman. As comfortable writing elegant orchestral pieces or stirring piano motifs as they are jackin' house and epic techno grooves, their diverse sounds are united by the duo's singular aim - to compose electronic music with depth, soul and originality. Their debut album "Stick By This" is released on Anjunadeep on 17th October.

"An intoxicating album, full of life and flashes of brilliance" – DJ Magazine

With the release of Dusky’s diverse debut album 'Stick By This' Anjunadeeps boundaries are being redrawn once again. Ambitious, expansive but brilliantly cohesive, 'Stick By This' joins the dots between Booka Shades melodic electronica (Falling), Leftfield’s dub techno (Im Running), the classic musicality of MJ Cole (Lost In You) and warm Laurent Garnier-esque techno (Need You Back).

Adding further colour to the albums spectrum, the albums first single - 'Lost In You' - is a deep, bass driven piano house anthem that features the soulful vocals of Janai and has gained props from US house godfather Tony Humphries and UK bass talent Toddla T – the latter supporting the track BBC Radio 1.

Grand Theft Auto V Trailer Launch On November 2nd

2011-11-01T03:41:00.000-07:00

I for one cant believe that its finally here! GTA5 is real and is coming sooner than I expected, which is very very good news. I have been a Rockstar DMA Design GTA fan since its very inception way back in like 1997 or 1998. I have played all of them and cant wait to get my hands on the new installment. In fact, I can wait, I enjoy the wait.

As long as they keep posting new trailers and screens, Im all good. I love the speculation, and rumours, and everything that goes with it. In the case of Grand Theft Auto, I do believe the hype. Its the greatest game franchise on the whole planet. If aliens came down from space and wanted to learn about human culture, just give them the GTA collection and they will be in the know.

Thats how deep the games go. Today is the 1st November, time 12:46 pm. Tomorrow the trailer will be released. It going to be beyond epic. All I can say is Rockstar, bring on the most epicest GTA of all time (before PS4 comes out with super immersive 3D gaming) the world is watching and we are waiting.

The trailer will be released through the rockstar website. Bookmark that bitch.

Rockstar Games

BT & Andrew Bayer - The Emergency (Original Mix) Hopeful Machines

2011-10-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

What can I say about this track. It is definitely one of my favourites, otherwise it wouldn't be on here. Its made by two of my most favouritist producers, BT and Andrew Bayer. Its one of those songs, that no matter who the fuck you are, you cant I repeat cant not like this jam. Its infectious. Its super round and bubbly. And it pumps. BT is a well known super producer (so is Andrew Bayer) who does this thing called micro sampling, he 'zooms' into the loop or beat and he cuts it up to tiny pieces and then puts it all back together in his own way. So that when its played you cant really hear it, unless you really listen. To the quality and genius that is BT. Thats just my version of what 'micro sampling' is, Rameez if you reading this then please correct me if Im wrong dude. What can I say, I do try :)

Please play this loud. Or with headphones for maximum effect.

BT & Andrew Bayer - The Emergency (Original Mix)

Super Chilled Lounge Music / Trentemøller - Le Champagne

2011-10-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

Wow. Trentemøller. This guys music production is unbelievably spacey. Cool, and full of detail. Full of detail. Full of detail. Yes I know I said that thrice. Its full of detail. Im mean, listen to the track below and just, just. Just. Listen. And feel what I feel. When he brings in that pad at about 2:16 my mind just melts. What the fuck is that? Thats the sound of bliss my friends. Thats the sound of a sunny friday afternoon, driving home from work, in no traffic, at about 75 kph with the windows down. Surfing the wind with your hand as you drive. Its what dreams are made of. Theres a another track called 'in progress' which i think is a B Side. But Im not sure and Im too lazy to google it right now. It sounds like it though, the composition I mean. And it has that deep house kind of feel. Can anybody say 'music porn'! Nice!

Trentemøller - Le Champagne

Trentemøller - In Progress

Music & Science / Trentemøller - Moan (Trentemøller Remix)

2011-10-25T05:23:00.000-07:00

This is no music blog. Its not a design or art blog either. What kind of blog is it I hear you ask. well. The walls and borders of genres always did nothing for me. This blog is just another blog, where music and other cool shit will feature. There are many others like it I cant deny that.

My plan was never to compete with other blogs to see who can post the coolest shit first. thats just boring, and very dumb. I alone write for this blog, and I wouldn't mind getting other people on board. To just write about whatever their heart desires, thats exactly what I have always been doing. All the music featured on here are not all new tracks. But. They are tracks that I love to play. So I share. Below is a track by one of my most ultimate producer heroes.

His name is Anders Trentemøller and he is by far one of the greatest composers to have ever lived. If you do not agree, then that means that you obviously haven't heard any of his music. Well, if you haven't then now is a good time to begin. Moan. Trentemøller Remix bitch.

Whats The Role Of Design In Cape Town? With Michael Wolf

2011-10-20T04:13:00.000-07:00

What is the role of design in society? Mokena Makeka and Rory Williams asked Michael Wolf, chairman of the Cape Town Design Network, for his views.

You have said that design has an identity problem in Cape Town. What is the problem?
The biggest misconception about design is that it’s all about “making things pretty” or “styling”, a term coined by 1950s American design icon Raymond Loewy. Back then, styling of industrial products was used as a marketing tool to fuel sales of consumer goods.

Although aesthetics remains a part of it, design has an important role in optimising the built environment, functionally, organisationally and emotionally – it’s a broad problem-solving process.

The association of design with arts and crafts and other cultural activities creates a huge identity problem for design, and not only in Cape Town.

Designers do not express their personal views or interpretation of the world as artists do, but respond to the challenges of the people they are designing for. Design is a needs-driven, user-centred process. It is an entirely different approach from art.

For the rest of the interview please go ahead and click the link below.

World Design Capital 2014 Website

Cape Town 2014 Creative World Design Capital Support

2011-10-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

You cant not support this. Theres no reason not to. Plus, I know this like super late. But thats just how I am so don't hate. I hope and wish that we win this. But like it says on the website, even if we don't win, we cant lose! How jus is that. I love Cape Town, its the greatest city in the world. Plus, the pre party is free at the assembly, with FREE FOOD! Hoppa! Hahaha! Details below for designer giembas:

The World Design Capital 2014 title is going to be announced in Taipei on 26 October at 06h00 local time. Cape Town will be celebrating the night before. Why? Because even if we don’t win, we can’t lose.

Join the design community for a pre-announcement party on the evening of 25 October at The Assembly and be inspired, Pecha Kucha-style, about what design can do for Cape Town.

Why is Cape Town bidding for World Design Capital 2014?

World Design Capital recognises that wealth, especially urban wealth, is created by innovation, not by factories or services alone. The designation is given in recognition that more than half the world’s population lives in cities and that design has become an increasingly fundamental tool to make cities more competitive, liveable and efficient.

Our bid is all about repositioning Cape Town on a world stage through design. Cape Town must brand itself as far more than just a city of beauty and leisure tourism. To do so, it needs to offer the world evidence that it is also an inspired place of business, scientific and academic innovation, and a world-class centre of design.

Cape Town’s bid to be World Design Capital 2014 forms part of a broader vision to position Cape Town as a leading global city – a hub of creativity, knowledge, innovation and excellence – and to build on the City’s World Cup success and infrastructure.

Cape Town 2014 WDC Website

Immortal Trance With Holden & Thompson - Nothing (93 Returning Mix)

2011-10-18T04:13:00.000-07:00

Below is one of my favourite songs of all time, James Holden & Julie Thompson - Nothing (93 Returning Mix). From the very beginning, from the first distorted clap, to the part where that indecipherable lyrics gets thrown into the mix, till the fade out. What a production! To me, music of this kind is the most soul satisfying, tracks like this falls under the banner of 'immortal trance' (that sounds nice). Not that its trance, but you know what i mean dont you? Im not going to go into that whole debate about whats progressive and whats trance and bla bla bla. Just listen to the music.

Thats all that needs to be said. My favourite mix is most definitely the '93 Returning Mix'. James Holden and Julie have worked together for a while under 'Holden & Thompson', I am on a mission to find their old material. Anyway, the reason I posted this track was simply because i want YOU (the person reading this text) to listen to it, whoever you may be (it really doesn't matter). What ever music you listen to, where you come from, whats your religion or race, thats all irrelevant. If you claim to love and appreciate good music, then do yourself the favour by pressing play.

Also, I would have to advise you to play this loud, either on your headphones, or on your speakers or whatever, but do not, for any reason, even attempt to play this track on your phone, or soft, or in the office (where the sound of music is usually left to the dumbed down radio). You will kill the soul of the song. Dead. And that is no joke.

James Holden Wiki

James Holden & Thompson - Nothing (93 Returning Mix) / Follow the link to download the track, I know you want to! 9 minutes of pure bliss is what it is!

James Holden & Thompson - Nothing (93 Returning Mix)

Björk – Biophilia / Sequenced Alien Sounding Signature

2011-10-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Never listened to the album yet, but how cool is this album cover. I just had to post this album cover. Below is some part of a review which I found very fitting, i still have to listen to the whole album so I cant really post any heavy reviews.

You can also erase any notion of traditional Western time signatures and chord changes if you plan on plugging into this madness. She uses alternating levels of tempo and another 17/8 on the pleasantly unnerving “Hollow” and even goes as far to employ to different time scales on my personal favorite “Solstice”. “Dark Matter” doesn’t even have discernible lyrics but makes the hair on the back of your neck prick up with its Icelandic rimur folk song structure. In so many ways it feels like she’s channeling Mother Nature herself.

From: Pretty Much Amazing

I like Björk though, her sound is very spacey, I think she and Daft Punk would make a killer collaboration. Also, she always has some very very out there composition style and I think that rocks. Its music for the visual mind if I can call it that?

The break in the song crystalline is fucking awesome. And its featured at the end of the song. Mad I know but its like a Jungle hard Drum and Bass break, not Dubstep people. Jungle. Fucking jus! Anyways, listen for yourself and make up your own opinions, and enjoy it. Don't over think it. Life's too short for such things.

Here listen to this, Crystalline.

Click here for the Biophilia album review

Watching The Throne (Drug Dealer Chic) Welcome To The Jungle

2011-10-10T04:18:00.000-07:00

I dont know what peoples take is on Kanye West these days, because I know the dude has done a lot of crazy shit in the past. I personally always dig his music and his productions because I find it so different from all the other shit thats out there. His rap flow is sick, but what I really enjoy is his production style. Its very playful and the quality is impeccable. I have been banging the new collaboration album a lot lately, I cant get enough of it actually.

Jay Z (one of the greatest rappers alive) and Kanye came together to make a master piece of an album. The lyrics are super cool and gives you a deeper insight into how these two guys think. They do rap a lot about money and clothes and all of the bitches and slette and stuff. But the way they do it makes it cool. Their swag is oozing over the brim on this album. I am a fan, even their music video for their track 'otis' is fucking cool. Who the fuck cuts up a Maybach, and turns it into a rocket car, just for kicks. These definitely know how to party. Heres a list of my favourite songs off the album:

♥ No Church In The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean)

♥ Niggas In Paris (Feat. Will Ferrel)

♥ Otis (Feat. Otis Redding)

♥ Gotta Have It

♥ New Day

♥ Made In America (Feat. Frank Ocean)

♥ Hard As A Motherfucker

♥ The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)

Heres the Otis track off soundcloud. Listen to this jus sampling man:

Otis feat. Otis Redding by watchthethrone

I think what also adds to the ultra cool factor of this album is the fact that they used such jus samples, from curtis mayfield to will ferrel to otis redding. And the fact that they worked with Odd Future member Frank Mother Fucking Ocean is a major plus for me, that guy has a killer voice. Like I said production is super cool as well, I think I read somewhere that they worked with Wu Tang founder RZA on 'New Day'. Swag.

Steve Jobs. Blink 182 - The Fallen Interlude. Massive Attack. Angel.

2011-10-06T04:37:00.000-07:00

I got an sms from a friend this morning, saying that Steve Jobs has left the planet (or at least our realm of the living) and passed on. This really stunned me for like a few seconds. I mean, I knew the dude was sick and all of that, cancer and the list goes on. But it just kind of caught me off guard I guess. I shed a tear in the bathroom while my wife was having breakfast. I couldn't help it, this dude is like my ultimate hero. His life story is like a fantasy story for me. From the time he took off some time to go to india to him being ousted out of Apple. To his legendary status as the greatest innovator of our time. You cant help but not love this guy. To me, he was most definitely the John Lennon of our generation, and these true real heroes always leave us to soon. Its a sad day on earth today.

As you can already tell, I am a huge Apple fan, since being introduced to it by my uncle while I was like 7 years old, I knew, that this alternative to the PC was my future. i love apple so much that I refuse, completely, to use a PC computer. I hate windows more than i can even begin to explain. I hate everything about it, including Bill Gates. What a poes. Did you know that Bill sold some of his technology to the military? I just don't believe in what Bill Gates stands for. But apple on the other hand, now thats a brand that i live. Anyway what Im trying to say is that, may all the really cool people who left the planet, all my fallen heroes, which include Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Hicks, John Lennon, and now Steve Jobs, may they all rest in peace. They will forever rock.

Yo Steve, if you reading this post as a soul floating above the sky on your iPhone right now, I love you man. Maybe one day we can share a cloud.

Portfolio Projects Online & 10 & Five Feature

2011-10-06T04:24:00.001-07:00

Yallo.

So, i have been very busy work wise, I mean, at home, not at work work. Doing a lot of crazy things, posters, album covers for my homies etc etc. All fun (but fucking time consuming yoh!) stuff. The thing with having a 9 to 5 job is, by the time you get home, you really feel wasted. Like really wasted, maybe its just me. I dont know. So ya so I have been doing a lot of designing and I finally got myself a behance account. And its working for me, I am really digging it. I get to show off my work to the world. Which is cool because getting feedback is something Im always in need of. Also, I got featured on the between 10 & 5 blog, which, for me, is really cool. I remember reading the blog a year ago. Checking out all the crazy artwork and stuff. So it feels good to be on there. Hopefully I can get some of my work on other blogs. The links to my behance and the 10 & 5 feature is below. I would like to know what you (the reader of this blog post) think so drop a comment if you in the mood. One love people of the world.

Online Portfolio

10&5 Creative Feature

Super Sunday Nostalgia Feelings When The Curtains Are Drawn

2011-09-26T06:36:00.001-07:00

Frank Ocean.

I have been pumping this album ever since I downloaded it. At first I was a bit confused, but after a couple of tracks I totally got into what his vibe is. And I love it. First of all, its very creative, his rap lyrics are very smart, and they always seem to catch me off guard, but I dig that about these new age un gangster rappers. They telling some mad stories. Frank is linked to the Odd Future mense. (WOLF GANG KILL THEM ALL!) Which I must admit, I am a fan off. I appreciate their 'I dont give a fuck i like to rap about anything I can think of' attitude. Its refreshing to hear these kids rapping about their thoughts. Might be dark sometimes, but I appreciate the style, and the effort they put into their work.

Frank samples a whole lot of cool fucking songs for his nostalgia sounding album. Tracks featured include Coldplay, The Eagles, Radiohead, and MGMT believe it or not. This dudes got some awesome taste in music! Its definitely one of those albums that you have to listen to to really feel it. Not one track, but all. My favourite track off the album right now is 'we all try' – a pretty smooth layered track with potent vocals. Also, seeing that we on the topic of Mr Ocean, his song with Jay and Kanye 'No Church In The Wild' is a masterpiece in. I have nothing but love for that track. Find it and listen to it.

A more in depth album review can be found below. Click away.

Pitchfork Review
Another cool review

Computers And Blues And Original Pirate Material

2011-09-26T05:16:00.000-07:00

So this damn blog still works! its been gathering dust, and lots of it. I think it must have been like three months since I last posted anything on here. But as you can read, thats kind of how this blog works. One day i post something, then maybe a couple of days later I post something, then all of a sudden, I post something three or four months later.

I think it has something to do with my mood and my state of mind at any given time, because to post something, it doesnt really take that much time. Well maybe the linking of the pictures does. But other than that its pretty fluid. Freestyle writing is what I usually do. Maybe I just never had anything important to share. Or, more realistically, maybe I just didnt give a fuck anymore, and told myself 'fuck it, blog when you blog' or something a long those lines. Yip, its definitely that.

