A Love From Outer Space - Electric Elephant Main Stage 2013

A Love From Outer Space - Electric Elephant 2013

Adidas Y-3 Qasa High

I have never really taken much notice of anything Y-3 if I am to be honest,I'd always associated the collaborative results of Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto as something of a passing fad and would end soon enough. However I now take that back as these have made me sit up and take notice more so than normal for a number of reasons. The colours and combination of different materials for one thing,muted tones with flashes of neon keeping them just under the level of ridiculousness needed to make someone think you work part time at Cyberdog.Suede,marl,leather and neoprene make up the upper along with faux reptile skin detailing on the heel,all sitting on what looks like an off cut of the Michelin man for a sole unit.

Utilising or taking inspiration from the ZX series for the lacing eyelets situated in a fashion not too disimilar from the  Nike Air Current and sticking with rope laces for the extra neon oomph.With a sock liner to compliment the model as a whole and for comfort purposes I think these are amazing.I was a proud owner of a couple of pairs of Northwave in the 90s so these are a (over stylish) walk in the park comparatively and would wear without a second thought.

To be released soon at most Y-3 stockists.

Suzanne Kraft - NIMH mix

 Hailing from LA and having created EPs for Running Back and Young Adults ( Green Flash and Horoscope respectively, both excellent too) as well as various remix duties of late,I point you in the direction of the latest mix of his (yes he is a he) for Australias Noise In My Head. Mr Kraft is someone I think is well worth keeping an eye or ear out for in the future,in the meantime check out this 2 part mix below.

http://www.noiseinmyhead.com.au/2013/07/240713-w-suzanne-kraft/

Nike ACG Air Wildwood Camo

A popular silhouette among older "heads" on the trainer front, maybe the reason why it is not often released is because it hasn't been taken on by the hype community,is the ACG Air Wildwood.Not seen for a number of years now it has resurfaced with an camo update,before you grumble about every other model being given a camo makeover I think this is quite befitting the shoe. It is after all an "off road" type of footwear so it surely makes sense to add detail with an outdoors theme to a robust model such as this,like Johnny Kingdom to Ray Mears' Roshe.

Available at Japanese retailers and sure to be making its way to Europe in the next few months.
Via - Sneakernews

Feline under pressure - Puma Compression 500

This year has been and will be a good year for smaller or less hyped trainer brands plundering their archives and vaults for old silhouettes to re release,Le Coq Sportif have done wonders with the Flash and forthcoming R1000. Similarly Puma have pulled a blinder by retroing the XT-1,hopefully out before the year is done.However the big cats have again done a good job with the Compression 500 ,a  new model created  to look like a long lost silhouette from a few decades ago.

Styled like an early 90s runner ,with definite hints of the Puma Duplex, in the best ways possible using the always good suede and mesh combo but with an appliance of modern shoe science. These will be available in 4 colours,with the grey and white models definitely recalling colour schemes of trainers from that golden age of (In my humble opinion of course) casual sportswear.No actual release date exists yet however I would guess at late 2013 or very early 2014.

Nike Solarsoft Moccasin Hawaiian pack - available 20/07

Nike once again are set to release these Solarsoft Moccasins this weekend,only having been around a few months as a new model it comes as no surprise that new colourways are being released such is the speed at which trainers are being released these days. Seems to be as soon as a new model or silhouette is announced and released then within a few months a whole slew of iterations tumble off the production lines,not that this is a bad thing of course.

The idea behind the construction of the Solarsoft Mocc came from various inspirations, the cushioned sole of an Aqua sock 2 (an older model) and various other new techniques and materials in use at the moment.The moccasins in this release utilise hyperfuse technology to reduce the weight of the shoe yet increase its overall durability by using heat pressure to join the different layers of mesh together,which allows for more ventilation and allows the foot to breathe whilst being worn.

The tropical prints on these 3 models are claimed to be  representative of the native plant life to Hawaii and all its surrounding environs,from lava fields to dense forested areas and maintain an old vintage clothing feel upon which  modern footwear technology is being used.I'd like to think that if Magnum P.I. is still driving his mid life crisis around Hawaii he'd be rocking these for sure. Ideal for warmer climes ,these would be spot on to wear in the UK whilst making the most of the Mediterannean weather we currently are experiencing although I think they're not really suitable for the shy retiring types out there .

The lighter print are a womens colourway and will go up to a UK.9.5 and the other two are in mens sizes,
these are to be released from select Nike stockists like Ran from today, Sat July the 20th.

Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians

 For my latest self indulgent post I decided to bring to your attention this piece of music by the composer Steve Reich,quite simply my favourite piece of music ever.Introduced to me by my dad one weekend years back.I would go through his vinyl collection all youthfully brash and dismissive of most of his records.I liked a few purely through familiarity and exposure from an early age,The Beach Boys,The Drifters and The Coasters for example, however I had passed over this record many times not knowing of its content.

One Sunday my father got up, after me declaring I'd heard everything I liked and everything else was boring and put this on.He set a scene of when he first heard it at his friends once,early morning with sunlight shining through the windows and so forth. I was transfixed from the off,the subtle changes that evolve throughout the piece and the way new sounds and instruments chip away or melt into the music already present.The complexities I won't pretend to understand or explain but this Wikipedia page explains it in much better detail than I can.

