The Book Of Skulls

Prêt à Porter by Télégramme

 From the beautiful and the colourful to the cheeky and downright disturbing, Faye Dowling's 'The Book Of Skulls' takes us on a pictorial skull-fuelled journey, depicting the various meanings, interpretations and portrayals of this timeless human symbol. 

From the crystal skulls of Aztec civilastions to Shepard Fairey's controversial 'Obey' skull, and everything in between, Dowling explores the iconic status that the skull has acheived via a pletheora of expressive realms. Fashion, oil paintings, sculpture, tattooing or street art; skulls of all shapes and sizes are still representing themselves the world over, and you don't need a shovel and help from time team to discover to them.

Miss July by Paul Insect

Depths by Craig Robson

Nom Omnis Moriar by Stephanie Henderson

Damien Hirst All Over My Body by Miss Bugs

Le Visage de Vanitas by James Hopkins

The General (Hungry for Unrest) by Richard Fairhead

Mathis Rekowski

Ace of Spaces from the Plura Culture series by Wolfe von Lenkiewicz

Listening to... 'TRUE LOVE FANTASY' - Unicorn Kid

This week Scottish teen Unicorn Kid gave us the first taste of his up and coming 'Tidal Rave' EP with the release of its first single, 'True Love Fantasy'.

The unicorn rave horn's sound has matured since his last EP, with steel drums and shouty vocals (c/o Talk to Animals) bringing a tropical, nu-wave 'gamewave' element to his trademark 8-bit electro. A digital trip that should please fans of Hadouken!, Crystal Castles, Digitalism and err, space invaders...

Tasty summer treats to feast your eyes on: JONATHON KAMBOURIS' latest Portfoilo

It's summer's last Bank Holiday and tourists everywhere will find an excuse to champion the great must-have holiday acccessory that is THE ICE CREAM. A symbol of sweetness, happy satisfaction and sunny vacations, come rain or shine or destination; it holds all the key ingredients to make it a summer staple worldwide. Popular without question, but who would've thought our favourite treat in a cone could be so, well, fashionable. 

Jonathon Kambouris' latest photographic portfolio is so beautifully tasty that I defy you not to have a sweet craving for the good stuff.  This series sees the Brooklyn based photographer present us with lavish frozen delights dripping in sparkling sauces and sprinkled gems; a fair cry from your 'one scoop vanilla and a flake please'! Each ice cream shines with its own decadent uniqueness, with the inspiration for the ingredients and nail design coming from different countries around the world.

India: Mango ice cream, gold and silver sugar crystals, orange peal, cinnamon stick

 
Despite retaining an ice cream/cone/hand brief, the bright colours, gorgeous summer nails, geographic influences and decandent simplicity that Kambouris uses to portray this summer staple via the medium of art, soon turns the ordinary into a deliciously extrodinary display of summery indulgence.

As a result the culinary porfolio goes a long way in demonstrating the importance of presentation and art through food. As a food lover himself, Kambouris firmly reiterates the powerful ability of art and photography to manipulate consumer appeal. Hungry yet??

Morocco: Strawberry and lavender ice cream, mixed berries berry syrup drizzle, turmeric mint leaf garnish 

South Africa: Cinnamon and chocolate ice cream, fudge caramel chocolate toffee, cookie crumble

Greece: Pistachio ice cream, fresh chopped pistachios, honey drizzle, lemon peal

Japan: Green tea ice cream, black sesame seeds, ginger syrup drizzle, candied ginger

Food Stylist: Ed Gabriels
Manicurist: Honey
Producer: Sally Berman/Run Red Creative
Hand Model: Lareysa Smith


For a darker insight into JK's culinary works, check out his 'Last Meal' portfolio, which visually documents the face and last meal of convicted killers.

INTRODUCING...Converse Bags and Accessories

Back to school, back to uni, what better time than August for Converse to launch its FIRST ever dedicated bag and accessories collection. However you don't have to be a student to appreciate the iconic brand's latest offerings, no no, DJs, stylists and celebrities are already cooing over the stylish new arrivals. In line with Converse's footwear collection, the bags all offer a versitile simplicity in design, with the infamous Chuck Taylor All Stars logo dominating the range to give this fresh collection a somewhat vintage feel. Yet with a wide range of styles on offer, from retro duffels, street-smart messenger bags and gym sacks to the classic backpack, reflecting the diversity of the brands huge following, there is definitely something to suit everyone.