I do have some music to talk about, things I have been listening to in the past couple of weeks. I will try my best (not really, who the fuck am I kidding here) to post some of the artists and albums. But if I dont, then let it be. Up first, Mike Skinner from The Streets. I have been listening to his last album 'Computers & Blues' recently I am loving it to the max. Its very soulful and techy, and features lots of pure funk. Plus, what makes The Streets so potent, is obviously his lyrics. Heres the DL:

Mike Skinner is known by his stage name The Streets and is a rapper from Birmingham. He rose to fame with the release of his Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut album Original Pirate Material.

Mike Skinner's love of music began at a young age, when he started playing keyboards and when he was a teenager, he formed a small recording studio in his bedroom. He made garage and hip-hop music with a group of friends. Since the age of seven, Skinner has suffered from epilepsy.

In 2000, Locked On released 'Has It Come To This'. The label had previously had success with a track by The Artful Dodger, featuring Craig David. 'Has It Come To This?' received a great deal of radio airplay and broke the UK Top 20.

The single was soon followed with the release of the album Original Pirate Material. The album was a huge success both with the public and with music critics. The Streets' second album was entitled A Grand Don't Come For Free. The debut single from the album, 'Fit But You Know It' was released in May 2004 and reached number four in the UK singles chart. The album was a concept album about a man that loses £1,000, starts a relationship, goes on holiday, breaks up the relationship and finds the cash again. The second single, 'Dry Your Eyes' went straight to number one in the UK.

Read this for more information.

Below is my top 10 songs by The Streets:

Weak Become Heroes
Turn The Page
Blinded By The Lights
It's Too Late
Has It Come To This?
Dry Your Eyes
Could Well Be In
Stay Positive
Same Old Thing
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
Fit But You Know It

Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. OFWGKTA. & Fuck Steve Harvey.

2011-05-10T06:01:00.000-07:00

Swag.

OMP I am fucking loving the fuck out of this new rap group. Odd Future for short, Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All for long, and OFWGKTA if you wana roll that way. Love is a very strong word to use, but what can I say, I have been obsessed with these dudes from our very first encounter, which was like a week ago, on their tumblr. These guys are fucked up talented, and young, and angry, and very very creative. Theres nothing cooler than talent. They hate the establishment, and they just hardcore all round, their videos are so cool, art direction is radical, just like their music. Best of all, they underground as, you guessed it, fuck!

They consist of a whole gang of black skater teens from LA, all just rapping and doing crazy shit. Their lyrical content are all about rape murder and blasphemy and lots of other fun stuff. Its definitely not for everyone. Definitely not. I love it though, cant get enough of it actually. All their music is free, all their albums and all their videos are free, in HD. Vimeo that shit. Heres a list of a couple of songs you should downlaod, songs that Im currently banging non stop.

Tyler The Creator - Goblin
OFWGKTA - Swag Me Out
Earl Sweatshirt - Drop
Tyler The Creator - Sandwitches
Tyler The Creator - Yonkers

Thats how I feel about this topic. But heres an extract from a website I dont really want to reference because Im lazy like that. Read it or dont read it I dont give a fuuuuuuuck. Check out their Tumblr. Download their shit. Oh. And if you looking for the above singles mentioned, look no further than this site right here.

A few weeks back I was introduced to a new collective out of Los Angeles called Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. After a few minutes of watching their videos I had to pick my jaw up off the ground and hunt down whatever music of their's I could. Listening to them, it felt like a changing of the guard. It was the same feeling I had when I first heard Suicidal Tendencies self titled album all those years ago. After listening to BASTARD by Tyler the Creator, and EARL by Earl Sweatshirt I knew I needed to track these guys down and find out more. Everywhere I went they seemed to be a bit of an enigma. Everyone loved their music but nobody knew anything about them other than that they were excessively skilled at their craft, offered an excitingly fresh perspective to the stale as zombie fart hip hop scene and they were young. After a few attempts to reach out via myspace and facebook, Tyler got back to us and we shot some emails back and forth to create the following interview.

Syffal: Introduce yourself to the readers, tell them a bit about your history, how you came up, etc.

Tyler: I'm Tyler, I Sell Weed To Minors, And I Make Music In My Spare Time. I Came Up In A Very Big Family, Mother Was A Teacher, Father Was A Firefighter, Little Sister, And My Dog Steve. I Took Piano Lessons At The Young Age Of 7, And Started Writing Poems At 10. I'm Lying, I Have No Father, My Mother Was Single Parent TIll I Was 15 When She Bounced Up North Without Me, I Taught Myself Piano At 14 And Started Rapping At 7 Because I Fucking Sucked At Sports.

Syffal: OFWGKTA is the collective give us a brief introduction to each of the members of the group.

Tyler: Tyler's The Head Drug Dealer. Wolf Haley is The Evil Voice In His Head. Hodgy Beats Is His Right Hand Man, Along With His Brother Left Brain. Earl Sweatshirt Is Tyler's Young Brother, Dealing Drugs To The Younger Crowd. Domo Genesis Handles The Money. And Mike G Is The Look Out.

Syffal: How did you guys come together?

Tyler: Most Of Us Met In School And Just Skating Around. Selling Drugs And Doing Real Bad Hoodrat Shit

Syffal: Since we all are creations of our influences How would you describe your sound and how do you feel they come across in the music you create?

Tyler: My Sound Is Like: A Mosh Pit At A Jazz Concert. Or Like, Hitler Fucking Dr. Suess.

Syffal: I saw you listed Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti as one of your favorite groups, which is also one of my favorite albums this year. What other new artists are you checking for?

Tyler: Ariel's Pretty Old, But Overall. I'm Fucking With Toro Y Moi, The New Nite Jewel EP Is Swagged Out, And Those Odd Future Guys Are Fucking Legit. And I Love Justin Beiber

Syffal: As a larger group I’m sure the creative process is a bit rougher than a solo artist or a duo. How does it work for you guys?

Tyler: well for one, we're all solo artists. we just run together. and we just let shit flow, the first thing that comes to our heads goes down on paper or on a keyboard. we're lucky that people like the shit.

Syffal: You mention a few times on BASTARD that you dont get fucked up. Is there any reason behind that, have you gone straight edge like Ian MacKaye?

Tyler: I Dont Need Drugs. Except For Albuterol, Predinisone And Ritalin.

Syffal: One of the things I found most refreshing about you guys is that you tend to thumb your nose at the establishment, the 40 year old rappers talking about how much money they have, etc. How have you found the response to be from established artists?

Tyler: I Dont Know, Prolly When i Make Alot Of Fucking Money, Ill Buy Rims And Chains And All That Dumb Shit, So, If You Look At It, I'm A Hypocrite In Progress

Syffal: Most of the people I talk hip hop with are old fucks like myself, who got really into the music during the late 80s and early 90s, they all seem to share the opinion that hip hop has gotten boring as shit, there are no real risk takers, everyone falls into one of like 5 sounds, its not even that dudes are technically bad, they are just boring. It would be intersting to get the opinion of a younger artist, especially one who is making the type of music we have all been craving (Those same old fucks that bitch non-stop are geeked on you guys and the energy and vibe you bring).

Tyler: Music Sucks Now. The Only Rap Shit Out Now Thats Fucking Swag Is Waka Flocka, Lil B And OFWGKTA. Seriously.

Syffal: Where do you see it all going, you guys are obviously a self contained unit, with tons of talent, the videos are fresh, the music is great, there is a lot of talk in the music and the videos of skating, even sponsorships. What does the future hold for Odd Future?

Tyler: Who The Fuck Knows. I Want A Grammy, And Nice House, Trampoline, Mini Ramp, A Cat named Wolf, A Lifetime Supply Of Bacon And Cinnamon Toast Crunch. And Motor Scooters For All My Friends. In Order To Do That I Have to Work Hard And Stop Jacking Off And Yelling At People I Dont Know.......And Work Hard...er.

Syffal: Anything you want to promote?

Tyler: HATE. And GOLF WANG FREE EARL CULT SHIT. Fuck Steve Harvey.

Check out Tyler's album BASTARD HERE

Check out Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All HERE

Jay Z Launches Super Cool New Website. Life + Times. Check It Out.

2011-05-07T05:51:00.000-07:00

I literally stumbled onto his website after reading up on my new obsession, Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover, rapper, actor, comedian, 30 Rock writer. The website is a mixture of killer music, fashion, sports, style, architecture and technology. What I think is very cool is the fact that theres very little linking the site to the genius rapper Jay Z other than his partially obscured photo on the front page, and a link titled "Jay's" which contained a very cool photo of a sunrise that he took.

The site, which derives its name from Jay's 1999 album release 'Life And Times Of S Carter' is a lifestyle website it seems, containing all things Jay digs and the stuff that he is into at the moment, kind of like what my blog is about in a way, music, art, design, and everything else in between.

So, rather than updating your facebook status or twitter profile, rather check this site out and do some reading and enlighten yourself.

Life + Times By Jay Z

The Global Marijuana March. South Africa 2011. Cape Town. Gardens

2011-05-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Update!

What: The Global Marijuana March Solidarity Gathering
Where: Cape Town Company Gardens (Near the National Gallery)
When: Saturday May 6th 4pm – 6pm
Entrance: Free Rand

So Im sure we can all agree that weed is nothing but that what it is called. A weed, that grows from the mother earth, naturally, and in all its beautiful glory. The fact that man has the right to illegalize and ban something so pure and natural always makes me realise how messed up society really is. Its wrong on so many levels. Im not saying that weed must be fed to children, what I am saying is that its a lifestyle choice, and people around the world should have the right to consume Marijuana if they want to. Thats where I stand on the topic. People are free and they should enjoy their freedom (while they still can).

I have never heard of someone overdose on weed, that shit just does not happen, I have never heard of anyone dying in a car accident while driving while hitting some AK47 flavoured bongs. People should wake up and start being more tolerable of other peoples choices. The information below was taken from the Below The Lion blog, one of my favourite blogs ever. Simply because its all about the green sticky icky. And everything else that surrounds the topic. Click here for Below The Lion. So if you an occasional user or a recreational abuser then stab out. Lets march for Peace, Love, Unity, Respect, and for the right to get high without getting arrested or spending a weekend in the mang. Because that shits just fucked up.

High.

At this weekend’s Global Marijuana March 2011, South Africans will join millions of people in hundreds of cities around the world, to gather in solidarity of legalizing cannabis – an ancient plant that is widely prescribed by modern medical doctors worldwide and is legal for medicinal use in 15 American states and the District of Columbia along with Canada among others.

The Global Marijuana March (GMM) which was first held in 1999, is an annual march on the first Saturday of every May. The event is hosted internationally by Dana Beal and Cannabis Culture. The Global Marijuana March is a celebration embracing cannabis culture as a personal lifestyle choice. Participants unite to discuss, promote, entertain and educate both consumers and non-consumers alike.

Currently, there are only events planned for JHB, Durban and Soweto. We’ll keep you in the loop though if anything is planned for Cape Town, or anywhere else for that matter.

Below are the various events GMM happening in South Africa:
• Saturday in Soweto: GMM Solidarity Gathering: R30
• Mzimhlophe Hall – Cnr Vincent St & Carr St. (5pm to 6am)
• Sunday in Johannesburg: Live Bush Promotions Show: R30
• Rasta House, 123 Hunter St, Yeoville. (5pm to 12pm)
• Saturday in Durban: Bulwer Park – Near the red steamroller. (2pm to 7pm)
• Saturday in George: York street from (3pm to 6pm)

The Streets - Turn The Page. Røyksopp - Eple. Placebo - This Picture.

2011-05-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ivan Navarro / The Thirteenth Floor / Engaging Viewer Interaction

2011-05-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

So Im banging the music, played some Placebo, some Coldplay, then some deep electronika, AIR, Felix Laband and Booka Shade with some Prodigy to round thing off. Next is some Trentemøller or maybe some early Tiësto. Anyway Im browsing the 'Everyone Is An Art Director' blog, and come across Ivans work and immediately loved it, because its so... very colourful! And. Neon. How could I resist. How could I? I couldnt. Thats why its here. I cant resist bright colours. Even though when I draw I usually use a very minimalist colour scheme. I love colour, but in moderation. Im a huge fan of minimalism as you can tell from the blog design, I stripped this bitch down to her undies. I deleted all unnecessary code, blogroll, adpsace, dates, all of it. All i wanted was the space for my images and text. Anyway I wouldn't mind having a front house door like this. Super futuristic. Ivan if you reading this I think you so cool man, keep up the good work. More on Ivan below.

'Ivan Navarro views his work as building upon the unresolved aspects of minimalism, striving to engage viewer interaction and highlight the social and political factors that inherently lie within formal composition.'

Link: www.ivan-navarro.com

The Artist To Watch: The Weeknd / Mystery New Age R&B Mastermind

2011-05-04T02:51:00.000-07:00

I dont usually blog from work, but today is the exception. This music needs to be heard. First off you need to be a fan of rap or good R&B to enjoy this post. Or at least be a fan of good quality music. Feel it as an art form. Dont judge too early because that will just let you miss out on something thats really fucking cool. If you appreciate music for what it is, an art, and you enjoy very good quality production like Dr Dre and Kanye, Jay Hova or Drake (Young Money!). Then this is something that you will enjoy.

I have been listening to the Mixtape online since this morning and had it on repeat ever since. Im actually downloading the Mixtape as I type. Because thats how I roll. And because I love to share, and want people to experience good music, I have included the download link.

Also, it should be said, the production of The Weeknd is something I have never ever heard in this style of music before. It really is beautiful. The lyrical content is pretty sick as well. Relevant as fuck actually. 'Codeine cups paint a picture so vivid, face try to mimic, got girls timid, but behind closed doors they get pulled for riches.' More information below.

Download Link: The Weeknd - House Of Balloons (139.58 MB)

My word. Put some headphones on, and play the track 'What You Need'. Dark. Sombre. Sets a great atmosphere.

Who: The 20 year old singer songwriter (real name: Abel Tesfaye) from Toronto is on the forefront of an idiosyncratic new cut of R&B. Thanks in part to support from fellow Toronto native Drake, he's been in heavy rotation since the March 21st release of his mixtape debut House of Balloons.

Sounds Like: The Weeknd layers House of Balloons with samples (Siouxsie and the Banshees’s 1980 "Happy House," Beach House‘s 2006 "Master of None"), electronic synths and hip-hop references, accompanied by Frank Ocean from Odd Future and How To Dress Well. There are also traces of The Dream, Drake and Aaliyah throughout.

Girls, Girls, Girls: With its late Nineties Timbaland feel (listen to Missy Elliott’s "Friendly Skies"), "What You Need" is the most seductive song on the mixtape. It opens with, "baby, now hold me close" – a line from Aaliyah’s 2001 "Rock The Boat." The Weeknd proceeds to lure, singing, "I’m going to give you what you feign / I’m the drug in your veins / Just fight through your pain / He’s what you want / I’m what you need." But on many of Balloons' tracks The Weeknd entices and explores women, what they bring and what they leave. He sings of women that long to be held and women he longs to hold – but they never seem to be one and the same.

Famous Friends: Chaos erupted on March 6th when Drake tweeted a line from The Weeknd’s "Wicked Game" and linked to the song on his site, October’s Very Own. Ever since, Drake’s been sporadically tweeting lyrics from House of Balloons – which makes sense, since The Weeknd is almost like an emotionally magnified version of Drake. That said, The Weeknd quickly shot down rumors that producer who works close to Drake, Noah "40" Shebib, worked on House of Balloons: "40 did not produce anything on this tape... Shout outs to 40 though!", he wrote on Twitter. And although rumors still circulate, The Weeknd is not signed to a label, as he alludes to on the track "Loft Music": "Im raw motherfucker, I’m raw," he sings.

Who Is Theo Altenberg?

2011-05-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

Theo Altenberg is not just a painter man. He is a man of many talents. In these seemingly random splashes and smears of mixed oily color, the viewer finds himself looking for scenery, people, recognizable forms. Whether this was Altenberg’s intention or not is irrelevant. What matters is that it gives us pause. We look. We see.

The 59 year old Altenberg was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and lives in Berlin. He is an actor, singer, painter, photographer, writer, performer. He’s even played the role of Andy Warhol in a 1991 film. He also went to the moon once in 1968, with NASA as a civilian astronaut to photograph and document space travel. No Im kidding that last part was a complete and utter lie. Or was it?

A Picture Tells A Thousand Stories. Osama Bin Laden.

