James Blake

The self-titled nature of this album is typical. After the releases of both the Klavierwerke EP and CMYK EP, this LP follows suit, as it has surfaced in a similar low, understated fashion. By this, I don't mean that it is an album that has gone unnoticed, not at all! This much awaited debut has been inbuilt with anticipation. Yet, countering the hype, in bisection, it's the subtlety in each track, the tenderness of delivery, and hollowness of each dubby throb that makes James Blake work.

Evidently, this album is very personal (in name and content), as I Never Learnt To Share and Why Don't You Call Me exude this trait. In listening, it's evident you're meant to be alone. It's an album suited for isolation and reflection. There is nothing obvious or glaring about it, which is to its success - especially when considering the bright lights that have surrounded it's release. It is contemplative brilliance that has continued to embody the frosty, ghostly sound of Blake's initial releases!!

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

This film is, pretty much, as old as I am. Yet, even 20-odd years on it is truly hilarious, poignant (when it needs to be), and wholly, an all-round, eccentric, feel-good movie. Ferris, played by Matthew Broderick, from the very start, is over the top, cheeky, and utterly flamboyant. Basically, he plays a chief prankster who has the sharpness of mind to faultlessly (with some fortune) master his 'Day Off'. Pretending he is death's door sick (evidently a regular trick) Ferris, in his final year of High School, has his peers and faculty wrapped around his finger. A true cult classic!!

Enrolling the help of his (introverted, pessimistic and slightly weird) chum Cameron, whom initially you discover is actually off sick, between them, they manage to sneak Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane, out of School to join! The group spend the day in Chicago, at leisure, as one of their last flings before they head off to different colleges. Meanwhile, the rest of the school and many residents learn of Ferris' exaggerated illness and offer donations to help "Save Ferris". But, the school's Dean of Students, Ed Rooney, is having none of it, and heads in pursuit of the carefree Bueller...

Universal Works

Universal Works is an exciting new British label headed by David Keyte, a kindred spirit, with over 20 years experience in the industry. David spent 10 years at Paul Smith, starting off in retail but moving into product development and production. Since then, he spent 5 years as head at Marharishi, and has worked closely with both Margaret Howell & Albam.

At a certain point, David realised he was "less interested in fashion and more in the function, fit and cut of garments". Wanting to explore this further, he decided the best way was to set up a label of his own. Universal Works has been set up with the aim of producing good honest menswear - well made, well considered, and easy to wear.

The Fell Jacket makes no exception. This is a truly stunning, lightweight waxed cotton parka, which is perfect rainy weather-wear. 100% cotton, and with buttons and drawstrings in all the right places, this garments vivid colour and contrast makes it aesthetically timeless. And, for £230 it is high quality, yet attainable.

Philip Jones

Until today, I had no knowledge that Norfolk possessed it's very own landscape abstract expressionist, Philip Jones (1933-2008). Currently, he has a show at the Fermoy Gallery, King's Lynn Arts Centre. A retrospective of sorts. The paintings on display encapsulate the fields and horizons that surrounded him in Nelson's County, as well as depictions of the land from his travels abroad.

Evidently talented, I do however feel an air of borrowing within Jones' work, from the St. Ives school in particular. Peter Lanyon's height and perspective, Alfred Wallis' sense of scale and proportion, coupled with Ben Nicolson's geometric lines and circles resonate, ghosting the pictures somewhat. But, despite the comparison, I left feeling chuffed that the East has such a gem in Jones!

Tennis - Cape Dory

Listening to Tennis is literally like a delightful holiday. It's the music you want to make after floating around on the sea. What's more, this band have lived just that, which is inherently why this has come together so damn well!! Basically, husband and wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley had a simple plan. They bought a boat, and went sailing. After a 7-month excursion along the Atlantic coast they took their experiences on the open sea and put them into song, creating this truly fantastic debut full length, “Cape Dory” (named after their sailboat).

Reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, Best Coast or Dum Dum Girls, the songs are 60’s retro, nautical and nostalgic for a more innocent time. Moore’s breezy & candy sweet vocals float above Riley’s jangly guitar and lo-fi production. The melodies are catchy and the lyrics are wistful: “We’ve been gone for so very long that we’ve forgotten where we are from.” There is a sincerity and charm in the simplicity of their concept. “Cape Dory” is a buoyant and carefree journey; and lucky for us, we’re invited.