Converse's debut bag and accessories collection goes on sale this month and can be found at Schuh, Blackleaf and JD Sports. Having been fortunate enough to get a sneak preview of the collection last month, the white duffel (a perfect nod to A/W 11's American College trend) and the retro blue messenger are my personal favs...but don't take my word for it, scroll down and have a look for yourselves!

Embracing that Friday feeling... with a Bear Hug

TFI Friday.


The longest day may have been and gone, with summer days still seeming like a promise undelivered (although this Sunday might put a smile on your face..!) But the good news is that it's the weekend and I defy not to have your Friday swag on after a bit of quality time with the 'Bear Hug'.


This cheeky house tune from The 2 Bears (aka Hot Chip's Joe Goddard and Raf Daddy of Greco Roman Sound System/MOS radio fame), sees digitised monotone vocals set over infectious, robotic house beats for a truely stripped back, summer-infused piece of repetitive minimal goodness. But it's the cutesy lyrics ironically opposing this straight setup that really give it humour, character and sustenance:


“All you out there on the floor, gonna get you in my paws and give you a bear hug.”

“It gets lonely in the woods but right now I’m here in the hood, let’s have a bear hug.”


A dead-cert summer anthem thanks to it's memorable, laid back, uplifting groove that evokes wishful dreams of balmy sunsets on the white isle or exotic bevvies on the golden sands of Barca. We can but dream, but for tonight I guess I can make do with a few friends, a few beers and plenty of bear hugs.




Bear Hug was officially released this week on Southern Fried Records and is the third track to be taken from their debut Bear Hug EP. For more offerings from The 2 Bears check out their soundcloud here.

Sunshine, Surf... money in the bank??

 The Great British Summer is such as tease! You spend the majority of the year wrapped up in woolies dreaming of hazy summer days, only to be presented with a fair share gale force winds, showers, chilly beach days and flat surf when the time comes. 

I've been back from a season in the Alps for a couple months now and although I was bombarded with updates of the heatwave back home while I was away (why do people always tell you how good home is when you go abroad??), my return has, predictably, gone hand-in-hand with the disappearance of said premature summer. And with last weeks predicted heatwave no-show, I'm expecting to have to wait more than a little longer for it's return...

Not your average day in Blighty

  For most the idea of actually living out that dream summer, whether in Cornwall or Costa Rica, is a wistful but financially costly one. Fortunatley I've had the chance to get my research on with several different companies from around the world and come up with some pretty cool temp jobs, at home and abroad, that will get your wallet by while you have the summer of your life. From teaching english, oudoor activities or lifeguarding, to working at surf camps and hostels, hopefully you can decide where you want to go and how to make it work. For my full article check out this months SurfGirl magazine section on how to work a surf season, combining good times, good waves and a pay cheque too! Hope you like it.

FOAMO gets it on in the Alps

Mashup master and super nice bloke Foamo annihilated Tignes’ infamous Loop Bar last night with a set that got seasonnaires proper frothing ahead of his headlining slot at Thursday’s Big Tea Party!

Alongside his proverbially insane remixes of Breakage’s ‘Fighting Fire’, Dub Pistol’s ‘I’m in Love’ and La Roux’s ‘Bulletproof’, the British DJ smashed out a great mixture of house, electro, dub and grime that really pushed all the right buttons, turning this small, popular alpine bar into a beer spilling, break-dancing riot-fest.

Breakage - Fighting Fire (Foamo remix) by Foamo

Admitting he had no clue what to play ahead of his set, the DJ waited to see how hard, low, funky or slow the crowd were willing to go.

Talking afterwards Luke from support act Too Many Front Men described Foamo as an exceptional talent:

“He’s an entertainer. He does what a DJ should do which is perform to the people and he plays with an insane energy which so evidently translates to his audience.

He felt the crowd, he felt the vibe and he played accordingly - now that’s the sign of a true professional”.