2011-05-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

The dudes dead? Really? I find that very hard to believe. Im sure the CIA is protecting him, he did work for them after all, they funded the Mujahideens in the late 80's to fight off the Russians if Im not mistaken. They just used him as the face of terrorism. Like what Steve Jobs is to apple, Osama is to terrorism. Simple branding. So now that he is 'dead' Im sure Obama can get re elected for a second term (not that he wasnt going to be re elected anyway) but its always good to have the ignorant public chanting your name. That is what its all about isn't it? The re elections. People are dancing. People are happy that Osama is 'dead'. Obama is one smart mother fucker I must admit. And this is the same reason why I think he is ten billion times more dangerous than that poes of a president, Bush. Also, a very important point. Revenge from the middle east is now inevitable. They are planning something right now as I type this. And its most probably going to be a civilian attack, thats how these things work. But what do I know. The world will be restless as usual, with more war and death on the way. As usual.

The Bangkok University Creative Center / Designed By Super Machine

2011-05-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Wow. Talk about super fucking cool interior design. This is the shit that they dont show on The Style Network channel. For some reason I dont know why, I guess to keep everybody's interior politically correct. Does that even make sense? Why is it that you can only see stuff like this on the internet? TV is so structured. Everything is so standard and uncreative. Its like a square house thats painted nothing but white. So uninspiring. Below the images is some background information on what you looking at.

For more information on Supermachine, check out their blog at http://supermachine.wordpress.com/

Supermachine Studio in Bangkok, is a group of four multitasking architects that team member Jack Chaowakul describes as 'small office – big projects. We work like guerrilla designers, everyone does everything, constantly shifting. Supermachine’s latest achievement is the interior design of two floors of one of Bangkok University’s new four-storey buildings that form the new, spectacular Landmark complex, designed by Bangkok-based 49 Group.

Supermachine’s work in the Bangkok University Creative Center includes a workshop, library, exhibition space, viewing room and office. Bangkok University Creative Center was set up as part of the government’s goal to transform the country’s economy from agricultural and industrial into the creative economy. To encourage creativity, communication and experimentation, the Bangkok University Creative Center facility needed to be open, playful, expressive and flexible.

Incredible Abandoned Structures. Science Fiction On Earth.

2011-05-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

As usual, its been a while. I think the last time I blogged was before I got married. Thats like three months ago. Been busy, but who hasn't been. Its monday afternoon, public holiday. Fuck yeah. Battleship grey weather we having, so beautiful. The roads are wet, the skies are light grey, and theres a bit of that cape town sun shining through. Awesome is a fucking understatement.

Im klopping the Anjunabeats. Maor Levi featuring Ashley Tomberlin - Chasing Love ♥ with some Super8 and Tab soon to follow. Loving the music. Below are some pictures I found online. No mystery there. The internet is a labyrinth of cool shit. I think one day in the not so distant future, we should have bluetooth empowered picture art frames hanging on our walls, and it should stream cool images found on websites like... FFFFOUND. Websites that hosts super creative imagery from fashion to illustration. So every time you look at the piece on your wall it will be something different. Just an idea.

Plus. Im sure thats not so hard to make. If anyone works at Samsung and you reading this. Theres a cool idea for you. Have fun with it. Instead of copying Apple and its beautiful products. Can you believe that Apple is suing Samsung over the Galaxy Tab (and other tech gadgets) because of Samsungs blatant copying techniques. Well I for one can believe it. Everyone wants to copy Apple. Because Apple are just fucking cool like that. But still though, Samsung should know better. I mean, they are a jus brand. Why be so skelm man? Money talks I guess. Shits so fucked up. But thats enough of that. Heres those images I promised. Also, I just wonder what these structures were used for. They look so abstract:

Travelling On (gabriel & Dresden Remix) AIR - Highschool Lover ♥

2011-03-15T04:31:00.000-07:00

Another day spent day dreaming. Its hard to stay conscious when you at work but you day dreaming so heavily. Must be the music. Found the AIR album to Sofia Coppola's 'Virgin Suicides' movie. Super cool electronica. Sofia is Francis Ford Cappolas daughter by the way. Just putting that out there. He's the dude that did The Godfather movies.

Would mind visiting these places.

The Railto Canal. Venice.

This is in london.

I have no idea where this is. But I want to be there...

Cape Town The Mother City / The Good Old Daze / Marvin Gaye - Soon I Will Be Loving You Again / The Dramatics - Fell For You ♥♥♥♥♥

2011-03-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

FFFFOUND. This while staring at the google page with a blank stare. And. Then. Like magic. I found these images. And now its here, in front of your eyes. And in your mind or even your subconscious. So. If you dream about flying over the mother city in a 1960s blood red convertible caddy, you know where those visuals came from. Enjoy.

Union Street, Gardens September 1974.

Heerengracht 1969. On the left the Absa / Trust Bank centre just started out.

Muizenberg Pavilion circa 1958.

The beginning of The Golden Acre, late 1969.

Admiring the view, 1950. There are no safety barriers in sight!

The opening of Parliament circa 1970.

The Sentinal, Hout Bay 1931. A remarkable colour image from National Geographic taken at the time when 99% of all photography was done in black and white. Amazingly cool.

Happy days. 1960. Two District Six boys trying to get a lift off.

Wale street 1943. Looks like LA Noire, only its not, its cape town wale street. Wouldn't mind a ride like that.

Planes over Devils Peak 1971. 7 Squadron Harvards Planes from Ysterplaat Air Base in formation over Devils Peak. Fun times. Hey look at all those beautiful green TREES!

Silverstream Buttress 1975. Wow. So. Beautiful. Thats the perfect time to light up a nice tightly rolled jay. Well actually, if you look really closely, it actually looks like they just hit a bong of some really good A Class higher grade green. Look at them, staring off into space. Probably thinking and wondering about how on earth Stanley Kubrick made 2001: A Space Odyssey. Cooooool.

Super Psychedelika & DMT / Still Waters Run Deep / Bliss - Manvantara

2011-03-06T06:26:00.000-08:00

Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a powerful psychedelic drug, a type of tryptamine alkaloid (Um... Trypta what?). It is a naturally occurring substance, found in various plants and animals, and in small quantities in the human brain, where its function is unknown. DMT is famous for its power. Though the psychedelic trip it creates only lasts 5 to 30 minutes when consumed, that 5 to 30 minutes were recorded to feel like weeks at a time. The effect is profound and remarkable, with the feeling that the user is transported to a completely different place, immersed in kaleidoscopic sounds and images.

DMT has been consumed throughout history and into prehistory by indigenous peoples, especially in South America, where it is consumed during shamanic rituals and called ayhuasca. This is done by combining DMT- containing plant material with a monoamine oxide inhibitor, a special chemical that allows the DMT to avoid digestion by the stomach and reach the bloodstream. Evidence of DMT consumption by indigenous peoples in South America stretches back to at least 2130 BC. A pipe made from puma bone of that age was tested positive for DMT. Smoking DMT would give the users visions and feelings they associated with magical sources, putting them into contact with 'spirits' they could consult on matters of plants, disease and so on.

Some of the most unusual psychedelic trip reports come from users of DMT, who report 'revolving quadrate vortices' - meaning conversations with intelligent beings, and so on. These reports are unusual because of their intensity and the sensation of meeting intelligent beings, which is reminiscent of what happens to many of us each night in dreams. We meet people that we dont really recognise and we dont really know. But they speak to us. Sometimes we remember, sometimes we dont. Though scientific investigation of the effects of DMT has been limited, cognitive science may be able to learn more about the human brain by seeing how it changes its operation in response to tryptamines like DMT. Spiritualists may be inclined to believe that the beings that people 'meet' under the influence of DMT may actually exist on parallel planes, which has introduced alternate religious belief systems or worldviews based on the experience.

DMT is a powerful hallucinogen, meant to be carefully administered in a calm environment to someone who has prior experience with other psychedelic drugs. The drug is relatively rare due to the lack of commercial demand and the scarcity of people with the knowledge and motivation to isolate it from plants. Still, as a molecule it seems like a terrain ripe for discovery. Untested speculations have argued that the DMT found naturally in the brain may be implicated in certain neurological states, and artificially administered DMT may pull these 'switches and levers' in ways that can be more precisely characterized and studied. As the human brain is the most complex known object in the universe, determining the precise way in which it interacts with complex molecules like DMT may be one of the largest scientific challenges of all time.

All Artwork courtesy of Vinyl Williams ®

Amazingly Intricate Architecture In India (Mars Volta Inertiatic ESP)

2011-03-06T02:11:00.000-08:00

Found this picture of an amazing temple in India. Breathtakingly beautiful is such an understatement. Look at it. Imagine walking around Cape Town and seeing a building like this. They definitely dont build them like this anymore.

Who? What? Dazed & Confused Magazine. Got Nothing But Love For You.

2011-03-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

I have always been a fan of Dazed & Confused magazine, well not always. I wasn't born loving the magazine. But after buying a copy from the paper weight shop, I completely fell in love with how different it was. It gave me a new perception on how to view certain things. It gave me insight into foreign cultures. Cultures that you wouldnt usually be exposed to on TV. Especially if you dont have DSTV and have do with SABC 1 and 2 and Etv. But such is life. The government is always going to be there to limit our media just to dumb the majority of the population down just so that they can stay in control and avoid any kind of uprising or revolution. Its the truth. Why do you think they keep off most of the cool documentaries and enlightening films like waking life off the networks, while filling it up with shows like X factor and pop idols or the young and the restless.

Off the topic much?

The always cool Joaquin Phoenix. Looks like he is contemplating his rap / flim/ documentary/ mockumentary career.

The trends were always interesting to keep tabs on. Whether it was music or art, film, fashion or even architecture sometimes. They were always ahead of the game. So thats what this post it about. My deep love for the magazine. I have always appreciated their experimental approach on editorial and their layout design. Its very refreshing in our current national context where magazine design is concerned. I really do love ID magazine as well but I will leave that for another future thought. I have acquired a couple of issues over the years. And I look after them the way a guy looks after his treasured first car. With pure unconditional love. (Wow I cant believe how many times I used the word love in this post, I should say 'hate' more often) Anyway. Heres some information on the magazine:

A trailblazer for emerging talent and proudly independent, Dazed & Confused magazine aims to set the cultural agenda, both on and offline. Founded by Jefferson Hack and Rankin in 1991, Dazed celebrates its 20th anniversary next year. The independent British fashion, culture and arts magazine has a strong global reputation for its groundbreaking and trendsetting editorial and its support of new generations of fashion, art, literature, photography and music talent. DazedDigital.com, their online magazine, is updated daily, hosting interactive projects, extra editorial content, exclusive music and fashion film.

Heres Kate. Living life, doing her thing, which is usually appearing half naked, or suma completely naked, depending on her mood I guess. Still love her though.

If you are interested in reading Dazed & Confused magazine online, heres a link. You can download it as images to read on your computer. Pretty cool just found it now now.

Link: http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/396/434

A Physical Fraction Presents: The LA Noire Podcast (Download)

2011-03-04T01:37:00.000-08:00

Its almost May. And LA Noire is almost out. Are you as excited as I am for Rockstars upcoming EPIC crime drama? Thats a rhetorical question. You should be excited, if not, then you are reading the wrong blog dudes. I got the Podcast from the Game Scoop! site. But its the internet, so Im sure they wont mind because everythings free on the internet right?. The Podcast focuses on one of the most anticipated games of 2011: Rockstars LA Noire. Game Scoops! Daemon Hatfield, Hilary Goldstein, and Kristine Steimer are joined by developer Rockstar to talk about everything that makes LA Noire exciting. This is a very different effort for Rockstar and theres lots to talk about. So pay attention.

Enjoy and share the Podcast with other Rockstar fans.

A Physical Fraction Presents: The LA Noire Podcast (mp3) - 42 MB

Right click to download.

Thom Yorke / Warp Records / Aphex Twin / / / Analogue Bubblebath

2011-03-04T00:25:00.000-08:00

The dizzying electronic rhythms on Kid A and Amnesiac were largely inspired by Thom Yorkes fondness for Warp Records and its maverick techno artists like Boards Of Canada, Squarepusher, and Aphex Twin, in particular. “One of my absolute favourite pieces of music ever is ‘Freeman Hardy and Willis Acid’,” he says. “It’s an Aphex Twin instrumental which has this frantic hi-hat thing going all the way through it and then at some point everything switches tonally and it all goes out of phase and then carries on. And the first time I heard it, it was like someone had just reached over and switched a switch in my head and I never, ever saw anything the same again. I was completely straight, I was just driving along the road, driving home, whatever, and I had to stop the car.”

Sir Walter Bishop Features In Rockstars New LA Noire (Epic)

2011-03-03T03:49:00.000-08:00

Rockstars new game, LA Noire is being released soon, and I found out some very cool information about it recently. No Im not talking about its use of ground breaking technology that captures people facial expression which allows you to tell if the people are lying or not. Thats old news.

Im talking about the fact that Walter Bishop is one of the characters in the game. Now thats cool! John Noble (aka Walter Bishop to the Fringe lovers) features as one of the bad guys murderess master mind types. The lifelike animations of the characters faces owes itself to new performance capture technology and Rockstar says that part of the gameplay will require reading the faces of the people you encounter to see if they telling the truth.

In addition to the drive and shoot action that Rockstars sandbox open world, LA Noire will also offer up detection gameplay requiring players to investigate crime scenes for clues to the killings they looking into. The games teaser clips are comprised entirely of gameplay footage, not the glossy, prerendered fake stuff most cutscenes are made of. Expect to see LA Noire on the shelves for PS3 in May 2011.

Calvin Harris - Flashback ♥ The Knife - Forest Families ♥ Thomas Newman - Dead Already

2011-03-01T03:16:00.000-08:00

MGMT - Time to Pretend ♥ Weekend Wars ♥ Electric Feel ♥

2011-03-01T03:01:00.000-08:00

✝ ✝ ✝ Scenario Rock - Skitzo Dancer (Justice Remix) ✝ ✝ ✝

2011-03-01T02:25:00.000-08:00

Depeche Mode - Halo (Goldfrapp Remix) ♥♥♥♥♥

2011-03-01T02:12:00.000-08:00

Depeche Mode - Dream On (Dave Clarke Acoustic Version) ♥♥♥♥♥

2011-03-01T01:58:00.000-08:00

Its been a while. As usual. Nothing new. Im alive. And I still draw. All the titles are from songs that I love listening to. So if you have the time, and you are into that kind of thing, find the song, listen to it. You wont be sorry. The end.

Green Velvet - La La Land / Donna Summers - I Feel Love (12 Inch Edit)

2010-07-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

its no surprise that im a huge fan of psychedelics, whether its visual stimuli or psilocybin multi dimensional trips. i think the whole topic alone intrigues me. im currently busy reading the book 'doors of perception' by sir aldous huxley, the same dude that wrote the classic book 'brave new world'. the book is about him taking some mescaline (which LSD is synthetically imitated from) while a doctor jots down a very in depth conversation between them as he experiences hallucinations and parallel dimensions. the conversation gets really interesting as his psychedelic trip gets more vivid and intense as the book progresses. very very cool. i drew the picture while contemplating multiple lower fourth dimensions and the concept of 'déjà vu' as well as lucid dreaming and astral projection. laugh out loud.

Japayork - Our Now / Kaskade And Deadmau5 - I Remember / 4 AM

2010-07-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

this drawing is very special to me. i drew this one using illustrator, flash and photoshop. when i was busy doing this illustration i decided to base it on a lot of different things. i mean, its hard to explain my motivations, and my influences range from artists such as daniel ting chong and linsey levendal to bruce mackay and the guys at amicollective to web designers such as bradley aka the good count and alan from tank. a lot of local artists inspire me and they kind of change my view and perceptions of what art really is.

i am a huge fan of jordan metcalf and black koki and the dudes daniel orme and lindsey levendall from bison really changed my vibe, after seeing their work i was totally blown away. artists such as the above will live forever through their work, legends like senyol and faith will forever be an inspiration for young artists. people who go about and change the world through visual poetry. my heart felt love and respect goes out to all the artists from cape town, for teaching me and showing me the way through their work. thanks guys.

oh and some of my other influences usually come from classic films, 2001: a space odyssey and star wars has to be mentioned. i know my work doesnt really portray stanley kubricks iconic style or george lucas amazingly realized fictionalized planets alderaan, the beautifully dry tatooine or even the very green and lush planet naboo lol but i do think and feel science fiction when i draw. cloud city anyone?

Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees / Creep / House Of Cards / High And Dry

2010-07-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

i started this drawing when i was still over in new zealand. before i would go to sleep i would usually try to draw a page, while listening to their super cool drum and bass / jungle radio stations and eating some super yummy chocolate m&ms. my initial idea was to vectorize it and colour it but when i got back and finally scanned it in i decided that it looked way better raw and hand drawn. i know it must seem a bit weird, a page filled with dismembered arms and hands. but i assure you, its for personal practice. its always good to practice drawing hands and arms:)

Jimi Hendrix - Excuse Me While I Kiss The Sky / Bleeding Heart

2010-07-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

so who doesnt love mushrooms? i love mushrooms on toasted cheese, with some pepper. and in general, i just love mushrooms, i love looking at them, i love drawing them, i love chasing them around while they slide across the ground in mario bros. i especially love the green ones, lekker one up! i didnt need any motivation to draw a mushroom when i thought it up, i started immediately as i got the thought actually. which was on saturday night, 1:07 AM, i finished it on sunday morning though. yip mushrooms are cool:)

Faithless - We Come 1 / Insomnia / Jamiroquai - You Give Me Something

2010-07-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

so i havent been blogging for a while. but i have been busy, designing, illustrating, reading, watching some awesome sci fi and some donnie darko. and i also recently started studying animation, which is pretty cool. goes hand in hand with my mind set right now. so one day (soon) my cartoon drawings will be moving around and talking mad stuff, with atmospheric background music and everything lol. looking forward to that.

but for now, i will be uploading some of my new drawings, and some characters i did. starting with this one. if you like what you see, dont be shy, leave a comment:)

A Polaroid Fantasy / Frank Zappa - Black Napkins / Tiësto - Just Be / UR

2010-06-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

The New Red Dawn / Daft Punk - Revolution 909 / 0000001997

2010-06-14T12:49:00.000-07:00

Peace If Possible / Truth At All Costs

2010-06-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

The Building Fetish / Part I Of II / Sun 14 June 4:41 AM

2010-06-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

I cant stop staring at buildings.

Moby / Extreme Ways / In This World / Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?

2010-04-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

Moby is an American DJ / singer songwriter and musician. He sings and plays keyboard / guitar / bass guitar and drums. Moby became a successful artist on the ambient electronica scene during the early 1990s. In 1999 he released the album Play, a mix of melancholic chill out, ambient music, and upbeat electronica, that was critically acclaimed and produced an impressive eight hit singles including his most popular songs "Porcelain", "Natural Blues" and "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?". Play became a commercial and cultural phenomenon, selling over 10 million copies worldwide / the best selling electronica album ever just by the way / and with its eighteen songs receiving an unprecedented licensing in films, television and commercial advertisements.

It can be considered that Moby is one of the most important dance music figures of our time, helping bring the music to a mainstream audience both in the UK and in America and right around the world. Moby has worked with a huge number of diverse musical artists (displaying his eccentric musical taste) such as:

* The Prodigy * Red Hot Chili Peppers * Orbital * Richie Hawtin * Aphex Twin
* Beck * Sonic Youth * Paul Oakenfold * David Bowie * Carl Cox * Joy Division
* Gwen Stefani * Outkast * New Order * Incubus * Sophie Ellis - Bextor * Beastie Boys
* Nas * Metallica * Public Enemy * Michael Jackson *

Its obvious that Moby has a range of musical tastes and its very evident in the artists he choses to work with. On January 20 Moby announced that he was to begin working on his next record. The mood for this record will be more acoustic and less electronic than before. In March, Moby announced that he will release the new single ‘Wait For Me’ the title track from his original album on May 4.

'I recorded the album here in my studio on the lower east side (although 'studio' always seems like an overly grand word for a bunch of equipment set up in a small bedroom). In the past I've worked in large and small studios, but for this record I wanted to record everything at home by myself' said Moby on his journal. 'I started working on the album about a year ago, and the creative impetus behind the record was hearing a David Lynch speech at BAFTA, in the UK. David was talking about creativity, and to paraphrase, about how creativity in and of itself, and without market pressures, is fine and good. It seems as if too often an artists or musicians or writers creative output is judged by how well it accommodates the marketplace, and how much market share it commands and how much money it generates. In making this record I wanted to focus on making something that I loved, without really being concerned about how it might be received by the marketplace. As a result its a quieter and more melodic and more mournful and more personal record than some of the records I've made in the past.'

Moby and David Lynch discussed the recording process of the album on Lynch's online channel, David Lynch Foundation Television Beta. The first single off the album is 'Shot in the Back of the Head', and the video for which was aptly directed by Moby's muse, David Lynch himself. The single is available for free download from Moby's website.

Ken Thomas (Sigur Rós) mixed the album 'Wait for Me' and according to Moby, 'mixing the record with him (Thomas) was really nice, as he's creatively open to trying anything (like recording an old broken bakelite radio and running it through some broken old effects pedals to see what it would sound like. It's on the record as a 45 second long track called "Stock Radio"). And as a geeky technical aside, we mixed the record using purely analog equipment in true stereo, akin to how records were mixed in the late '60s (some of the songs sound pretty amazing in headphones, if I do say so myself'.

Most Moby albums include essays that he has written himself in the inlay card. 'Everything Is Wrong' had essays on over consumption / 'We use toxic chlorine bleach to keep our underpants white' / and US religious leaders / 'Why doesn't the Christian right go out and spread mercy, compassion and selflessness?' / and 'The End of Everything' discussed being a vegan / 'Could you look an animal in the eyes and say to it, 'My appetite is more important than your suffering'?

Its Better To Live One Day As A Lion (Than A Thousand Years As A Lamb)

2010-04-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

" they say that in war / that truth be the first casualty "
One Day As A Lion - Wild International
click on the video to play

'A defiant affirmation of the possibilities that exist in the space between kick and snare. Its a sonic reflection of the visceral tension between a picturesque fabricated cultural landscape, and the brutal socioeconomic realities it attempts to mask. One Day As A Lion is a recorded interaction between Zack De La Rocha (Rage Against The Machine) and Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta) from Los Angeles / California.'

Directed By: Nickolaos Kononelos / www.werobot.net
Director Of Photography: Kevin Joelson

www.onedayasalion.org
www.anti.com
www.myspace.com/onedayasalion

One Day As A Lion is a musical project that was started in 2008 by Zack De La Rocha, the vocalist of infamous ultimate political rock band Rage Against The Machine and Jon Theodore, former drummer of The Mars Volta. The duo blends the best elements of Rock / Electronic / Metal / Rap and Punk. One Day As A Lion released a debut EP in July 2008 and was planning to release a follow up during 2009. It has been recognised as being similar to Zack De La Rocha's previous band Rage Against The Machine. It has also been compared to Hip Hop Rap Legends - Public Enemy.

1974 ::: Bavarian Motor Works 3.5 CSL ::: Always Looking The Part

2010-04-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

This 1974 BMW 3.5 CSL was raced for BMW North America Factory team in the United States IMSA series in 1975, Group IV. It raced at the Daytona 24 Hour and Sebring 12 Hour. In 1976, it returned to Germany and converted to Group V specifications. It was raced at Le Mans and finished 10th. It ran the European Championship series and, in 1976, won the South African 1000k. Sold by BMW to Vasek Polak, Hermosa Beach, California, and then sold by his estate to Rug Cunningham in 1997.

Les Pechêurs Des Perles - Au Fond Du Temple Saint (Temple Duet)

2010-04-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

:: Designing The Automated Future Step By Step Into The Past We Go ::

2010-04-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

Retrospective! Super vintage pictures of old computers! Just found these at www.weetstraw.com Pretty cool vintage stuff they have on that site. From old UFO vintage photos, to vintage Car photos.

Anyways, these are some of the cool ones I found, theres much more so I only posted my favourites. Very Dharma Initiative, Im sure they used some of these as references hahaha.

Take a look...

♥ 000 99.9 ♥ Transmetropolitan ♥ Spider Jerusalem ♥ By Warren Ellis ♥

2010-04-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

Art By Darick Robertson

So yesterday, while in the city, I had some time to kill, a couple of hours to do whatever I wanted. So, while walking through the Auckland City I finally find the City Library. And inside the library, after scoping out the Fiction section for a while, I soon find the graphic novel section.

In this section I take my time while seriously enjoying myself just browsing with my eyes. I come across legendary books, such as Stephen Kings The Dark Tower (The Graphic Novel !) it was probably part 1 of 7 / I dont really remember, and I found Akira the comic as well. Ghost In The Shell / Tekkon Kinkreet. And many many others of course. But one caught my right eye immediately. So much that I snatched up the Comic Graphic and begun to read while standing. Its called 'Transmetropolitan' / The cover features this dude (aka Spider Jerusalem) full of tattoos sitting on the front end of a yellow cab in the middle of what looks like New York City, typing on a laptop. I read for like an hour before I wake up from this dazed state of immersion / and decide to have a seat on a nearby Couch.

After reading half the Comic, I realise that his very weird looking 3D shades is actually a still camera made by a home appliance machine that was tripping on hallucinogenics. I am now a huge fan of this dude. Spider Jerusalem. The Comics about politics, the near future, the truth, and about lots of guns and futuristic hallucinogenics, all mashed together in a very hedonist liberal take on the city that never sleeps. Awesome. The illustrations are really well drawn and very gritty, which is perfect for the story. But generally the characters are the ones that make the comic so epic. After some online research, I found that Part 1 is free to download. Download Here.

Transmetropolitan (Comic Review)
Written By Warren Ellis / Artwork By Darick Robertson

Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis is chaotic post cyberpunk comic about the fictional gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem. It details his search for truth, justice, cheap drugs and a way to pay off the advance for a book he hasn’t completed.

Spider is a glorious homage to the late father of gonzo journalism Hunter S. Thompson. Like Thompson, Spider has a deep love for guns, drugs and The Truth. But not necessarily in that order. He’s a violent trickster, whom even his friends sometimes loathe.

Spider begins to make political enemies thanks to his jaded coverage of the presidential election between the incumbent Beast and the up - and - coming Smiler. The Beast so reviled that even his own children call him by Spider’s moniker. The Smiler on the other hand is always wearing a manic grin and holds out the hope for a less corrupt future. Or so he claims.

Be aware that there is a lot of swearing in this comic. So you may want to think twice before buying it for your kids. Still, it’s an enjoyable read and the setting is fantastic. The full review can found here.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Art And Love :: Chrissie Abbott :: Clouds And Monsters ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

2010-04-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

ddddddd

Okay do first of all, I was just about to apolagise. But then I decided not to. I felt that I needed to apolagise for having so much damn pictures on my blog, because I understand that they are pretty big, so they take a while to load up. But thats not my fault. So I wont be apolagising, because internet should be made faster right around the world already, and while they making it faster, they should really consider making it free.

And when I say 'they' Im referring to the government. All the many different governments around the world who so loves to keep people paying for free knowledge. Anyway. Thats my thought for the day. Which is Sunday 18th April 2010. And round about 2:15 PM. Now onto some really cool stuff.

Theres this artist that I love. Her name is Chrissie Abbott, and she is really cool. I like her a lot because after what I have read about her, and after seeing some of her amazing artwork, I feel some kind of creative connection with her. I know that sounds weird. But its okay. I dont really expect people to really understand what Im trying to get across here, although, it would be cool. Okay so instead of me explaining what that connection is, I think its better if I post some of her work and maybe a little bit about herself.

To be fair, this is not even her work, well some of it is, its some gif someone mad that i thought was pretty cool to post. Her work can be found on her blog: http://cloudsandmonsters.wordpress.com

From Her Blog: Hello there. My name is Chrissie. I draw pictures. I live and work in Hackney, East London. Colour, typography, old photographs, skipping and adventures make me happy. Early mornings, the cold and people with a lack of respect for personal space make me cross. If you somehow found this through means other than the link from my site, that is strange, but you can find it at www.chrissieabbott.co.uk

This blog is a collection of bits and bobs I am working on, plus some other things I like. Plus anyone who is anyone has a blog these days, you know? I wanted to get involved. It helps because I have a tendency to be pretty slack about updating my site.

Marcus Schulz - The New World

2010-04-12T02:22:00.001-07:00

I love this Markus Schulz single. 'The New World' is the an atmospheric super trance sound that is set to take you off to a new, even higher level of consciousness. 'The New World' comes with an Original Mix and a slightly more Progressive, Darker Coldharbour Remix. Hooray for the Coldharbour Sound !!!

Im a fan of both. I have been trying to upload music to this blog for so long now. But I am still unsuccessful in that regard. (Maybe I must try a little bit harder?) Well at least I can supply you with pretty visuals lol. This song has been playing in my head for some time now. But Im not complaining because to have the sound of Marcus Schulz in your head is one of the ultimate pleasures of this world. Roll out the Dark Thundering Bass Lines with those super green lazers any day with Schulz Live. Anytime.

♥ ♥ ♥ Skytech - Asteroid (Original Mix) (CLHR089) / Comet B - Side ♥ ♥ ♥

2010-04-12T02:07:00.000-07:00

After hearing the Skytech sound I found an instant love for what these guys are doing and the awesome sound that they are creating. I have been a fan of 'Comet' after listening to it and now after experiencing the sound of the B - Side, Astreoid, I have to say that these two dudes know exactly how to lay down an amazingly beautiful composition. Its a masterpiece from beginning to end. Big Room Trance! No wonder they signed under Marcus Schulz Coldharbour Records.

The brothers in blood and music hit in with some new notes. Polish producers Julian and Mateusz Dziewulski manage to capture the big room feeling time after time, track after track. First it was their Cardboard Box, followed by its B - Side Neon Warrior, then Moonlit and Solitude that rocked the crowd to pieces.

Producing together since 2003, its safe to say these guys are well on their way to touching the sky. If its not their fingertips touching, then surely its their sounds, that played out loud - reach for the highest heights of dancefloor mania.

The new Skytech EP aligns with the stars, hitting in at full effect with its ever - withering big room sound. Asteroid is tough but melodic, playful but serious. Comet, already featured on Markus Schulz Las Vegas 10 compilation, finds its strength in sturdy techno - bits, deep progressive sways and an unexpected break.

Comet received a more trancy approach by another Polish producer duo, Sonic Division, who joined a little battle in the Sonic Division & Skytech Remix. Distorted electro and deep and layered trance find their glory on the Space Rockerz remix, from the hands of US producers Michael Calderone and Austin Hall.

♥ ♥ ♥ Japayork Music Test Post :: 000 666 0100 99 000 1210 555 ♥ ♥ ♥

2010-04-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Japayork

The 22 year old Londoner Japayork is a graphic designer, photographer, maker of sweet Synth Pop tracks and now video director with his excellent self - made video he created for his track ‘Our Now’. Japayork is defiantly a name to keep an eye on in 2010, his lush, layered synth tunes and personal lyrics are sure to strike a chord with most people who hear them. I have been an instant fan of his catchy synth - pop productions ever since i first heard him and finally managed to get a hold of a track.

:: Show Some Online Love ::

www.japayork.com
www.myspace.com/japayork

♥ ♥ ♥ Jean Giraud And The Star Fire At Night / Hand Drawn Prints ♥ ♥ ♥

2010-04-10T22:28:00.000-07:00

Let it be known that I am a very very huge fan of Jean Giraud. I first came into contact with his work a long time ago as a Multimedia student at Vega, when my lecturer (Thanks Masha !!!)borrowed me her copy of an Arzach comic. Arzach has almost no dialogue, mostly just pictures, but its the most abstract comic I have ever seen or come across to date.

It went home with me that day, cant really remember if I forgot to give it back to her or if I was just in total frenzy over the beautiful silent abstract images and never wanted to let it go. I kept a third eye visual photograph in my mind and after a couple of years later I Googled the legendary dude. Soon after seeing more of his work I became obsessed with his detailed style. And till today I remain a huge fan. Never in my life have I thought it possible to see such detailed abstract landscapes and ideas put on to paper. Its like nothing I have ever come across in my life.

The lines are simple, the colour is vivid (in some) and the black and white prints are so detailed that I stare for a while every time I look at them. The story in the images are backed up by nothing but pure imagination. He leaves the conversation bubble purposefully blank for the viewer to speak his own understanding. I dare ever one reading this post to take a second and just look a little bit closer, and see the genius in his breathtaking art. Its so far out man.