 I was convinced it was done by computers,refusing to believe this could be performed live but it can and has,the youtube link is to a performance in Japan in 2008 (The one time i've been able to see Steve Reich play he was performing a shorter piece called 2 x 5,however I missed it as he was supporting Kraftwerk at Manchesters Velodrome and it took the length of his set to go to the loo and get served at the bar).

At the very least give yourself an hour aside and listen to it ,considering the current state of popular music you owe it to your ears.

Adidas X Opening Ceremony Enforcer Rock

 

Adidas and Opening Ceremony have been collaborating for a while now to great success and the current seasons releases only serve to build on this partnership to good effect.I have selected my favourite piece from the current selection which is the Enforcer Rock, taking on the aestethics of outdoor footwear from several decades of design for outdoors types of all persuasions. It employs a classic look and colour scheme whilst at the same time keeping it rooted in modern day fashion,meaning you don't have to climb Mount Everest to be allowed to put these on your feet.

With a durably rugged sole , build of long lasting quality and a removable sock liner which i'd imagine would be needed after a long weekend of hiking,climbing or pot holing in the city, these remind me of something a space age hippy like Bruce Dern would wear working on the Valley Forge ( that's a good thing in my book).

The Enforcer Rock also comes in Black and is available from End

Gasius tees available

I don't know much about these or the label itself* but I love the design and application of cartoon characters,keeping design simple and fuss free. The last release of these sold out quickly so grab one while you can from The Goodhood Store .

* from the label page on the goodhood site -

GasiusLondon, UK

Gasius is made from influences (in no specific order): Down by the river, Ancient crumbley lost civilizatiion, Green seeds, 70's logo types, Early 80's Comics (Dr Strange, Master of Kung Fu, Green Lantern etc), Gasface reincarnated (currently 9th time), Mid-late 90's Skate, Think Skateboards (when Mike Giant did it), MadCircle (when Twist did it) Space cakes, Early Disney (before it became McDisbucks)

Early 80's Lotus Esprit (oh and of course the James Bond one)Raygunomics, Operation Doomsday, Yardbirds, BluePort, Barnesy, TCA, MushroomsLSD, Rave (first time round) then Jungle then Drum n Bass, Hand painted tees, Skinny outlines, when drips were bad, Pumpkins, GaSix, Kidney play pressure, Homeboy magazine, Egs, 80's Lambo Countach.

Kauf - Relocate (Psychemagik Remix ft Henrietta Tiefenthaler)

Posting this track for the simple reason it's ace.Totally in fitting with the currently amazing weather we are having in this fair isle of ours,enjoy.

http://soundcloud.com/psychemagik/kauf-relocate-psychemagik

Albam Ridsdale Surf Cagoule

Albam clothing have updated a staple from their collection,this cagoule has been altered in the aspect of fit rather than any obvious cosmetic adaptations. With a removable hood ,large popper fastenings,adaptable cuffs and generously sized pockets they stand above many other brands lightweight jackets and cagoules.Available in three colours,well two colours and one print that is sure to get you noticed,who doesn't like being the centre of attention in all honesty? With its bee and strawberry theme it is definitely a bold choice and who doesn't like bees? They're ace,furry little things helping plants pollenate and all that malarkey.

 These are available from albam now.

Lord Faber

In case you didn't know Faber publishing have been expanding upon their already established and respected brand in a big way recently and part of this involves having a yearly artist in residence on the Faber Social website.The inaugural resident is one Andrew Weatherall (this fixation on my part will pass,the next music related article will be about Paula Abduls long lost partner in rhyme MC Skat Cat) and I will allow the proper/professional introduction to take the lead .
Mr Weatherall has done the first in a series of mixtapes for the publishing houses online site and it can be found here. With much more to come from Wevvers and Faber  and culminating with an event in spring next year (I am hoping for a lino cut portrait gallery) it is definitely a site to keep tabs on.

 It is worth checking out all the other mixes hosted by Tourist on Mixcloud and have a gander at their excellent site contained at this place on on the interweb --> Tourist Mag
The Faber Social site can be found here .

New Balance 996 RevLite

The New Balance 996 is widely regarded as one of the best silhouettes from the brand and is usually a model made in the USA from premium materials,in the UK this normally means a high price tag. However,just shy of it's 25 year anniversary it is being updated and refined to be made available to a wider audience.It is being made with a new RevLite cushioning system to make the trainer lighter and more durable but the shoe itself remains unchanged,nice to see a brand upgrading a shoe without applying a Frankenstien's monster like change to it's appearance.

The rrp in the UK is around the £90 mark,the price point was often a sticky issue to many buying previous New England factory made incarnations of the 996 (risking tuts of disapproval from the other half or cries of "how much?"). However , as far as I am aware, these are not manufactured in the USA so the price isn't as much as a "traditional" 996 and will be available in more retailers. Purists will begrudge this difference maybe but I see it as a good thing as it means many more people can pick this excellent member of the New Balance family.The US made silhouette will still be manufactured as it has been so I see no harm in this new version 2.0 being made and given a try. How much of a difference the RevLite change will make is open to question as any 996 I have are fairly lightweight as it is, in time we will know of course.