Foamo tears up Tignes' Loop Bar (photo courtesy of Tom Greenhill)

Having just returned from gigging in Australia and ahead of his Ibiza season, Foamo will be playing at the British Universities’ Mad Hatters Tea Party alongside Rico Tubbs and Baobinga in Tignes on Thursday.

Catching up with the man himself over apres ski, he admitted that despite being an international globe-trotter his first time in a winter alpine resort had been pretty special:

“I’ve never been anywhere like this before, it’s just amazing, I had no idea what to pack so I brought loads of jumpers but it’s bloody boiling!

I had a snowboarding lesson before I came away, so I’ve been out on the mountain a bit by day and enjoying some crazy parties by night. Yeah there isn’t much time to sleep!”

  FOAMO.NET mixtape (download at www.foamo.net) by Foamo 

BRISTOLIAN AND WORLD LEADING STREET ARTIST TO AUCTION PIECES FOR CHARITY

Nick Walker, world-reknowned sellout artist and infamous player in Bristol's graffiti revolution of the 80s, is to donate some of his work the Mad Hatter's Ball and Art Auction in aid of Art Action for Kids in Bristol.

With an inate ability to mix beautiful delicacy and humour with the most hard hitting of political and religious messages, Walker's artwork has become highly desirable and sought after the world over, with sellout art shows from LA to London to Paris.

Notably the 'Walls on Fire' graffiti artist sold £750,000 worth of paintings and prints within hours at the start of his first one-man U.K show, back in 2008.

Walker's contribution to the Art Auction and is hoped to bring them one step closer to reaching their £500,000 charitable target.

For more information on Bristol's Mad Hatter's Ball, email info@madhattersball.co.uk.

 Striking examples of Walker's work:

 

ALBUM PREVIEW: Andre Saraiva & Gildas Loaëc Presentent... KITSUNÉ PARISIEN

Another Kitsuné compilation to further establish the label's inherent knack of dishing up seriously tasty electronic beef to satisfy even the hungriest of disco appetites.

 The french music and fashion label's latest album folllows a similar premise to their 'Kitsuné Maison' collections, in exhibiting the talents of  ‘dazzling newcomers and prestigious acquaintances’.

With their previous albums streaming the likes of Digitalism, Penguin Prison, Fenech-Soler, Punks Jump Up and Two Door Cinema Club into our consciousness before anyone else, we'd expect nothing less than dazzling from the french taste-makers.

However the 'Kitsuné Parisien' collection, if the title hasn't already gives it away, steps away from the international scene to focus soley on francophone electronica from 'le capital'. 

Graffiti by Monsieur 'A'

 Compliled by Kitsuné co-founder Gildas Loaëc along with infamous graffiti artist, party go-er and promoter Monsieur 'A' (André Saraiva), the 'Parisien' collection (named after their fashion boutique) showcases some of the city's most promising electronic producers, with some even making their recording debut on this prestigious album.

Kitsune Parisien is also name to their fashion boutique, which opened in Paris last July. In September 2011, they launched a second KP boutique in Barneys, New York.

 In anticipation of it's release next Monday (21 February) Jerry Bouthier has put together a minimix, which is available to download. 

Despite its 'freshness' in music the new album is distinctly 'Kitsuné' in its encompassing, diversely comprehensive approach to electronic sound, reflecting the label's etymological roots; with Japanese tradtion denoting the ability of the 'kitsuné' (Japanese for fox) to change it's appearance and face.

Thus the album has a remarkable ability to offer a varied cross-section of emerging electronic sounds from the Parisian clubs; taste-making the next generation of music whilst appreciating its diversity.

The multi-faceted Japanese Kitsune

The French-sung electro pop of Adélaïde, by Destin, opens proceedings and provides a fitting start to the album, with smooth vocals and repetitive beats layered over a synthy resonance, to lure us comfortably in.

Track two features Birkii; a french violinist turned songstress/producer. Her serene yet funky approach to electro disco irk somewhat thought not entirely of Breakbot. All in all this understated and uplifting track casts no 'Shades of Doubt' and follows track one particularly well.