As Moebius, Jean Giraud defies easy classification. One minute he may be depicting a serene encounter with an unnamed race / and the next project might be a hard - edged, sexually charged violent image of death from above. He did a popular series of superhero posters for Marvel Comics (Silver Surfer) in the Eighties as well as a variety of prints from his own Star Watcher Graphics. His storytelling can be very abstract as Moebius / and the images done for prints are usually self - contained and even more in accessible.

Download these pictures and save them to your computer. They look better if you view them at full size anyway:

♥ Jean Giraud ♥ Moebius ♥ Arzach ♥ Science Fiction ♥ Star Watcher ♥

2010-04-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

Jean Girauds alias / Moebius / first popped up in 1963, in a series of short stories published in Hara - Kiri. In later years, Moebius would become world famous for his science - fiction, artistic and erotic art. He is admired for his many collaborations with Alejandro Jodorowsky, like the wordless comic fantasy 'Arzach', and for his numerous works for Métal Hurlant.

Starting in 1969, Moebius made a series of science - fiction illustrations for Opta, which marked the beginning of Giraud's exploits outside the mainstream. It was in Métal Hurlant (aka Heavy Metal), for example, where Moebius first serialized 'Arzach'. Moebius and Jodorowsky have been called the masters of science - fiction ever since, and that is probably why they were asked to assist in the making of various famous science - fiction movies, like Star Wars / Dune / TRON and James Camerons Aliens.

During his stay in the USA, he saw his most important works published by Marvel. He also illustrated an episode of The Silver Surfer. In addition to his large comics and illustration output, Moebius remained active in the Cinematic Arts as well.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Anjunadeep 02 Mixed By Jaytech & James Grant Review ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

2010-04-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

Anjunadeep! A compilation made of dreams! Been listening to the Compilation for a couple of days now, while lying down and not standing up, reflecting, and chilling out while the earth spins on the same axis its been spinning on, for like billions of years. Or millions of years. Im not sure but I am sure its been doing it for years. What I am sure about is that I made my point. I was super chilled out, ice cold, frozen almost.

I was waiting for Anjunadeep 02 to be released - well, as soon as I saw the first Anjunadeep edition had the '01' on it, which obviously meant there would be an inevitable '02'. I love Anjunabeats / and I love Anjunadeep very much as well. Great labels that changed the EDM industry forever. The way I see it / There will always be two sides of the same moon. And with most things / I do prefer the darker side of the moon, no doubt.

Anjunabeats Live At The Gallery UK

My favourite tracks so far on the legendary Anjunadeep Compilation at the moment would have to be, in no particular order what so ever:

Jaytech & James Grant – Moth / Tom Fall – Cubic / Marcus Schossow Presents 1985 – London / Michael Cassette - Kilimanjaro / Dave Horne – Q*E*D* / Oliver Smith - Sunday / Andrew Bayer & Boom Jinx - To The Six (Martin Roth Remix) / BT - Flaming June (Jaytech & James Grant Remix) / Paul Keeley - Disco Belle

Martin Roth (And DJ Eco) Tonight Is Forever

But Im sure my favourite tracks will change. As will the tide of the sea and the face of the moon. Also. I found this really cool Anjunadeep Review that should be read by all trance fans, this dude has been reviewing Trance and EDM music his whole life. Well at least thats what I read. I dont fully agree with what is being said but he makes a lot of really good points regarding Anjunabeats and Above & Beyond. Some of the things I would have liked to say but could never find the words for.

Heres the review oh and if you into this sort of thing (Music Reviews) then the website where this review is from is a good one. (http://www.cokemachineglow.com/) Its more of an EDM site than anything else:

Anjunadeep: 02 Compilation Mixed By Jaytech & James Grant

Trance! The mere mention of the genre has probably already flooded your head with negative connotations. And not unfairly so: for every Vibrasphere or Digital Blonde toiling away in the underground theres a dozen candy floss purveyors comprising the genre’s public face: you’d have to be pretty dedicated to bother keeping up with anything that could accumulate such an abysmal strike - rate. It’d also be fair to say that Anjunabeats represents everything gone wrong with the genre.

The British based label may be named after the legendary Anjuna beach in Goa, India, site of many a tribal trance rave in the early ’90s — but it deals with the schmaltzy, debased strain of Euro - trance that has unfortunately dominated the scene for well over a decade.

The Komytea Brothers AKA Michael Cassette AKA Squash 84

Perhaps arriving to save the label, and genre, from itself, Anjunadeep is an ancillary of Anjunabeats run by different folks and given over to a somewhat different musical palette. While the main Anjuna stable is operated by DJ and production trio Above & Beyond, and thus beset by their signature flavour of glowstick trance. Anjunadeep is managed by James Grant, who mines a much groovier / deeper / much more sophisticated house sound. Plenty of trance trademarks still familiarize the mix (Yippee!) but the genre’s worst crimes are tempered for an entirely more credible and mature iteration of the sound. Consequently, DJs of the calibre of Laurent Garnier and Desyn Masiello, who are unlikely ever to play a straightforward trance record, have supported the label.

Sir James Grant / The man behind the Anjunadeep Label and Sound. Deep, Dark, and Groovy.

The label’s first compilation was released last spring, mixed by Above & Beyond for no better reason than to attach a big name to the project and shift copies. As a showcase it was decent, housing a few killer cuts that made it into many a DJ’s set. It was also blighted by Above & Beyond’s DJing, which they have finally, inevitably elevated to an impeccably focused, potent level of dullness. Their staggeringly boring style is built around sets that go nowhere and transitions that are computer - perfect without an iota of risk in them. And thankfully, they’ve stepped aside for the sequel to allow James Grant a stab at the roster he’s carefully cultivated: Grant’s followed closely by Australian star Jaytech, the biggest name on the imprint by some distance.

Andrew Bayer - To The Six / By All Means (With Boom Jinx)

Two instantly obvious results occur from such a drastic personnel change:

1) the music is even less trance-y than before: sparkly arpeggios and melodic flourishes are diluted further by pieces of electronica, tech, deeper house, and just a shade of the 80s synth influence Way Out West lathered over their latest album (Jody Wisternoff even has a track featured on the first disc)

2) the DJing feels far less plastic. Rather than come off like a playlist of tracks put on random and sent through a digital mixing program, each disc has a flow, a development, a direction. There’s still nothing so much as a beatmatching or phrasing error in earshot, but there are occasional moments where an element will come in a shade too loudly or will sit over the outgoing track with a too - forceful weight, lingering. Where Above & Beyond play drearily safe with rote bass line switches, Grant and Jaytech are prepared to compromise pristine EQing for something, anything more interesting.

Mr Oliver Smith - Nimbus / Tomahawk

James Grant lays down a strong claim to having the better disc of the two, its superiority lying mainly in its clearer structure, which is predicated on two purpose - built collaborative productions between Grant and Jaytech. Opener “Moth” sets the warm house - friendly tip of the opening three or so tracks, and from there it moves through a main body sprinkled with summery melodies from the likes of Paul Keeley and Michael Cassette to the most obvious anthem, the exclusive 2010 Remix of BT’s “Flaming June.” BT’s track is one of the all - time trance classics from that mid - ‘90s era when being an “all - time trance classic” still mattered, and the distinctive melody is instantly recognisable to any fan of the genre. Of course, remixes of tracks from a much older, considerably better era are especially common in trance, an implicit admission that the best days are long since past, and such remixes are rarely worth hearing. This version isn’t close to the original — most of BT’s lovely piano work is binned and the main melody is only transcribed onto a fairly routine Anjunadeep track — but that spark of recognition as those memorable notes first emerge makes it the obvious peak of the set.

Jaytech - AKA Jimbo Cayzer / Brings Us The 'Essence'

Jaytech’s disc is slightly weaker: the Australian takes it upon himself to represent the darker, bassier, and more electro - edged side of the Anjunadeep coin, notching up the tempo in gradual increments and slotting in a couple of his own productions along the way. While it’s still an engaging workout that could make one long for a dancefloor context, Jaytech’s disc is marred by the DJ having, for whatever reason, less to work with. The exclusive productions were already used up on Grant’s disc, maybe, and, sadly, there’s nothing quite on par with the killer cuts A&B were able to misuse a year ago. This lack of ammunition prevents Anjunadeep 2 from becoming something genuinely special, but it’s still a marked improvement over last year’s entry, and a worthwhile listen for those who never thought they could stomach trance ever again.

Review Written By Jack Moss

If anyone else has any last words / do drop a comment / and stop having conversations with yourself in your head / its just not healthy:

Colour Coded Clubbing By Mungo Adonis & Brendon Bosworth

2010-04-05T00:28:00.000-07:00

So anyway... I found this article written by these two dudes Mungo Adonis & Brendon Bosworth (Im trying to find out more information concerning the writers so if anyone can help me in this regard email me at design@mrcottle.com thanks) and I think it is really well written. I wish I could write articles like this. Its so well written (I know I said that already but who cares right?)

I think the views and opinions are really beautifully expressed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I totally recommend it. So I thought I would re post it for anyone else to read. Pictures should be coming soon. Just waiting for them to fall out of the sky like all the other pictures I have posted on this blog:D Article taken off the mahala.co.za website. Respect to those guys over there. I am digging that site to the max right now. Heres the article:

Colour Coded Clubbing:
By Mungo Adonis & Brendon Bosworth

It’s been 17 years since Nelson got out of jail free. Black Label ads would have us believe everything is peachy and democracy is the new black and white. Yes, come on in the water’s fine, we’ll all go down to the bar and down Jager with Eugene Terror Branch and Bantu Holomisa while gumboot dancing to riotous kwaito mash-ups of ‘Ebony and Ivory.’

Kak. We’d like to believe everything is sunshine, rainbows and group hugs, but the irascible truth is that we live in an intensely radicalised society. And where better to look for the ethnic boundaries than where inhibitions are thrown out the window as quickly as tequila is slammed down the gullet? Fuck parliament; clubs are where the real rainbow nation graft is being done. Somewhere amidst the sweat and beer, old-school racial paradigms rub up against new-school grooves and the strobe lights bleach the colour lines.

If the nation that gets gesuip together stays together, just how integrated are our clubs? Are the boere, darkies and gam really jolling together and drinking to Biko’s memory in sublime synchronicity? Cape Town’s Long Street is where the lentil-munching, Oliver Tambo-quoting guy with the manky dreads standing next to you could be white as the schneet he’s shnoefing with the ja-nooit-lank-bru spouting BEE dude in the Prada loafers. Mohammad’s boerewors stand looks like a United Nations summit (I swear that’s Kofi over there clutching his falafel and swaying to the beat).

Jo’burg is the famed watering-hole where mellow folks and mellow tunes converge. It’s cramped, crusty and cosmopolitan. Surely no-one gives a flying fuck about race here? A shimmy past the bar and on to the couple chilling at the back. ‘It’s not really a race thing, but you don’t want to be a minority when you go out,’ says Steve, a twenty-year old white dude, sipping on his beer. ‘I wouldn’t dig to take my girlfriend to a so-called black club. Lots of the whites, especially the girls, are afraid of the Zulu culture. They’re worried about safety issues.’

A legless pair of white girls, holding up the wall outside, agree. ‘We used to go to Marvel but now it’s really ghetto,’ says 22-year old Louella, wearing a low-cut top ‘Black guys love boobs and mine are really big so it’s a problem,’ she says matter-of-factly. ‘In a black club they’ll just come up and grab onto you even if you’re not booty-dancing. I mean you can just be going to the toilet and they’ll grab you.’

Seems Louella and Nicole weren’t lying. Marvel is dark. A rough headcount – three blankes. Kwanz, a sharply dressed black dude cradling an Amstel, is on the prowl in the back section. ‘Nowadays if you’ve got money you can go wherever you want,’ he says. ‘I never go after white girls; they come after me. I want to keep it that way. When a white girl comes into a black club, well you know, you’ve been restricted from that shit for so long… I want to try that shit out.’

Candice is chilling with the rest of her coloured friends outside fabled grease pit Fontana Chicken. ‘Naai, I’m keen to vibe with anybody on the dancefloor,’ she chimes. ‘Whoever can dance with you the best is going to dance with you for the rest of the night. Black, white, coloured, Indian – it doesn’t matter.’ But we all know white guys can’t dance. ‘Ja, no,’ her friends chorus. ‘They do it in their own way.’ They’re pissing themselves. ‘They move to a different rhythm and they’re in their own world. But I dance like a drunk white girl so I fit in quite well,’ Candice laughs.

Booze. Ever the social lubricant. It may blur the colour lines but it doesn’t erase them. It’s so easy to dupe ourselves into believing in a techni-colour utopia. We’re not racist. Some of our best friends are ____ (kindly fill in appropriate racial epithet). You can slam as many Jager bombs as you please. They might make you want to tongue strangers, but they won’t dull the awareness of difference. A century of entrenched segregation doesn’t just disappear because white kids in Constantia are rocking Darkie T’s and Mandoza’s playing on 5FM. Without detracting from the heroic efforts of those involved in The Struggle and the significance of ‘94, the actual legwork required to realise true democracy is going to take far longer.

Until then it’s our civic duty to go out and jol with as many different types of people as possible. Fuck racial imperatives. Rhythm is a feeling, not a birthright. Get panelled and ghoen (with a condom) people that would have PW Botha convulsing in his grave. We’ve got too much to celebrate to allow silly labels to get in our way. Viva ubuntu.

(Also. There were images linked to the original article (over at mahala) that I never used / But I did check out the photographer and he is so cool. His name is Musa Nxumalo and he is very talented indeed. Pay your respects and check out his blog and super awesome photographs here - http://musanxumalo-alternative.blogspot.com/)

♥ ♥ ♥ Auckland ♥ ♥ New Zealand ♥ ♥ North Island ♥ ♥ Mount Eden ♥ ♥ ♥

2010-04-04T04:16:00.000-07:00

So, I went to see the city today, and it is pretty awesome. I kind of expected it to be the size of Cape Towns CBD, but the only reason I thought that was because Im from Cape Town lol. In actuality, the Auckland CBD area is roughly five times the size of Cape Towns CBD. Thats just my estimate though.

My camera phone does not do justice when it comes to taking super awesome pictures so I settled for an alternative to get the right idea out there. The city is beautiful and very cosmopolitan, and it was very full of asians today. Asians are cool, I like asians.

Also, I saw the Mount Eden Volcanic Crater which took my breath away, its so huge! And very very pretty. From there I could see the whole North Island in all its glory. New Zealand is a very beautiful country in many many ways. I am very happy to be here and I feel honoured to be able to experience this side of the world.

Jaarbeurs Utrecht & Trance Energy Lazer Fun

2010-04-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

So Trance Energy was last night. That must of been fun:P Heres some Trance related pictures because Trance pictures just always look amazing dont they? I especially appreciate the ones with green lazers. I wish I had such bright green lazers at my house, like when you ring the door bell, a Trance Energy Anthem should just start banging at like 180db and the lazers should just shoot out from all directions. That would be cool:)

Trance Energy April ♥ Dirty Vegas - Tonight (Above & Beyond Remix) ♥

2010-04-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

So its Trance Energy tonight... I started my morning off with a bang, and by a bang I mean, some super awesome Trance Classics by the likes of Rank 1 and Markus Schulz. Theres nothing like Trance, I amlsot cried this morning, I was listening to the song by Markus Schulz - First Time featuring Anita Kesey, what classic song right? Trance is so beautiful it makes me fall in love over and over again. I listen to a lot of different music but I can honestly say that there is nothing like Trance, the euphoria that it evokes is unparalleled.

Tonights line up include some of the worlds best super star DJs and producers like Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Sander Van Doorn, Gareth Emery, Simon Patterson & Sean Tyas, Nic Chagall, Andy Moor, Richard Durand, Sied Van Riel, Jochen Miller, W&W, Dash Berlin, Super8 & Tab and Arnej just to mention a few.

To those who are going, may the force be with you, and by that I mean may the Trance vibrate through your souls. I envy you and I wish that I could go, so if you have a free ticket, with maybe an airplane ticket as well (with free accommodation of course) then please email me and let me know, because that will be awesome. Anywyays, my heart and mind will be there tonight. My theme song for today is Tonight by Dirty Vegas, the unmistakable Above and Beyond Remix no doubt.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Dirty Vegas - Tonight (Above & Beyond Remix) ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Tonight tonight tonight my friends

I got this feeling that I hope will never end

Tonight tonight tonight I see

This precious moment means everything to me

I wanna be, with you, right here, with you

I wanna be…

Tonight.