Go Get Yourself Loved

So, this film looks like 2011's first effort in continuation of indie/alternative movies that only 'cool people' go see at independent cinemas. Ironically, I instantly get the feeling that this film is still not able to fully break from the shackles of having massive mainstream appeal, yet it seems wanting, as it strives hard to achieve 'cult' filmic martyrdom, much along the lines of '500 Days Of Summer'.

With that said, from the trailer, Josh Radnor (director) has created something really endearing and sweet, whilst exposing the frailties people genuinely (and often) feel and struggle with, yet rarely allow to surface. The tag, 'adulthood is not about waiting for the right answers to get the life you want, but simply stumbling ahead and figuring them out in the process' - a statement that I kinda can relate too.

Ultimately, a film about confused people who in turn present their confusing relationships, troubles, and how they try to overcome them... I want to go see it.

Out this March - Happy Thank You More Please

Surf's Up!!

Dirty Gold - California Sunrise from Panaframe ▲ on Vimeo.

For the famed Cali-shooter, Leroy Grannis, this utterly beautiful video is as close to surf-porn as it gets!! Sitting here, Boxing Day, with last nights Morgan's spiced rum marinating my liver, I just took these three-odd minutes and used them well. I have never felt so close to 'doing' the West Coast, USA. What a treat! Although, in reality, it's probably mutated from this zen, trendy, surf/skate Mecca, to more like a gross, obvious, over-commercialized, hell-pit, much like Great Yarmouth. C'est la vie!!

Ben Lamb

I saw these about a week ago, and instantly fell in love. Oi Polloi, them trendy bastards, have only gone and commissioned a super-talented illustrator, Ben Lamb, to design a series of über-cool cards. The range starts with three standout American heroes in the shape of Hunter S Thompson alias The Good Doctor, Jack Nicholson as George Hanson in Easy Rider, and of course the King of Cool himself - Steve McQueen. What's more, even eco-warriors will be pleased to know the cards are printed on 100% recycled paper, using soya based inks. Buy them all! Quick!!

FREE VOINA!!

Voina (Воина) have got to be up there as one of the World's most controversial performance art groups!! Hailing from Russia, their works are extremely provocative and politically charged, which is why at present it has members behind bars! The group was founded in 2007 by philosophy students at Lomonosov Moscow State University and is led by Petr Verzilov and Oleg Vorotnikov who conceive works that act/work as 'protest political street action art'.

Voina came to widespread public attention with their 2008 work Fuck for the heir Teddy Bear!, when they staged a "mass fuck" (массовая ебля) the day before the election of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, whose last name is derived from the word medved, "bear" in Russian. Five couples involved with Voina, including one pregnant woman four days from giving birth, had public sex in Moscow's Timirayzev State Museum of Biology.

The groups reasons for Fuck for the heir are as follows, "We do not have a goal to necessarily be radical provocateurs. We have a goal to be honest artists and tell what we think. We think that the government fucks the people, and the people like this. This is why the action 'Fuck for the heir Puppy Bear' was born". They continued to say that, "This is a portrait of pre-election Russia: everybody fucks each other, and the puppy bear looks at that with an unconcealed scorn".

Currently, Oleg Vorotnikov along with Leonid Nikolayev have been detained by the Moscow police in connection with an anti-corruption protest, and possibly face a seven year prison sentence. In response to their detention, controversial street-graffiti artist/enigma Banksy decided to raise money for the 2 artists by donating all the proceeds of a recent online print sale, raising £80,000 for Voina's cause.

Taken from The Moscow News, Banksy approached the group at the weekend. “[He] asked his journalist friends to find us and personally offer us help. On Dec. 11 at midnight in London and 3.00 am in Moscow his journalist friends found us and discussed everything. We thanked him for his help and brought his attention to the problem of the extermination of human rights in Russia,” Alexei Plutser-Sarno, Voina’s chief ideologist, told gzt.ru.

Voina has directed many of its actions at state officials and politicians, saying they are part of a war waged for the “destruction of outdated repressive-patriarchal socio-political symbols and ideologies,” the Guardian reported. Go Voina! BE FREE!!

Gold Panda

2010 is swiftly closing for business, if you hadn't noticed! It's time to take a look back on some stuff that has been fresh and engaging musically. First for me, left-field producer and remixer, Derwin, or Gold Panda, who has been dreamy. The great thing about him really is the processes of his creation. I seem to be on this theme quite a bit at present! Seriously though, how can you not love the idea of Mr. Panda scouring charity shops for old records and VHS tapes, which he then turns into distorted samples, wrapping them in minimal, warm beats. 'Snow & Taxis' & 'Peaky Caps' are 2 tracks that are essential in a summation of anything aural this year!!

