Outlook + Offset

Due to the shitness of life, it looks as though I will not be attending either of these tasty music mash-ups, as either finance, distance, time, or work dictates, as usual. What a shame, as both look stella!! Both festivals are set to boast huge talent; a saturated plethora of the most exciting new bands for the next 12 months!

Outlook (top). This one is big, mainly as my mates from the Get Low cartel have bagged themselves a spot DJ-ing their best dub-step fare! You wouldn't have thought the Croats would be heavily into there dirty notes, fast bpm, or heavy reverb, but Outlook has grown year on year, and for £89 for a 4-day ticket, well... Roots Manuva, Mary- Anne Hobbs, Skream, Joker, and Plastician are among the big names hitting this abandoned fort location!! Alas, it ain't happenin'

The other. Offset (bottom). Hainualt Forest, London. Man, I can't believe I didn't sort this out! Tickets are a saintly £65 for weekend camping. A more straight up festival vibe, i.e. no forts, more fields. The line-up is decent, with Caribou, Egyptian Hip-Hop, These New Puritans, Mount Kimbie, Ali Love, Rolo Tomassi, Telepathe, and Kap Bambino the cream of the crop (for me anyway!!) On the face of it, Offset seems more along the lines of the 24-hour Vice: Tales of the Jackalope events, and is most probably better organised (not hard to surpass!)

So, not going to either, but would love to go to both! I will probs just end up spending the weekend listening to Joy Orbison and Everything Everything.

Mark Tansey

I have just discovered Mark Tansey. From his work, instantly, I thought that there was more to him than first meets the eye. It's not just about intricacy in a monochromatic colour-scheme. With Tansey, his work is wonderfully intriguing, and hidden. Born in San Jose, California in 1949, his American/postmodern style is known not only for his bold uses of single colour, but also the elaboration and detail shown in his work, which subtly incorporates text, other images and symbols.

Tansey's paintings normally depict everyday or historical occurrences, though they reveal certain oddities under closer scrutinization. He says that his work is about "how different realities interact with each other." The implication is that he as an artist is searching for a "drive" to incorporate in his subjects, that would engage the viewer intellectually, while avoiding simple visual methods and opting for a more subtle and, consequently, more sophisticated and effective approach.

Most of his paintings can readily be used as examples of that approach, where at first glance nothing is out of ordinary, but then it becomes apparent that certain elements are out of context, while remaining coherent visually, thus creating the conflict. Furthermore, there are certainly instances where his work appears quite humorous and satirical, especially in these canvas'.

Jump Rope (US)

So, this video is being an utter bitch. I was always no good at understanding the writing of code to make my MySpace profile look cool, and this shows here, with a stupidly oversized video thingy!! Well, this video deserves to be included anywhere, regardless, as it's up there with Gondry's Fell In Love With A Girl video for The White Stripes, as a visual accompaniment to such a thumping track! (For further listening, check the Gold Dust, dub-pumped, Flux Pavillion remix too!)

Meanwhile, ever since first view of this excitable video, I've been rummaging all over YouTube for more crazy skipping experts, and my does it get mental! There are competitions that take place all over America, Europe, and the Rest of the World, that just look truly mad! The routines, the timing, the precision!! It's a travesty that this is something that hasn't come to prominence in Britain. Shame, as it makes a cracking spectical!! The double act towards the end of Fresh's vid are just mesmerizing!!

Let's go surfing now, everybody's learning how...

Luckily, I get to go on holiday tomorrow! Yay! Twice in a Summer isn't too shabby (especially with Offset Festival potentially looming to top off this holidaying season?!) For now, or should I say tomorrow, ma famille and I are heading off down to Newlyn, Cornwall. Among other things, this is the exact town of my mothers birth, so... nostalgic! And, whilst down, an activity of note includes coupling up with our cousins to tackle/meet our 92-year old G.D. (Great Grandad to you!) A double World War pilot/survivor! He's doing well for an old-timer, considering!