♥ Ed Banger Love: Uffie Is Banging / Feadz Is Banging ♥

2010-04-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

This chick is too damn awesome to put into words, plus she is like super tight friends with Ed Banger and So Me, by the looks of this video, its seems like its the work of So Me, who does most (if not all) of the Ed Banger Crews art direction. He started out in the French Under Ground Graffiti scene before moving into graphic art for super cool electronic artists, almost like something I would like to do.

Heres the video for her song 'Pop The Glock' (In HD so it might stream a while). Very cool track and may I recommend another one of her smashing jams by the name of 'First Love' / also a very well produced hit by her amazing Electronic Producer Lover Boy Feadz. This guy knows how to make a beat go boom in your ear. Respect to the French for showing the world how to make thinks go Funk in the night. All we need now is for Justice and Daft Punk to drop a double album:)

Mungo Adonis - Die Antwoord Is Not The Answer / We Are The People

2010-03-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

Heres a befokte article on die Antwoord by Mungo Adonis who really knows the streets around Cape Town and asks the people on the streets how they think and feel about Die Antwoord. Cause even though the interweb hype is going very fast worldwide, there are still lots and lots of people in South Africa who haven't heard of the band at all and think that their lyrics and image is not really fair compared to the true african culture or the living in the Cape Flats and dealing drugs on the corners.

The people that are heard in this article are not straight Die Antwoord fans, it's interesting to hear their point of view on Die Antwoord though. On the other hand, it's just another point of view while Die Antwoord also have a great bunch of fans in the South of Africa. To keep it clean and open, here the opinion from the other side...Let us know what your opinion is.

Die Vraag
Monday / March 15th / 2010 by Mungo Adonis

Die Antwoord have just signed a major record deal with Interscope. They’re shooting music videos with Neill Blomkamp and having lunch with David Lynch. But back in the Cape Flats, people still don’t know who they are.

I don’t like Die Antwoord. I’ve bought into Waddy’s other incarnations before and I’m running low on indulgence this time around. Mildly ironic, as it’s his current project that’s threatening to garner the success that he’s been dodging for decades.

The interweb is eating him and his Zef - rap up whole. I just wonder when it will get full and need to kots. Because Die Antwoord is like a droe snoek pizza delivered by Eminem: cheesy, fishy, aggressive, bound to make you ill and a fundamentally bad idea.

I wouldn’t mind having him appropriate another culture if it was done in a less cynical way. See, what’s novel and funny to white people smells like plastic and opportunism to coloured people.

For my part, I know the Flats. I grew up with the people that Die Antwoord is pastiching. They’re my uncles and friends and teachers and the girls that I hit on and the guys who used to chase me around on Guy Fawkes Day and the gangsters on the corners that my mother warned me about and the aunties reading The Voice on the train and the shopkeepers who let me buy on credit because they knew my grandfather and the brasse that I used to go half on a gatsby with at school but are vuil tikkoppe now. They are not Die Antwoord. No question.

Waddy has always ninja - stepped the razor line between irony and sincerity, with many people believing that his varying personas were for real. This makes Ninja’s assertion that he is an embodiment of South African culture dangerous, particularly in the face of global attention. An entire people’s representation hangs on what is at best performance art and at worst commercial exploitation.

So while The Guardian, Pitchfork Media and uh… Katy Perry and Fred Durst are smaaking Die Antwoord, what about the people whose culture they are appropriating?

I take my laptop around to Grassy Park and played some songs from www.dieantwoord.com for my grandmother. “Hoekom moet hy so die heel tyd vloek (Why does he have to swear all the time) ?” my grandmother wants to know. Me too, for that matter. Now, this is the woman who routinely referred to my German girlfriend as “plank-poes”. So she’s not afraid of a bit of profanity. But Die Antwoord’s swearing is cynical and not very clever. It’s not even gratuitous: it’s calculated to manufacture edginess and the illusion of street-cred.

“Huh - uh. Ek lyk die gladtie (Nope. I don’t like this at all) ,” Mama says. “Wat se hy? Huh - uh. Vat die kak weg! (What’s he saying? Nope. Take this kak away) ”

I head around the corner to Bronwyn’s house. She was my Matric year girlfriend but we still chat regularly on Facebook. She still lives with her folks and her father still hates me and her room still reminds me of gangly teenage sex.

“I can’t actually hear what he’s saying,” she says after listening to ‘Enter the Ninja’. “Um… He raps very fast, hey. Umm… What’s Zef? And why’s she singing about his production?”

Things get a bit awkward during ‘Beat Boy’s graphic porno - rap. Memories, I suppose (Ed - lol).

Bronwyn is not stoked about his accent either. To our ears it’s as authentic as Matt Damon’s South African accent is in Invictus. Americans might not notice the discrepancy, but the misplaced flat / sharp mispronunciations ring loudly in our ears.

Next, I go to visit my cousin in Heideveld. His mother hugs me, shoves a polony and cheese sandwich at me and says that Rashied is in his room. Aunty Tiefa loves her son but isn’t quite able to acknowledge that he is a full time drug dealer and low - ranking gang member. He’s sitting on his bed listening to his beloved Tupac’s Hit ‘Em Up. I worry about my laptop when I see that he’s got a scary looking friend there too who remains unintroduced. I play ‘Wie Maak Die Jol Vol’, ‘Wat Pomp’ and ‘Dagga Puff’ for them.

“Bwwwhahahhaaaahhaaa,” they laugh during ‘Wie Maak Die Jol Vol’ and ‘Wat Pomp’. “Befok ja!”It seems that they dig the party stuff. They’re less enthused about ‘Dagga Puff’ and its intro supposedly detailing a dagga deal followed by music-box beats and kiddie rhymes. “It werk ‘ie ‘n fok soe nie (it doesn’t go like that at all) ,” says Rashied. Die ou het nooit gemurt ‘ie, ‘n mens kan soema hoor (this guy has never dealt before, you can easily hear).”

I show them the pics and they laugh more. “Ninja, huh?”, says Rashied’s friend. “Ek sal hom in sy poes in skop. Ouens innie mang sallie sy koukie tchappies grand ‘ie (I’ll fuck him up. Guys in prison won’t dig his magic - marker tattoos).”

Coloured people are history’s middlemen – nie te wit ‘ie, nie te swart ‘ie, net reg. It must sound a bit rich to be defending Cape Flat’s culture from appropriation when the entire race springs from interracial banging and slave sex.

But it’s the manner in which Die Anwtoord goes about their business. The whole affair feels aggressive, high - concept and insincere. There’s nothing wrong with Ninja embracing his inner coloured and getting down at Galaxy with his darker-skinned brethren. He just shouldn’t shout that he is all of us. If he continues doing this it’s quite likely that one of Rashied’s friends will find him and kick him in his poes.

by Mungo Adonis

source: http://www.mahala.co.za/culture/die-vraag-questions-for-die-antwoord/

What's you opinion on the Zef Rave Rap phenomenon? Heres some comments left behind on the site:

Is it a crime that Ninja has a history as a performer? Does it matter that tjip rolls might not be on the menu everyday and that someone saw one of them eating an Italian tomato at the Gardens Center? This is the kind of micro kak that locals poison each other and their efforts with. For now let’s all laugh, and bask in their new found media success as our “yes we can” moment for South African performers. Because, until deals are made and money is paid, until the album $0$ is on iTunes to purchase and units are sold, not just stolen, for now, pop culture history is the only currency that’s been traded. (mahala!)

Give Die Antwoord a chance! And lets hope that they’ll be one of many cultural phenomenons hailing from South Africa. At least its not something born out of a commercial bullshitty show with a SMS - vote on American Idol.

Long live Die Antwoord!

Above & Beyond - Home (Above & Beyonds 12" Club Mix)

2010-03-31T13:44:00.000-07:00

And this is where I live... Its too cold and too early to go outside and take a picture of the house Im living in right now, but this is the neighbourhood Im living in. Its called Dannemora and its situated in Manakau City, a smaller city in Auckland, so like a city with in a city. Confusing I know. But is it cool I ask myself? Hell yes.

The design of the houses in general are very modern / minimalist, and so are all their buildings as well. They all have a very clean cut design appeal which I find pretty awesome. The neighbourhood is very clean and in the afternoon you can actually see children riding on there bicycles and skating and eating ice cream in the road. Sounds like Im being idealistic I know. But Im just typing what Im seeing thats all.

I think to myself and i say that there is a possibility that I might not get it right here and I might have to come home due to me not having a working visa. But Im still optimistic, because I didnt come all this way for nothing. I like to say I cant control the universe, because its very true, and I guess thats what makes life so cool and so interesting. Im just enjoying walking the path and enjoying the moment, even if the moment lasts for like a millionth of a second. Its all good.

Oliver Smith - Nimbus / Oceanlab - Clear Blue Water

2010-03-31T12:57:00.000-07:00

Oceanlab - Clear Blue Water (Mike Shiver Garden State Remix) to be exact...

Okay.

What a wonderful way to start a Post, by just saying Okay. Here are some pictures I took using my super advanced SLR 15 giga pixel Sony Ericsson camera phone. The pictures were of such a high quality that I had to rezise 8 times to get it to fit on the screen, if I remember correctly I think the image resolution was 48 million dpi. But we cant have that now can we? Thats the resolution that James Cameron wanted to shoot Avatar 3D in. No jokes.

Seriously though. The quality of the images are not that great, forgive me for I have not photoshoped them as well. Well, you can forgive me, but I dont think that I can forgive myself really. Anyways. I took these pics on my way to Hong Kong, it was a 13 hour flight soon followed by a 12 hour waiting period in Transit in Hong Kong, which I subsequently used as time to buy chocolate chip muffins and whole lot of coffee, and a 1kg bag of M&Ms (to eat on the plane while I watched Two and A Half Men - which is one of my new favourite shows btw) and I also managed to sleep on a bench at the airport, which is always fun. So when I woke up and found a group of old Asian Grannies staring at me as I wipe the spit that leaked out back into my mouth it wasnt weird at all, it was fun actually, because I remember after checking the time I put my head back down to sleep and dream amongst the chaos. Good times:)

A little less conversation and a little more action and heres the pictures. Unedited and Raw:

Heres the plane I took...

Hong Kong has nice battleship grey weather. Its cool.

Die Fokken Antwoord (Zef So Fresh) Vice Mag Interview

2010-03-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

Interview By Dylan Culhane

Nobody really understands Die Antwoord. All we really have to go on is that they a next level rap rave krew comprised of a skinny white MC with a box cut and some Pollsmoor chappies and a potty mouthed, bottle blonde bitchette in gold spandex, often joined on stage by Mitchells Plain gangster rappers and a DJ with progeria syndrome.

Oh, and since debuting earlier this year they’ve wrangled up an aggressively dedicated legion of fans who generally shout along to every single track at live shows, punch random strangers in the face and then pass out in a steaming puddle of Jägermesiter vomit. Do the disgruntled Afrikaans youth of our land have a new pair of anti heroes to worship? That is the rhetorical question we’ll lead in with.

VICE: An introduction please.
Ninja: Yo, wat pomp? I’m Ninja (shows tattoo on hand), and this is my homegirl Yo-Landi Vi$$er. We’re kicking it here by Snoekies, at the harbour in Houtbaai.
Yo-Landi: That’s right. Just eating a chip roll and some fish.

Hows your day working out so far?
Ninja: Fokken lekker. I just made up this track today thinking of that whole Yin-Yang concept we were talking about. The lyrics was going something like, um… Yin, Yang / Yin, Yang / Good, Bad / Happy, Sad / Kwaai, Kak / Lifes tough (beat box)… It’s gonna be so duidelik.

Right. So, are you hip-hop or what?
Ninja: Ja we’re from the hip-hop family, but we do rap rave next level shit. Die Antwoord started with my one homeboy, DJ Hi-Tek (shows tattoo on hand) He’s got his own PC computer and he makes basically like phat rap rave beats. I was checking out his shit, and we started making some beats, you know, next level shit. So then I was speaking to my homegirl Yo-Landi, you know she’s got some funk and super flavour, so we started with a kind of, like, 2Unlimited, C+C Music Factory kind of thing… but a bit more gangster, with a street edge. Then we found out you can put the songs for free on the interweb, no problem. Now the album’s pumping worldwide, like some next-level futuristic shit. Scotland, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Japan… In like, one second we’re in the overseas, it’s instant like the matrix.

Umm, rave’s been a bit quiet lately.
Yo-Landi: It’s never been quiet in our homes. We love the super synth.
Ninja: Here in South Africa the taxis play rave music fokken loud my bru. You can hear it from the next city when the taxi comes through, you hear DOOF DOOF DOOF they gooi the rap rave megamixes pumping like a nightclub. So my main inspiration is the taxis. The whole album is based on the sound it’s gonna make when it’s pumping through a taxi. It’s that high energy shit you can’t compare.
Yo-Landi: Our whole philosophy basically is, like, drive fast and play kak cool music loud. It’s a zef rap rave jol, with lasers, smoke machines, 3D graphics, rappers… and everyone’s gonna be there.

Zef?
Ninja: Zef is our flavour, our style. It means fucking cool. But even more cool than fucking cool. No one can fuck with your shit. Zef’s the ultimate style, basically.

You reckon zef rap rave in Afrikaans has any potential beyond, say Sunnyside or Parow?
Ninja: Our first album we decided to dig into our own personal flavour and just keep it real you know, and represent where we’re coming from and how we speak. The next album we’re working on is called Ten$ion, and on this album we want to rap more like tour guides of South Africa, like maintain our SA style and flavour but still bring it for people in the overseas to understand… with like 95% English and then just a bit of Afrikaans.
Yo-Landi: Afrikaans for all the swearing bits.
Ninja: To sum it all up, in this place, South Africa, you get a lot of different things: whites, coloureds, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, watookal / and I’m like all these different things, all these different people, fucked into one person. Are you wys?

That may be true sir, but nobody from South Africa ever really makes it overseas. You do realise that?
Ninja: Ja, check it, but it’s like the long distance runners from Ethiopia / they always come to the Olympics and fuck everyone up heavy! Now why is that possible my blaar? It’s ‘cos in Ethiopia the air is fucking thin. There’s like fuck all air there basically, so when they come to the levels of the Olympics they’ve got like super oxygenated lungs and fuck everyone up ten-nil. So that’s basically how I’m feeling about this, South Africa’s the fucking shit. All my inspiration, all my funk, all my flavour is from here but also we’re training at minimum oxygen levels, so I’m basically like a Ethiopian runner just waiting for the fucking Olympics. Give me the mic, give me the baton and we’ll see whose gonna take these motherfuckers out. I’m feeling that shit, I’ve got fucking goosebumps my bru.
Yo-Landi: Mmm, these pickled onions are very nice
Ninja: Ja these onions are pumping.

Expressionism And Exhibitionism (Terry Richardson)

2010-03-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Terry Richardson is a 36 year old crazy mother fcuker with a handlebar mustache, long sideburns, and a collection of odd tattoos, including a very gangster looking one on his belly that says "T-bone". Classic. He is one of those people that only gets appreciated once his dead, a rock star living legend still walking the planet. I am a huge fan of his work, especially his more controversial work, but I didnt want to post them because people might call it pornography when in actuality its called erotic photography (or something like that) Some of his photos are very sexual i wont lie, but theres nothing wrong with a little bit of sexy time now is there? anyways. moving on.

Terry and 30 Seconds To Mars front man Jared Leto

Richardson was born in New York City, and raised in Hollywood. He was shy as a teenager and at some times deemed "completely lacking in social skills". He played bass guitar in the rock band 'The Invisible Government' for 5 years. Richardson began photography when the band broke up and his mother introduced him to Tony Kent, photographer who took him on as an assistant.

Terry and contemporary poet Michael Stipe (REM front man)

Terry Richardson is an international celebrity as well as one of the most prolific and compelling photographers of his generation. Known for his uncanny ability to cut to the raw essence of whomever appears before his lens, Mr. Richardsons vision is at once humorous, tragic, often beautiful, and always provocative.

Here with Super Awesome Blink 182 !!! I miss these guys !!!

Born in New York City and raised in Hollywood, Terry began photographing his environment while attending Hollywood High School. And he hasn't stopped shooting since. Terry has lensed campaigns for such clients as Gucci, Miu Miu, Chloe, and his editorial work has appeared in magazines such as the French Vogue, British Vogue, i-D, GQ and Harpers Bazaar, and his impressive list of subjects includes Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vincent Gallo, Tom Ford, Jay Z, Kanye West, Johnny Knoxville, Karl Lagerfeld, Pharell Williams and many many, many many others.