His work

Michael Craig-Martin's work has always been vibrant and compelling. I stumbled across this article the other day discussing his work processes, and more widely, his career development. For me, the idea of 'digitalism' is enthralling, as Craig-Martin, as a man of an older disposition, has fully embraced the uses of technology within the process of his work. But, he makes the rules between himself and machine. Seemingly relieved, he said "I could scan all the separate images that I wanted to assemble on to the computer, which was unbelievably liberating for me. My work process was tediously slow in the past, and the implications of making even the smallest change were immense, but now I can make 1,000 changes and think nothing of doing 100 drawings" Insightful. A lovely look at ideas and views, that'd otherwise usually be contained within the inner-sanctum of four studio walls.

Berlin, Tempelhof

Situated in the south-central borough of Tempelhof-Schöneberg, this airport is haunting. Creepy, to the point that I want to go to the city just to make a ethereal 6-minute long silent film on Super8 - being wheeled around on a baggage trolley, shooting from ground level, of this now derelict shell. A film that contemplates not just the greatness of the space, the beauty in it's pre-war structure, but also its tormented Nazi past. Albert Speer, chief architect for the Third Reich, was in charge of designing all the Nazis building projects, the more grandiose, the better. Tempelhof was one of Europe's most iconic pre-WWII airports, which in its history has boasted having the world's smallest duty-free shop. However, in the 1930s, like most of Berlin, it took on the Nazis, lost, and got all expanded and redeveloped!!

The old terminal was replaced with a new terminal building in 1934. The airport halls and the adjoining buildings, intended to become the gateway to Europe and a symbol of Hitler's "World capital" Germania, are still known as one of the largest built entities worldwide, and have been described by British architect Sir Norman Foster as "the mother of all airports". With its façades of shell limestone, the terminal building, built between 1936 and 1941, forms a 1.2 kilometre long quadrant. Arriving passengers would have walked through customs controls to the reception hall. Interestingly, and less controversially, this is the birthplace of the German national airline, Lufthansa, which was founded in Tempelhof on 6 January 1926.

Parquetry

Yesterday I decided to make some, well, pictures(?!) around the topic of parquetry. Simply, parquet is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative effect. The two main uses of parquetry are as veneer patterns on furniture and block patterns for flooring. The past states, floors were highly valued and earned attention at all times, apparently. In Europe by the 17th century, masters had achieved perfection in producing art parquet - patterns that are entirely geometrical and angular - squares, triangles, lozenges etc. Art parquet developed in Russia very fast with the most popular parquet installation technique - herringbone.

Henrik Potter, other than being a real decent bloke, has done some work around flooring. Not specifically because of an burning infatuation with parquet and its techniques, craft, grandeur, and aesthetic, like in my case. His flooring solutions were made out of wanting to cover 'ugly spaces'. His floors are more substantial than my masking tape/card efforts, as Potter uses 8'x4' 12mm plywood, tape of various sorts and not just one, but yes! Two varnishes. You really can tell, can't you!(?!?!)

RE: Coleman

Man! Totally forgot how much I love shooting medium format! After seeing that lads photo's the other day, got me trawling through my efforts. I stumbled across these! Taken on a family trip to Cornwall, they are of the rough seas and torn coastline looking westerly from Tintagel (castle) - known for its association with the legend surrounding King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. I feel that these images share a mysteriousness, like Coleman's. I also find that they have a fatalistic feel to them. Especially the third image down, a real land/sea-defined effort.

Joe Coleman

I have never felt overly awed by Australia. I have family there, have never been, and am not too bothered about going, well, just yet anyway. Stumbling onto these photographs though has definitely given me some food for thought. It's not all sprawling beaches of vast (boring?!) golden sand! Joe Coleman captures the ruggedness that Oz has to offer in a collage-y, over-exposed and vivid manner.

He seems to lead a pretty bohemian existence, with life, unsurprisingly, centering around the coast. He shoots off basic gear, which adds to the aesthetic of his work - using, for the moment, mainly a Yashica FX-3, Contax t2 and Smena 8m. Other work from Coleman is more subject driven, but it's his ethereal, geological, surfy-fused pictures that drew me in. Check out his pictures and words here!

