Los Angeles

Last night I caught a documentary looking at the music and mythology of a golden era in Californian culture. It told the story of how Los Angeles changed from a kooky backwater in the early 1960s to become the artistic and industrial hub of the American music industry by the end of the 1970s. It was very knowledgeable and engaging to watch. This song has been with me since, and I just think that it is a perfect way to end the month! Movements are the future!

A plush fabric(?!)

Yes. Velour may well be a plush, knitted fabric. However, in this case, it's a collective who make clothes of a darn good quality and style! After taking over an inherited rummage store in 1997, Velour grew, and by 2002, the team (based in Göteborg, SE) took to the challenge of designing clothes; and from this position their first collection was launched in 2005.

Now, 2010. Velour can be found in more than 100 selected retail shops, mainly situated in the Scandinavian countries Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. The popularity of this young brand is ever-growing at present! If their latest Spring/Summer collection is anything to go by, it's due to their simple detail, pastel scheme, alongside comfortable fabrics with a clean/basic, yet trendy styling. Velour maintains functionality, but with a certain je ne sais quoi...

The overall design concept of Velour springs out of a classic preppy look with traditional garments redesigned in a new stylish, yet effortless, way. They say, "We call this Feelgood Preppy". This style appears to have strong Swedish west coast influences and addresses curious individuals who have an interest in trends but, unlike the fashion slave, are reflective and make their own interpretation. I can't wait to get a couple more pieces in time for Summer!

So... Jeff Wall

Despite my personal affection for taking photos dying somewhat recently, I have taken more of a focus on/around the ideas of practicing photography, as well as the mediums notable characters. Bailey and Duffy are two of the most prolific. They changed the theory around taking pictures. In the late 50s/early 60s the science behind capturing an image was not defined. Styles were constantly evolving, whilst content went beyond the idea of Birthday Parties and Holiday Snaps?! Photography became fun, expressive, and a first... an art form.

This birth provided freedom leading both men to set their own boundaries. They targeted the rich and famous, went to the coolest parties, and came up with the craziest ideas for staging images. I think one of my favourite collections from this era is Duffy's Pirelli calender, 1973 - a stunning work (controversially collaborated on).

Anyway, this brings me to now - taking the ideas of photography as an art form, and the staging/production of an image - this bought me to no-one other than... Jeff Wall. He is renowned for large-format photographs with subject matter that ranges from mundane corners of the urban environment to elaborate tableaux that take on the scale and complexity of nineteenth-century history paintings. Sure, his images don't have the same energy of that of Bailey and Duffy, but they replace a glossy sexiness with richly intriguing value, due to Wall's staging, which draws a viewer to really contemplate what his images say?!

Wall's work advances an argument for the necessity of pictorial art. Some of Wall's photographs are complicated productions involving cast, sets, crews and digital postproduction. They have been characterized as one-frame cinematic productions, which leaves their validity questionable. Wall's photos are enigmatic and provocative. On receiving a copy of Jeff Wall: The Complete Edition - a lovely definitive monograph from Phaidon, here his work is finely examined.

Since the 60s, the study and advancement in photography has perhaps led to a 'sucking-out' of some of the more playful aspects in picture-taking, but which in turn has led to a new, complex, and a more intellectual level of creation to take over! A new fun - for thinkers...

Damn funny.

I don't usually champion comedy from, or linked to Mr. Gervais, but here is an chortle-filled exception. Ricky edited the script (probably adding more zip to the dialogue) and cast the show well, but I think writer of Phone Shop, Phil Bowker, has got this absolutely spot on!

The pilot, follows 'New Man' Christopher (Tom Bennett) who has got a trial shift at the shop. He spends the day simply getting rinsed by experienced sellers Ashley and Jerwayne. It's decent that C4 have commissioned a series! It's too true that phone salesmen are generally dogged, cocksure weirdos!?

It was on again last night, after first airing pre-Christmas, and on the second watch it is even funnier - catching the jokes missed before! The speed of the verbal attack in this sketch is hilarious, and just totally believable. I'm unsure when its out, but watch it. Laugh!

Today: Meth Teeth

"Meth Teeth reside in Portland, OR. and in some ways embody the rainy day big country vibe of the city with its youth culture dreamers, old druggies, and rustic history." True. (Although hard to concur honestly having never been to America... Yet?!)

But, as band names go, this truly is a pretty horrific one. When searching for their myspace, typing in Meth Teeth, the google search conjured a rather vast array of pictures showing destroyed meth users mouths!? I remember watching the charmingly enigmatic Louis Theroux exhibit the destructive nature of the substance - particularly seen in its 'hometown', Fresno, CA.