Here with the Worlds Best / Weezy F Baby (Young Moola Baby!)

Terry's work has been the subject of numerous group and one man shows throughout the world, and he has published a selection of books throughout the world, beginning with Hysteric Glamour in 1998, and stretching through his career until his most recent work, a retrospective from Taschen, entitled Terryworld 25th Anniversary Edition.

And with infamous model Kate Moss, who I totally dig.

Terry's work spans a variety of mediums: he has shot music videos and commercials and is currently working on his first feature film. Whatever the mother fcuking medium, Terry Richardson continues to prove that he is a true American Original.

from: http://www.terryrichardson.com/

Steve Aoki Live In Cape Town (Dim Mak Records)

2010-03-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

Steve Aoki South African Tour - April 2nd & 3rd 2010

Los Angeles based electro kingpin Steve Aoki performs live in Cape Town, at The Assembly, on Friday 2nd April 2010. Based in Los Angeles, California, Steve Aoki is the founder of super electro record label DIM MAK RECORDS whose artist roster boasts A – list acts such as MSTRKRFT / The Bloody Beetroots / The Klaxons and The Gossip, and can also be credited with discovering Bloc Party. As a producer, Aoki has worked on official remixes for many highly acclaimed artists including Michael Jackson, The Killers, Chris Cornell, Snoop Dog, Duran Duran, and Lenny Kravitz.

He won the prestigious Billboard Magazines Best Mix album of 2008 for his debut release Pillowface, And His Airplane Chronicles, a mix album that includes exclusive remixes, guest vocals and overdubs by a vast array of artists including Erol Alkan, Spank Rock, Santigold, Kid Sister, Justice, Soulwax, and Uffie.

Aoki is currently involved in a number of exciting collaboration projects with release dates set in 2010, these include RIFOKI (with Bob Rifo from The Bloody Beetroots), Colossus (with Boys Noize & The Faint), Hello, Goodbye / Rocket (with Laidback Luke), and “Brrrap” (with Armand Van Helden). He has rightly earned a reputation as one of the top DJs in the Electronic House scene and has won numerous awards including DJ of the year (Paper Magazine), Best set of the Season (Ibiza Awards) & Best Party Rocker DJ (BPM Magazine).

Not satisfied with crouching behind the DJ Booth, his ferociously energetic live sets add fuel to the music as he drives the crowds energy into a frenzied state with a mix of stage diving, live vocals and other debauched antics. Aoki is at the forefront of the new age dance scene, playing to sell out crowds across North America, Europe, Asia & Australia. Also involved in fashion, his own label DIM MAK COLLECTION has been active since 2004 and is stocked across the globe. He has developed lines for KR3W Apparel, Supra Footwear, headphones for WESC, and in ‘09 sunglasses with KSUBI, headwear with NEFF, bags with Burton, & a brand new mens / women’s range with his sister Devon (Fast And The Furious).

Steve Aoki will perform on Friday 2nd April at Cape Town's premiere live music & entertainment venue, The Assembly, supported by local DJs Battle Beyond the Stars, Haezer, Grave Danger & Lapse. Limited early bird tickets are available for R80 via The Assembly's ticket outlets - Shelflife (loop st) and online at www.webtickets.co.za/assembly. Full price tickets for those who miss the early bird special are available through the same sources for R120. This event is expected to sell out, therefore presale tickets are highly recommended - should they be available, standard tickets will be on sale at the door for R150. Doors open at 9pm.

Mark “The Cobrasnake” Hunter is the worlds quintessential party photographer, renowned across the globe for his charismatic coverage of the Los Angeles Hipster scene. The Cobrasnake has toured alongside Aoki in a number of countries, including Canada, Thailand, Australia & Europe, and now, thanks to Adidas & Vice Magazine, he’ll be joining Steve Aoki in South Africa, for what promises to be a whirlwind experience!

Steve Aoki & Busy P (Ed Banger Records)

www.theassembly.co.za
www.dimmak.com
www.dimmakcollection.com
www.steveaoki.dimmak.com/blog/

From: http://www.capetownunderground.co.za/

Steve Aoki Kid Millionaire has risen from throwing impromptu concerts in his living room while a student at UC Santa Barbara in the late 90’s to become one of the most sought after DJs in the country. Deemed the music tastemaker by those in the know, his ear for music paired with his ability to drop party rocking beats has championed dance floors night after night. Whether providing the indie soundtrack to his wildly popular Tuesday night at Cinespace in LA (which also showcases the hippest up and coming bands) or dropping the biggest party hits at Hollywoods LAX and NYCs Marquee, Steve Aoki has become a jack of all trades.

Between his daily treks touring the country (and lately as far a field as London and Japan) he manages to run one of the most respected indie labels in the country, Dim Mak (founded bands such as The Kills, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Von Bondies and others and also currently home to Bloc Party, The Rakes, Moving Units, Scanners, Pony Up, Whitey) as well as promote his own nights in LA & NYC featuring any band looking to make it (yes they all played for him first: The Bravery, Bloc Party, M.I.A. Lady Sovereign, She Wants Revenge, Wolfmother, Kaiser Chiefs, Editors, Spankrock and the list goes on and on and on).

Michael Giacchino LOST / FRINGE / Jacks Song

2010-03-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

So i was browsing the net today, well actually i was just reading LOSTPEDIA, a lunchtime well spent in my books:) but seriously though theres so much information on there its insane. I came across this very interesting article about the award acceptance speech by Michael Giacchino. The composer for LOST and FRINGE and many other super awesome shows. Also, he did the scores for the whole Medal Of Honor series. Anyway, right at the bottom of this post is some info about Michael for those who dont know him. And for those who do know him, heres his very very very cool acceptance speech. I think he got an oscar, or a grammy? something cool like that.

Acceptance Speech

Thank you, guys. When I was... I was nine and I asked my dad, "Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8 millimeter camera that was in your drawer?" And he goes, "Sure, take it." And I took it and I started making movies with it and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, "What you're doing is a waste of time." Never. And I grew up, I had teachers, I had colleagues, I had people that I worked with all through my life who always told me what you're doing is not a waste of time. So that was normal to me that it was OK to do that. I know there are kids out there that don't have that support system so if you're out there and you're listening, listen to me: If you want to be creative, get out there and do it. It's not a waste of time. Do it. OK? Thank you. Thank you.

No... thank you Michael, for adding that extra bit of perfectness to LOST. Im sure it will be fine if i say i speak for all LOST fans when i say that the show just wouldnt be the same with out you, so well done. Oh and thanks for Jacks Song:) and for those of you who font watch LOST... do yourself a favour. and start watching it already.

Heres a short snippet from Wikipedia:

Michael Giacchino is an American composer who has composed scores for movies, television series and video games. His most notable work include the score to ultimate best television series LOST. Giacchino has continued his collaboration with Legendary genius JJ Abrams. He wrote a homage to Japanese monster scores in an overture titled "ROAR!" which played over the credits of the Abrams produced monster movie Cloverfield. It was the only original music for the entire film. He is also the composer of the new Abrams show, Fringe.

French Electronic Mavericks / Justice / We Are Your Friends

2010-03-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

So who ever doesnt know it, just know (and dot ever forget) that I am a super huge fan of Justice and their iconic sound. I cant wait for their new album to drop. These guys just changed the way people view distortion and they brought such a dramatically cool and funky disco element in their music that even today cant be truly rivaled. Im very impressed with their production skills as well as their infamous live performances and I wish they would come down to cape town already. And just for the record, if you dont love Justice then you are no friend of mine. Im not joking. Not even a little. Anyway, for anyone who has been living inside their beds (or their empty heads) for the past couple of years, heres a brief explanation of who Justice is:

Justice is a French electronic music duo consisting of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay. The two were partners in graphic design at first, but soon moved on to their next love. Music. The duo is one of the most successful groups on Ed Banger Records and is managed by the label's head, Pedro Winter. Justice is known for incorporating a strong rock and indie influence into their music and image.

Their remix of the MGMT song 'Electric Feel' won the Grammy Award for Best Remix in 2009. In June 2009, it was announced that Justice would be moving to WMG / Atlantics newly relaunched Elektra Records label, and plans to release a new album in early 2010! (Fucking Brilliant!)

On 1 June 2008, it was said that Justice was chosen by Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to produce the bands follow up to Stadium Arcadium, but this was quickly corrected by Ed Banger manager Pedro Winter, as Anthony Kiedis had only stated he was a fan of Justice, not preparing for a collaboration. And when John Frusicante found out that Justice and the Ed Banger crew wont be producing their follow up he decided to leave to work on his Empyrean Album, which has become a milestone in Frusciantes musical career. Just kidding... that part didnt happen at all. Just thought it would be cool to put that part in. Anyway, moving on.

In July 2008, Justice was revealed to have done a mix for the Dior Homme Summer 2009 Fashion Show, much like Daft Punk did for Louis Vuitton in 2007. The track, now known as Planisphere, was released in four parts on the bands MySpace page, with an extra final cut that did not make it into the fashion show mix known as "Planisphere IV" or "Planisphere Final".

In April 2009 the music website Stereogum hosted a remix by the duo of U2s song Get On Your Boots, the lead single off of the band's most recent album No Line on the Horizon. Their remix of Lenny Kravitz's song Let Love Rule was also featured on Kanye West's blog. Also in April 2009 at the Coachella Valley Music Festival, Augé was seen at the "Dome" with Busy P, DJ Mehdi, and Daft Punk. They played at the 2009 Voodoo Experience in New Orleans, as well as at the HARD Haunted Mansion in LA over the Halloween weekend.

(all images courtesy of so me) i kinda stole it... but im sure he wont mind.

Forever Ed Banger (Around The World)

2010-03-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Okay so i havent really updated this blog since late 2009. But who cares right. Because im updating it now, and i guess thats what matters the most. I just recently fell head over heals again with my sweet old label of french love and distortion, Ed Banger and the rest of the Banger crew. These guys just know exactly how to make you get up and dance till you cant know more. Whether its to DJ Mehdi's Signatune, Uffies First Love, Daft Punks Around The World, Justice † Album, or even their highly recommended Fabric Rejected Mix. Jesus. I just cant get enough. Anyway. I thought I would be doing some well needed revival and what better way to start off 2010 (Im delayed I know) with some super funky Ed Banger Love! I will be posting varying articles regarding some of the Banger crew in weeks to come, I would say days but who am I kidding right?

Occasionally a record label emerges from the shadows of its predecessors that stands clear above the shoulders of their current peers and represents a scene or sound SO well that it seems that they ARE that scene. Well Ed Banger may well go on to achieve this. Very much the dance label of the new age rock and roll rebel with nothing to lose but some brain cells, this tidy French outfit represents a tasty stable of producers that are comprised of both professional producers and the balls - out rock and rollers who just get up on stage, thrash it out and realise they are very fucking good at what they do. Yeah:)

Ed Banger Records is the French electronic music record label run by Pedro Winter aka Busy P. Pedro managed Daft Punk from 1996 to 2008. It was founded in 2002 as a division of Headbangers Entertainment. The label is home to legendary French electronic acts such as Daft Punk / Justice / SebastiAn / Uffie / Krazy Baldhead / DJ Mehdi / Mr Oizo / Mr Flash / Vicarious Bliss / So Me / DJ Feadz / DSL / Mickey Moonlight / Breakbot / and Winter himself, under the alias Busy P of course.

All of the Ed Banger Records video and album art is coordinated and designed by So Me. The label enjoyed a dramatic rise in fame in early 2007 when a number of the artists signed to its roster found mainstream success, most notably French electronic group Justice, whose rework of "Never Be Alone" by now defunct electro - rock band Simian (members of which would later become Simian Mobile Disco), entered the UK charts at number 20. The track was a success in clubs worldwide and the music video for the single won the award for best video at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2006. Labelmate Uffie also enjoyed a rise in fame in late 2006 when her single, 'Pop The Glock' gained international radio play.

Trance Energy 2010 Line Up Revealed

2009-12-25T08:36:00.000-08:00

Its finally here! The world’s biggest trance event, Trance Energy, is announcing its full line up today. It includes a full-packed programme featuring the biggest names in trance and the hottest up and coming new talents, alongside old favourites. So, which artists can we expect to see hitting the stage at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht on Saturday April 3rd?

Trance Energy will be held in four areas, each with its own character and style, introducing a whole new generation of acts never heard before in the Jaarbeurs. Including on the Main Stage, the long awaited threesome who have been on the Trance Energy wish list many years and are placed a respectable number four on the DJ Mag top 100 list: Above & Beyond!

The Main Stage will also host Armada's Markus Schulz who, with his incredible bass lines and uplifting melodies, is representing the newer generation in the world of trance.

There's also no shortage of raw Dutch talent this year either, in the form of Sander van Doorn, last years winner of 'Best Breakthrough Artist' at the International Dance Music Awards in Miami, which landed him a spot amongst the global top.

For the hard trance fans there’s the Hard Stage featuring a strong line-up of artists like dance music veteran Scot Project and Kamui, who conquered the world with their track 'Electro Slut', named by BBC's Radio 1 as favourite track. This year Trance Energy collaborated with the world’s most popular trance website Trance.nu to produce a stunning line-up for the Future Stage, featuring a star-studded list of acts like Dash Berlin and Super8 & Tab. Contrary to previous announcements, there will be no Dutch stage this year. Instead, a strong combi line-up presented by High Contrast and Marco V's In Charge will take over in fitting style. So, still plenty of Dutch talent on show plus enough room to squeeze in a special guest performance from Cosmic Gate.

ID&T is proud to present the line up for Trance Energy 2010:

MAIN STAGE
Above & Beyond
Markus Schulz
Sander van Doorn
Gareth Emery
Simon Patterson & Sean Tyas
BT
Nic Chagall

HIGH CONTRAST INVITES IN CHARGE RECORDS
Marco V
Special guest: Cosmic Gate
Andy Moor
Richard Durand
Sied van Riel
Jochen Miller
Cliff Coenraad

HARD STAGE
Scot Project
Kamui
Proteus
Dave 202
Artento Divini & Fausto
Ernesto vs Bastian
Mark Sherry
Alex Kidd

FUTURE STAGE HOSTED BY TRANCE.NU
W&W
Dash Berlin
Daniel Wanrooy
Super8 & Tab
Ferry Tayle
Daniel Kandi
Arnej

PREPARE TO DANCE
Trance Energy
Saturday 3 April 2010
Jaarbeurs Utrecht
21.00 – 7.00
Tickets: € 47,50 ex fee
www.Trance-Energy.nl

The House Of Kuala (Dream Scape Nine)

2009-11-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

First of all / this particular blog your reading is not about the story that words can tell. I mean come on. (Seriously) Just take a (second) and look at the images posted. I think it says enough. But for those of you who do enjoy the occasional read while looking at mind blowing astounding imagery - be my guest:)

Paris based Agency Jouin Manku took on its first large scale integrated architectural and interior design commission in 2003, when YTL Design Group from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, invited it to design the residence of a Malaysian power family.

Completed in the latter part of 2008, the residence is the ultimate expression of the taste, influence and industrial scale capabilities of the prominent family whose entrepreneurial activities have shaped Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.

Three generations of the family inhabit the 3,000 square-meter residence designed to accommodate both private and public functions. The building includes nine bedrooms, two family rooms, a family kitchen and a private dining area, a family library, a game room, a study, a public reception area, a formal dining room, a ballroom, chapel, 21 bathrooms, a swimming pool, two guest suites plus indoor private and guest parking.

The initial sketches exploring the owners’ usage requirements reveal resemblances to the boring stacked-boxes look still so ubiquitous in residential architecture. And while traces of the ”heaped trailers“ syndrome remain in the finished building, this is not the Jetsons, neither are we looking at EPCOT, Tomorrowland or the 1964 New York World's Fair.

We are in the lush vegetation of a posh Kuala Lumpur residential area, and in spite of the boxiness of the structure, an elegant circular softness manages to permeate the sightlines and key details of the building, making it an agreeable part of its landscape.

Inside, prominent examples of this curvilinear elegance include the amazing staircases resembling the inside of a shell when viewed from above, and the round ballroom chandelier of 13,000 custom-designed undulating petals of unglazed cast porcelain biscuit.

The curved walls both inside and out have a functional purpose of providing privacy and enclosing each function gently in its own space. The overall sweeping feel inside the spaces invites the viewer in and creates soft, arching vistas.