Birkii

Track three, Reccession Song by Yan Wagner, seriously cranks up the funk agenda. 80s yet très nouveau; familiar yet hard to put your finger on. Maybe if I elegantly put French Horn Rebellion, Chromeo and Empire of the Sun inside a bottle of coca cola and shook it hard, it would fizz out some Yan Wagner.

Housse de Racket - Château (Golden Bug remix) offers an interesting fusion of laidback electro-rock. Think guitar riffs and snare hits littered amongst synth lines, chords and catchy melodies.

The happy-go-lucky disco of Saké by Jupiter makes it a favourite of mine, for the moment. I'd love to hear it on a night out. French/English duo Jupiter, who are a couple in real life, also feature on Kitsuné Maison 9.

Jupiter

Logo are also making their second appearance, this time with Hello.jpg. Computer game-esque and more electro-house than the rest, it's a gem made for a hazy summer's day.

Track seven - RYSKEE feat. Jenny Wilson – Horrors Of Love (Jamaica’s Sunshine Remix) - slips back into funk. Upbeat disco that's worth winding down the windows of your topless car and turning up loud to.

 Youngguns BeatauCue take more electro-techno direction with eigth track Behold. An energetic display of electro laid over repetitive trippy beats.

Beataucue

 Track nine, Glory by Sauvage, brings in a darker mood with it's eerie melodies, unusual structure, soft disjointed vocals and glitchy beats. MGMT-esque for 2011.

1999 by Valley - a track about the city itself - is the album's biggest pop contestant. Pulsating beats, dominant vocals and a catchy chorus that gets better with each listen.

Désorbitée by Exotica again demonstrates the musical beauty of french lyrics. Whether you understand them or not, her soft, elegant vocals do the talking for this single, in sealing its amibient new-wave, dreamy effect.

Saving the best 'til last; Meaning by Cascadeur is nothing short of a musical epitome, justifying its place as the closing track. Rich in classical instrumentation, this emotive ballad sets piano hypnosis against searing vocals. It brings the compilation to a breathtakingly, dramatic end, and in an almost symbolic representation of the entire album leaves you wanting for more.

Pre-order your copy here. In the meanwhile all of the tracks mentioned above are available to preview on YouTube.

HIGH ALTITUDE FASHION: 2011/2012 snow preview

This week anyone who's anyone within the extreme sports industry was turning their full attention to next seasons gear at Munich's annual ISPO show.

The ISPO showcase -International Trade Fair for Sports Equipment and Fashion - is represented by all the major snow brands and provides a business link for all those within the industry to test and assess the technical equiment and trends for the up and coming season.

Whilst the winter of 2010/2011 is still in full swing, expect to see flashes of the new season in a resort near you soon with trendsetters and PR coups yet to parade themselves amidst some of this seasons biggest alpine events, notably the European Winter X-Games (16 -18 March, Tignes in France) and Snowbombing Festival (4-9 April, Mayrhofen, Austria).

So here's a cheeky round up of some key themes and tasty offerings to tease your powdometer and keep you one step a-shred (ah dear) for this season and the next.

Colour block (particularly by the likes of O'Neill (above), Burton (below) and Westbeach) and neon brights were in full force.

 Nikitta goes uber-casual with their range of slouchy, jogger-style pants:

 Analog demonstrated a similar street-casual approach with their mens pants:

 Denim Snowboard Pants

 Twill Snowboard Pants

Apres-ski made easy!? The 80s trend doesn't stop at outerwear, typified by these denim-look layers by Bula:

Jackets are getting longer, goggles are getting bigger, hats are getting brighter...

  

Von Zipper go laaarge

  Westbeach: going even longer 
for 2011/12 and dabbling in plaid 
when they're not colour blocking

 Pro Tec neon helmets good enough to eat. If you like your E-numbers

Flux DMCC: bindings to rave about

Mystical brights and cosmic colour blends:

Technical Outerwear by Volcom

Not for the shy: tie-dye jacket by Grenade

Lisa Filzmoser for Artec

And finally... K2 makes a statement with this selection of beauties, proving once again that they can do no wrong when it comes do performance, style and design(£££ you get what you pay for):