So, other than the mentioned 'necessary' activity, I'm sure more enthralling things will take prominence when discussing the holiday in retrospect. And, by this, I already know that having some proper surfing lessons will be a strong highlight!! These pictures (above) by World-renowned Surfer & Surf photographer, LeRoy Grannis encapsulate all that is majestic and cool RE: Surfing!! I've done all the body-board thing, and that's fun and all, but everyone wants to be able to surf! I can't wait! I can see a repeat trip if all goes well, as Sennen Surfing Centre looks the ideal place to learn the trade! Then, Bondi Beach, or Cali maybe?!

Kate Moss by Mario Testino

Just when you thought Kate Moss couldn't become any more iconic...

Well, she surpasses herself, again! It seems that she has this uncanny ability to maintain prominence within the socialite ether/public eye, even when she is trying to live a bit more of a low-key, normal(?!) existence!

Here, fashion snapper Mario Testino has recaptured the 'sexy' that ultimately led to the explosive birth of Kate Moss! There's a glamour about these new shots that calls-home with when she was first noticed as a model!

These images carry a phenomenal allure; a consequence of an extraordinary 20 year friendship between Testino and Moss. The intimacy established from the trust and familiarity between the pair is on show for all to see, giving an honest insight into the lives and minds of two of the world’s definitive style leaders!

Taschen have lovingly produced Kate Moss by Mario Testino, and unsurprisingly so! The German publishers have always taken a risk on content, The Sunday Times Style Magazine uncovered how, 'for 30 years now, this prolific company has been publishing what it darned well wants to.'

Having finished being shown (and sold in limited editions of two) at Phillips de Pury & Co’s South West London showroom, the super-size shots will be on view for a longer stint at The Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. Definitely worth a look!

A Field. A Day.

I had been looking forward to this for too long! But, as usual I have managed to cock it all up, and have made myself unable to attend this years Field Day festival, Victoria Park (31.07.10). Just great! Seriously, I'm so hacked off. Pulling a sicky is so tantalizing, but Beni, although being ridiculous, burnt a bit of a hole in my pocket!

Basically, the main reason for being so bummed out is that all the bands that I have been championing, more or less, are playing on various stages throughout the day! Whether it's Atlas Sound, Toro Y Moi, Caribou, Silver Apples, Mount Kimbie, Moderat, Fake Blood, These New Puritans, No Age, and Egyptian Hip Hop, to mention a few...

To quote... "East London’s finest festival is back for it’s 4th year with yet another spectacular line up. Field Day has firmly cemented it’s place in the UK festival calendar with a plethora of aural delights and rustic merrymaking... whilst off-the-wall Village Green area, 'Village Mentality', will supply plenty of rural fayre".

All I would say is... Just GO! Tickets are still available for around £30. I know how much I am missing out already! Plus, I was going to go with a mate I hadn't seen in a while! Please, if anyone wants to A) stump up some cash to finance the day B) cover my shift at work - well, then, that'd be lovely! However, reality bites. Next year?!

Boy & Bear

A band from Australia. Boy & Bear were introduced to me through a girl I met in Barcelona. When she said, "My boyfriend is in a band", I just hope my eyes didn't roll too obviously... Especially as, since being back, I found Boy & Bear were not the poor man's Wolfmother (not that I have a problem with Wolfmother) that I was expecting! Very far from it! Folk-revival, or Nu-Folk seems to be all the rage currently, and with an essence of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, this Sydney five-piece are staking their claim!

Oz has offered up something far more tentative and caring than it's traditional rock and dance stereotypes. Surprisingly, soft and melodic sounds drench The Storm, which has a real organic and hearty feel about it. Whilst a mix of harmony and perky guitar deliver Mexican Mavis! After a successful Spring-time UK Tour with Laura Marling now behind them, and a string of sold out home shows with Mumford & Sons approaching, Boy & Bear seem to have things right where they want them!

Check out their recently released debut EP - With Emperor Antarctica