The concept consists of three layers: the base for public functions, the ring for guests and the private house for the family.

The inside of the magnificent residence is gorgeous with its high ceilings, large windows and abundance of light. White color and natural wood are dominant elements but they allow the view from the vast, mostly retractable, windows to remain the main visual attraction.

The residence is also a wonderful study of contrasts between inside and outside, private and public, traditional and ultra modern, man-made and natural.

YTL Design Group of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was the architect of record. The Agency Jouin Manku design team included Patrick Jouin, Sanjit Manku, Yann Brossier (architect), Richard Perron (designer). Officina del Paesaggio from Lugano, Switzerland was in charge of the landscape design, and L’ Observatoire, New York, USA handled the lighting.

Word.

Do You Dream? / All The Way (Jonas Steur Remix)

2009-11-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

This post is for all you bike enthusiasts — or those of you who maybe dont know much about the ins and outs of motorcycles, but share a passion for fascinating imagery and maybe even dream every once in a while about speeding relentlessly down the M5 highway on two wheels.

The australia based designer, Chris Hunter compiles a daily dose of cool bike images on www.bikeexif.com (Concept Bikes and Classic Ones as well)

From BMW airheads to Goldwing bobbers, Hunter pulls together the most interesting biker photographs from around the world. Bike EFIX is the place to see all the best bespoke, custom and even vintage motorcycles for all you design-obsessed bike fans out there.

And Hunter, who has a particular liking for the Italian dream — the Moto Guzzi — is on the right track for attracting those who appreciate new and classic designs on two wheels.

Dupli Casa: Remembering The Past (Flying Towards The Future)

2009-10-27T14:16:00.001-07:00

Dupli Casa, a private residence by the Neckar river, near the old town of Marbach in South- Western Germany, is a wonderfull example of connection and fluidity. It connects the inside with the outside, up with down, air with ground and - most cleverly - past with present and even future.

From the outside, the three-storey concrete villa looks like a bit like some sort of a fiberglass motorboat job gone funny, yet it also manages to look immensely appealing and intriguing. From some angles, the structure appears to be standing upside down - the lower exterior rim spilling onto the lawn and forming a part of a roof structure, if the building were to stand the other way around. It could have been blown there by the wind; it could be a StarWarsian vehicle frozen in place; it could be just taking off to outer space.

The outdoor swimming pool and the white surface surrounding it seem like a perfect reflection of the house, almost as if the house had been face down on the ground, and when it was lifted off the ground, the process had left an imprint of a swimming pool on the ground and the large window opening in the house.

The views from the inside are amazing, especially from the vast ground-level openings that again, give the sensation of flying, being airborne, weightlessness. Everything is fluid, flowing and smooth.

All of this is very much in keeping with the main inspiration for the house. The new residence follows the footprint of the previous dwelling and its numerous extensions. The idea was to let the 'family archaeology' continue in the new building. It's a house that remembers its beginnings in 1984 yet projects boldly into the future.

Dupli Casa is the work of Jurgen Mayer H, founder and principal of his cross-disciplinary studio. J. Mayer H. Architekten in Berlin. Other team members include Georg Schmidthals, Thorsten Blatter and Simon Takasak, plus Uli Wiesler's architecture studio based in Stuttgart.

Tara Donovan - Artistic Genius

2009-10-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

New York artist Tara Donovan is a master of seeing. Not just looking, but actually seeing. Her sculptural, one-of-a-kind art is based on her ability to see, imagine and create forms, shapes and textures from ordinary objects that most of us don't even notice. She creates art from rolls of tape, pieces of pencil, Styrofoam cups, paper plates, napkins. Her sculptural works evoke thoughts of nature. A perfect example is the 'Untitled' cloud formation she created in 2003 from Styrofoam cups and glue.

The 38-year-old Donovan has recently accomplished several things many artists never achieve. This September, the first monograph of her work was published by visual book press, Monacelli Press (now owned by Random House). A couple of weeks later, on October 10, a traveling retrospective of her work opened at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

But perhaps the biggest deal is the extra half-a-million dollars that she will have to work with in the next few years. In late September, she received a phone call from the John D. and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. She was informed that she had been made a Fellow of the Foundation and that she will receive a $500,000 MacArthur Foundation 'genius' grant. It is a no-strings-attached support of her work over five years. She was selected as one of 25 recipients in 2008. Others include a physician, an astrophysicist, a violinist, a computer scientist and representatives of many other endeavours who were selected for their creativity, originality and potential to make important contributions in the future.

Fischerspooner: The Best Revenge

2009-10-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

I hate the term ‘comeback’. That’s Casey Spooner, one half of Fischerspooner, the iconic electro duo who’ve just released their third album (Entertainment) after a four-year gap in recording. “It’s not a comeback because we didn’t actually leave,” implores Casey. He’s right too. Fischerspooner haven’t been hiding after their last album, Odyssey, failed to ignite in the same way that electroclash touchstone #1 did, they’ve just been busy working on other facets of the Fischerspooner universe. “Releasing albums isn’t all we do, we’re performance artists so we could be working on stage shows, theatre pieces, ballets or installations.”

Yet for a duo that can work (successfully) in so many different creative arenas, there is something appealing about the musical side of Fischerspooner that lured Casey and creative partner Warren Fischer back for Entertainment. “I often wonder why we do it,” Casey remarks with a pause for contemplation. “This job can be terrible. I haven’t had a day off since the beginning of the year,” he moans. “But I think, in the end, Fischerspooner as a musical entity offers us a chance to incorporate a lot of different elements and open things up for collaborations. For us, it’s never just an album. There’s a stage show we’ve got to think about and with that comes choreography, costuming, design as well as art and image direction. We’re always thinking of new stuff to do and who we can do it with to make it work right.”

Whatever they’ve done in the last four years has worked, as Entertainment shows off a charismatic and invigorated Fischerspooner. One minute they’re swanning through some pulsating electro (The Best Revenge), the next it’s brooding dance music for androids (Money Can’t Dance) or fractured and futuristic pop (the stunning Danse en France). Entertainment is an album filled with unbridled imagination, but more importantly it’s an album that sees the realisation of all these ideas. “We worked really hard on this record, and we’re proud of it,” Casey says grinning. “I guess I don’t mind too much if people see it as a comeback. It just means that we’ve been through it all. First we were loved by everyone, then hated and now people are excited to hear from us again. I quite like that feeling.”

It’s good to have them back.

Fever Ray (Aka The Girl From The Knife)

2009-10-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

After the Knife's Silent Shout conquered everyone's world in 2006, O. Dreijer and his sister K. Dreijer Andersson put their musical partnership on hold. This led to the birth of Fever Ray, Karien's latest solo-output. While the self-titled debut of Fever Ray isn't far removed from the Knife's spooky electronic terrains, this record does feel different. It's sparse and paced against the tension heard on the Silent Shout and the attitude of Deep Cuts. Most remarkable of all is the glimpse at Driejer Andersson herself that Fever Ray offers. Beyond the Knife's stark exterior, we see a little of what drives Karin and how she's still steps ahead of the game.

The 4Stroke Jeans

2009-10-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

The bursting ranks of international boutique denim labels has a new member, 4Stroke Jeans. The label is inspired by Theodora Richards, the glam It Girl, model and daughter of Rolling Stones legendary guitarist Keith Richards.

The rock'n'roll inpsired label stays true to its theme, naming styles after iconic rock'n'roll venues and taking wash names from classic rock'n'roll lyrics. The label has also thrown its weight behind the concept of eco fashion, with the development of their pure denim range made from organic and eco-conscious fabrics with clean washes and styles that bring a refined look to the collection. This season's collection takes inspiration from the 1970’s and 1980’s, mixing classic retro styles with earth toned colours.

Home Of Dreams - The Paraty House / Brazil (Second Edit)

2009-10-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

Elegant, calm, minimalist, clean and beautiful are among the adjectives that can be used to describe almost all of Marcio Kogan’s much publicized and much awarded residential masterpieces.

The magnificent, streamlined residences must serve as an antidote of some sort to the Brazilian architect who has been quoted as saying that he loves his home town of São Paulo and New York because they are similar in their chaotic ugliness, and because he likes “energy, chaos and a multi-cultural population in a city.”

Out of this chaos, humour and cinema loving creative mind, an astonishingly lovely, peaceful balance is projected onto residential projects.
Reviewers of Kogan’s work often mention Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright or their contemporaries, but Kogan has said that he is more inspired by Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and Andy Warhol.

However, the 57-year-old Brazilian-born and educated Kogan does have a modernist approach, and he has described the work of fellow Brazilians of modernist ilk -- Lucio Costa, Oscar Niemeyer, Lina Bo Bardi and Vilanova Artigas – as incredible.

The Paraty House, pictured here, is located on one of the hundreds of islands near the colonial town of Paraty, close to Rio de Janeiro. Before it was completed, Kogan predicted that it was to be his favourite house. Its simple premise is two large drawers pushed into the hill and connected by an internal staircase.

Its elegance comes from the seamless link between indoors and out, from the use of native wood, stone and vegetation, and from the minimalist, sweeping vistas that make so many of Kogan’s houses appear as if they were either taking off or recently landed. And although the stacked-boxes style is starting to wear thin as style-du-jour, this is surely one of its best examples.

Best For Last:) Supra Terry Kennedy (Perfekt Design)

2009-10-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Supra has officially let the previews out of their upcoming model with skater Terry Kennedy. Keeping with the strong popularity of the high - top sneaker, the TK model is no different as it goes further then the famed Skytop with a higher cut shoe. The relatively slim toebox takes on a chunkier shape past the ankle and culminates with a double strap design at the top. This is the most perfectist sneaker my simple eyes have ever encountered in this reality. Holy shit. Just look at that design. I bet freakin Darth Vader would die a long slow death for a pair of these lol. I mean, who needs the Dark Side when you wearing these perfect little peices of heaven on your feet?

Sneaker Love: Supra Skytop (Amazing Sneaker Design)

2009-10-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Supras were one of the hottest sneakers of 2008. In one year's time, the supra reached across Europe and into Asia faster than the speed of a major competitor's private jet. Chad Muska was one of the first sneakerheads to offer a slim sneaker with a narrow toebox in a market dominated by chunkier styles and heavier models. The Skytop's extra heel and toe padding add comfort and protection, a gum rubber outsole gives more stick than an 80s glam band's hairspray, and wax laces allow you to form them into the shape of the Van Halen super-mullet. And if you dont like the Skytop, try the Supra Vaider.

Sneaker Love: Vans SK8 Hi Vert Pro Hosoi

2009-10-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

Introducing the 3rd release part of the Vans x Christian Hosoi ongoing collaboration. Designed by one of the 10 most stylish and influencial skateboarders of all time, Christian Hosoi can design sneakers with simplicity as his weapon. His classic suede and canvas model is enhanced with an upgraded polyurethane foam footbed that increases cushioning and compliments the grip of the Vans waffle sole. Grab these while you can! The first edition pack released by Hosoi and Vans is even slicker. The Supreme Vans X and Bad Brains Black SK8 Highs with the lightning bolts were also released this year.

Sneaker Love: Retro Air Jordans

2009-10-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

Air Jordans are still the most popular signature sneaker, particularly amongst men. There are so many editions of this sneaker and they are all considered equally hot. The Nike Jordan is what put Nike on the map in the urban arena and crossed the line between athletic and casual sneakers. These Retro Jordans are what sneaker art looks like if anyone is asking.

Sneaker Love: Element Omahigh Swap Meet

2009-10-07T12:28:00.001-07:00

Wide decks, huge wheels, and plastic runner rails are no match for the Element Mens Omahigh Swap Meet Shoe. This all - 80s high top is a veritable Godzilla of a skate shoe. Slim sole padding provides insanely accurate board feel and cold - connect construction ensures durability and comfort. You can find these in a variety of shocking colorways.

Sneaker Love: Converse Leather Jack Chuck Taylor

2009-10-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

As part of their 100th Anniversary celebration, Converse released this super styling Leather Jack Chuck Taylor. Inspired by the look of vintage motorcycle jackets, the upper is composed of patchworks along with zippers and waxed laces. What makes these Chucks stand apart from the rest is its soft semi-crushed and beaten leather. The quality and style of leather makes a big difference in comfort and appearance. These Jacks are very, very nice.

Sneaker Love: Adidas Campus Classics

2009-10-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Campus was originally a basketball shoe that became a hip-hop phenomenon. Now this 80s classic is required footwear for any student of sneakerology. Suede upper for luxurious comfort and good looks. Adidas Gazelles are equally as good. One of my ultimate favourites, I wish I had a pair though...

Sneaker Love: Nike 'Be True' Vintage Dunks (Iowa Sneaks)

2009-10-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

Green and White resonates the word 'Elitist'. Well, at least in sneakerville. The Nike 'Be True' campaign launched the Iowa Dunks as the grand finale of its series. Though only a small number were ever released. They are unbelievably extremely rare. So rare that the person who designed it never even got a pair. As soon as it was released Nike called on a State Of Emergency and the Military Police had to find all the guilty consumers just to confiscate these awsome sneakers, they are really that rare. Legend has it that the guilty consumers who were caught with the sneakers in their possession were given triple life sentences and some of them were even publically executed. Im not even joking, heres a youtube link where they show a couple of the executions:

http://youtubenike.blogspot.com/2009/10/youtube-nike/publicexecutions.html

Sneaker Love: Gravis Lowdown Hi - Cut LX

2009-10-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Gravis Lowdown is a simple stylish high top sneaker in an electric slick colorway. Featuring a full leather upper and a lightly padded footbed that offer an added comfort and support. These hot kicks are a great addition to any wardrobe.

Super Legendary Game Icon: Mario !!!

2009-10-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

It has been over 20 years since Mario the game was created and it is recognized as one of the top icons in the video game world. Almost everyone who has ever played a video game in his or her life would know exactly who Mario is. He is the hero on a mission that involves him defeating that evil mother fucker Cooper and then saving Princess Peach and after that live happily ever after. He has been on every Nintendo console made to date.

In the beginning, there was Donkey Kong. It was originally made for the Atari 2600 and it involved what would become the legendary Mario as we know him today. In Donky Kong you are supposed to free the princess from Donkey Kong's clutches. After completing the game, you have to start all over on a more difficulty level. It does not have an official ending. The sequel was called Donkey Kong Jr. This time however, Mario was the villain and you played as Donkey Kong Junior. There were 4 levels in the game and after the final stage it starts from over. Mario was just getting started and also had a game called Mario Brothers, which introduced Luigi into the mix.

Excuse me, but did you know...

Mario was first called "Jumpman." He was also a carpenter then, not a plumber.

Shigeru Miyamoto drew Mario as wearing a cap because he found drawing hair difficult. He also drew in the moustache, because it was easier to see than a mouth in the crude video game screen resolution back then.

Mario and his younger brother Luigi are known as the "Mario Brothers." This means that Mario’s last name is also Mario, so his full name is Mario Mario.

Mario has appeared in over 200 video games so far, has sold over 193 million units of games (all of the Mario series) and even has his own TV cartoon show. Super Mario Bros. 3 alone grossed over $500 million in USA.

Super Mario Brothers theme music, written by Koji Kondo, is known worldwide. It has inspired countless fan-renditions, including one played by Carlo Snatana on two guitars (viewed over 4 million times on YouTube!), played by Mozart on 11 string piano, and rapped by the late Tupac Shakur (RIP).

Mario is the most famous character in the history of video games, and perhaps is the most famous character ever. In a 1990 poll by Marketing Evaluations, Mario was found to be more popular (and recognizable) among children than Mickey Mouse and George Bush.

That the Mushroom Kingdom is modeled after the real city of New York. When Shigeru Miyamoto visited the city as a teenager, he was fascinated by the building-sized mushrooms that dotted the pristine landscape. Shigeru was a well known heroin addict at the time.

That the number of term papers and theses entitled "The Correlation Between Super Mario And Socialism" or "Mario Brothers: An Allegory For Communism?" written every year is inversely proportional to the number of fatal dorm fires caused by defective bongs?

The Mario Brothers arcade game was originally named "Fuckman Brothers", but was quickly changed when it was discovered that delinquents could easily use a marker to vandalize the machine's marquee to read "Pacman Brothers"?

The Photography Issue (Illumination) / Part 2 Of 5

2009-10-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

I love this music. I love this philosophy. - Liquid Radio (FM4) SAT (09.25.2006) - Sir Anders Trentemøller