Creating something iconic

I can't stop listening to The Strokes seminal debut work Is This It. I can't stop listening to it so much that I have even, rashly, just bought the US Import version of the same CD for a whole £4.99 (it's all about the different cover artwork, and the omission of the track New York City Cops for When It Started - a decision taken in light of the 9/11 terror just as the record was going to press/being released in 2001)

The album is just brilliant. Basically, it was the birth of late 90s/early noughties Garage Rock Revival, or as it has become more widely know as... all-out Indie music. Moving away from the mire of grunge was more than welcome, by myself, if not by anyone else. Although, for those who don't know, this record made The Strokes HUGE, so I think the sentiment was shared!! It's such an optimistic set of tracks, fast-paced, romantic, modern, and joyous. What's more, the album has a beautiful 'stuck-in-time-ness' about it. It encapsulates the time it came from so perfectly, carefree. It basically involved getting drunk, having fun, no pretension, and not giving a fuck! Summed up in Someday.

Anyway, I have got totally sidetracked. I wanted to get into Roman Coppola, the director for all the bands videos off Is This It. They are real simple, jokey and enjoyable affairs, which resonates and sympathise with the tone of the record. For instance, Last Night shows the band simply set up in a studio, drinking and playing, basic. This was a tried-and-tested method that the Arctic Monkeys re-used (ahem!) out-right copied when it was realised that they were going to be the biggest thing since, well... The Strokes!! Someday, shows the band indulging in fun. They appear in a (forced) Family Fortunes style panel show, and their being playful. Yet, an intimacy is shared on camera, as shots from the game-show are cut with time spent with friends, chilling in downtown bar in New York.

Hard To Explain has to be the most memorable and intriguing vids, out of them all, as it questions what you see, and questions life at large. Coppola's direction is clever, he introduces the band subtly, and plays his part in being controversial by including sexual content, images of bombs, etc. whilst keeping the image of the band... very, innocent-looking! Dropped after the video for for sci-fi effort on 12:51, that seems to be the end of their love affair! But what a great and iconic one it was!!

Best

I've been listening to a bit of Best Coast lately, and on further internet-based research, they definitely win for the best photo's, found images, discography, general interesting shit, etc. How befitting as their music is dreamy. Above shows a range of lovely associated images - drenched in everything L.A. They encapsulate all my thoughts on what the sunny West Coast of America is like... I will go, one day!

Chasing Legends

Short Synopsis
There is no greater sporting event in all of cycling than the Tour de France. Chasing Legends touches on the rich history, passion and true grit of The Tour as seen through the eyes of Team HTC Columbia along with commentary from Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen, Eddy Merckx, Lance Armstrong and some of the sports most prolific hero's. With a stunning array of HD cameras, poignant and touching interviews, "Chasing Legends" will take viewers deeper into the pro peloton than ever on a roller coaster ride of action, story and emotion. I can't wait to see this film on Thursday!!

It's gonna be Freize-ing...

This weekend will be the second time that I visit Freize Art Fair, however, it probably won't be cold. I must say that I think £25 is pretty steep for entry, but it is the UKs most important 'pop-up' Art emporium for the four days of the 14-17 October. With somewhere in the region of 170 galleries from around the world, showing, Freize provides a unique opportunity to see and buy work by leading artists, more of just the 'seeing' will be done I reckon...

A redeeming highlight I'm sure though, will be (one of the main justifications for said ticket price) the artist talks that Freize, being an art-world heavyweight, can draw in for questioning! Last year it was Baldessari, this year, no other than Wolfgang Tillmans and 60s Op-Art pioneer, Bridget Riley. Both are cracking minds that will no doubt be tapped! Hopefully, I will get in early enough to get a ticket to see Riley revealing all! Freize - a good crack if you've never been!

Less for murder...

This month, sometime(?!), my dear mother and father will be celebrating their Silver wedding anniversary. I can't really afford anything silver, mainly because I buy too many clothes - of which, probably a good half are soon regretful purchases or, sold on eBay, for a loss. Anyway, my irrational spending habits are not important now.

What to get them, y'know, as a gift?? Hmm. I have a past of buying them weird presents. I mean, for instance, last Christmas I bought my mum a designer wash-board, the sort that you put clean dishes on to dry. My dad, a corkscrew. Therefore, this beautiful wine carafe from Sagaform seems to fit the criterium of not silver, affordable, looks-more-expensive-than-it-is, good quality, and bloody nice looking!

"Sagaform stands for joyful, innovative gifts for the kitchen and the set table. Indoors and outdoors. Joyful gifts for friends or family, or to spoil yourself with. Sagaform wants its brand and product range to be the obvious gift choice..." The gambit from their website. I seem to have made a inspired choice - a perfect gift to mark the occasion I feel! Just need to hope that my brother and sisters don't look at my blog to steal my idea, and that John Lewis deliver it in one piece!