Well, Meth Teeth seem to keep their haziness in their music. They have a hugely grungy/hugely distortion vibe going on. Lyrics are barely recognizable through a general muffle of noise. These references all sound a bit negative, but really I don't mean to be! I think they are great! The way these noises all genuinely clash together, positively, are then freshened by punchy guitar riffs making for a juicy and eclectic sound.

It seems like a pretty basic idea that they have going on. Crucially though, it seems to fit with the rush of inventive bands coming out of America at the minute. Vivian Girls and Male Bonding are two other shining examples! Sic Alps seem to have also led the way into a vibrant garage/home-made genre.

I like that Meth Teeth's song titles come with an equal level of despondency, protracted through their sound. 'Unemployment Forever' and 'Failures Selected By God' encapsulate wholly this, whilst 'This Is Not My Home' has a slightly more upbeat-ness to it! I like them.

Norse Projects

Norse Projects is sweet-ass Scandinavian brand, with a shop of the same name. Their collections are inspired by the rough and rugged weather that constantly batters the likes of Sweden and Norway. The natural surroundings drive the tailoring and fashion of their garments. It's basic and functional with a few Scandi/workwear twists.

All the product is made in Europe, apart from the hats which are US made, in one of America's oldest hat factories. Knits are Italian made and the rest is produced in Portugal... lovely stuff! Pricey garms, but you get real quality! For such a young brand (formed in Copenhagen in 2004) Norse Projects are certainly making the A-grade!

Everybody Loves Raymond...

Yeah, they do. I do. Who doesn't?! Well, anyway... This is kind of how I feel about The White Stripes. However, firstly, I hate all Jack White's side projects. All of 'em! And, I also really dislike Icky Thump! A lot! It was terrible! But I see these as small career blips, which I have pushed to the back of my mind! Jack and Meg have been at the centre of a truly sweet band that have pushed boundaries since forming in Detroit, 1997. Fact! I mean seeing the video for Fell In Love With A Girl, even now, makes me uncontrollably (and perhaps uncomfortably) excited!

Therefore, it is with this harnessed giddiness that I am eagerly awaiting the forthcoming release of their first documentary Under Great White Northern Lights. This is going to be sweet! In the summer of 2007, The White Stripes embarked on a intimate cross-country Canadian tour to accomplish their goal of performing in every province and territory across the expansive northern nation. This film documents their journey, culminating with their 10th Anniversary show in Nova Scotia!

Directed by Emmett Malloy, the film shows Jack and Meg playing on a Winnipeg bus, in a bowling alley, and for tribal elders people, as well as just a single note at one show?! They have always done it their way, and I have total respect for that! It's why The White Stripes have maintained such longevity! I can't wait for the chance to see the film when it finally comes out as part of an extravagant (and seriously awesome-sounding) box set March 16.

Faith in numbers...

My Nan would be less than impressed me mentioning this. I have just taken her to the foot doctors, as she has some leg trouble thats discomforting her! I pulled up, let her out, she was going to be an hour to an hour and a half! Man... I was wishing I hadn't agreed to this now. I only get 2 days off a week! I should use my time as fully as possible!

I was kind of left in a state of limbo. Shall I pop in to town, or go home? Nope. Instead I went to the supermarket! Brilliant! It's not as though I don't spend enough time in 'em already?!

Browsing the CD section, I was left stunned. They actually had the new Hot Chip album. Awesome. I still had a wedge of clubcard vouchers to get through, so physical CDs have become a part of my spending again! I got to the checkout. I bought some wax crayons, the new David Nicholls novel, and said music. All fairly avoidable purchases... Aha! The Euromillions ticket I bought last week! I better get it checked! (I must admit at the time I was not very optimistic of winning anything, as I never have previously?!)

My lottery rules. I only ever buy tickets when I am feeling lucky, which is not that often. And, I only ever buy 'lucky dip', as to not make purchasing these tickets a regular event! So... I rocked up to the customer service desk. The ticket was put through the machine. I had already anticipated, "Sorry, you're not a winner".

However, to my surprise, I was a winner! Excitement took over, the value credited didn't even matter! Just the fact that I had won was enough! I thought 'lucky dip' was rigged, and that you always lost. This suspicion has now been dispelled! £24.60

I was happy. Enough of an amount! I went back to pick up my Nan. I shared my success with her. She replied, "You jammy sod!"