The 996 RevLite series are coming into EU and UK stores now.

Adidas Originals Oregon Ultra Tech , Size? exclusive

Whilst I am not in favour of selected retailers having exclusives if it is a case of an old model being re issued I can be forgiving.Releasing this month is another early 90's runner from Adidas, who are absolutely storming ahead this year by digging out silhouettes from the dusty archives at their head office, the Oregon Ultra Tech.Taking cues from 80's models they updated aspects to bring it into the 90's with the application of Dellinger webbing which was created to help with shock absorbtion and also using Adidas' own soft-cell technology.A suede and mesh combo help hold the upper together and is always a winner in my book,colourways available being White/Purple and Black/Teal helping keep the overall look fuss free and clean.

The first Oregon was an early 80's model and I can't help but suspect the naming was to goad their rivals over at Nike,who have roots and a strong heritage with the North Eastern state. With a thicker sole than it's 80's predecessor for improved support and a reflective strip for improved safety when out training it was originally released in 1991 and was in production for a number of years. It was reissued in 2004 and once again you have a chance to appreciate this model first hand come Friday the 12th of July from all Size? stores and online.

Tilting the axis: The Asphodells remix album tracklisting

I posted a mix by Andrew Weatherall last week and mentioned it contained a remix of one song by his (and Timothy J Fairplays)  project The Asphodells.Well giddy as a kipper I now have a tracklisting and a release date for the remix album.Set for a September 2nd release it has remixes by the likes of Daniel Baldelli & DJ Rocca (returning the favour of the Complotto Geometrico remix Andrew did for them),Justin Robertson and Black Merlin to name but a few. I am sure some of these tracks will be previewed by those involved on dancefloors,fields and boats over the summer,so keep an ear out just in case.

Tracklisting is as follows :

01.       Another Lonely City (Group Rhoda Remix)**

02.       Late Flowering Lust (Phil Kieran Remix)

03.       Beglammered (Justin Robertson’s Deadstock 33s Remix)

04.       Skwatch (Black Merlin’s Reel To Reel Remix)

05.       Never There (Hardway Bros Remix)

06.       We Are The Axis (Daniel Avery Remix)**

07.       Another Lonely City (Daniele Baldelli and DJ Rocca Remix)

08.       Beglammered (Richard Sen Remix)

09.       We Are The Axis (Scott Fraser Remix)

10.       One Minute’s Silence (Ivan Smagghe Remix)

** – not on vinyl

 

http://www.rottersgolfclub.co.uk/

BEAMS 2013 Summer Collection

I appear to have a thing for Japanese labels inspired by Americana, clothing labels BEAMS and the newer to the game Batten both play on simple designs of classic clothing and take it further adding their own touches in varying degrees of subtlety or outright explosions of colour. In this case BEAMS have pulled an absolute corker out of the hat in the up and coming summer collection,taking the Aloha shirt and adding different patterns that grab your attention unashamedly and forcefully.
The full collection includes patterned and in some instances matching shorts along with chinos and surf trunks with a smattering of bold tees to boot.
Not for the shy types these are perfect for full on summer days,you can see the full collection on the BEAMS website and should be available from independent retailers in the very near future.

Via hypebeast

Juno Download Disco Podcast 25: Mixed by Toni Schumacher (Rothmans)

For your listening pleasure allow me to present to you this mix by Ant Rothmans, of the (of course) Rothmans label straight outta the North East (I think) since 2012. They have a new EP out this month featuring tracks by Coyote,Aimes,Scott Fraser and Drvg Cvltvre and is named after the French football player Dominique Rocheteau. Previous releases being the Toni Schumacher and Mario Kempes releases, the next offering doesn't disappoint in terms of the perms and I don't for one moment expect the audio to be any less than the quality selections previously given to us. With artists and producers of the calibre of Timothy J Fairplay ,Emile Strunz ,Ali Renault and Chamboche gracing the afore mentioned earlier releases,I am sure this will be another winner.
You can pre order the Dominique Rocheteau Release from Piccadilly Records

Juno Download Disco Podcast 25: Mixed by Toni Schumacher (Rothmans)

White Lodge - Swung

Out this week on the ever excellent World Unknown label is a double A sided (or W/U sided) release featuring tracks by Black Merlin and White Lodge. The creation of one Chris Bauer, Swung cruises along with sharp hi hats,claps and snare rolls dragging you in to a pulsating rhythm before you know where you are or where you were at. This sits perfectly among the current wave of chuggy musical stylings that are becoming prominent at the moment,so much so Piccadilly Records created a new sub section in store called "A Love From Outer Space" to accommodate such sounds.

I think of this sound as the darker side of Balearic and can be heard  at an ever expanding number of nights across the country,I have yet to attend a World Unknown night in London yet but hope to do so this year. Worth seeking out it is a vinyl only release and limited quantities ensure it will be gone quickly,so be sure to pick up a copy whilst you can.

White Lodge - Swung

Deathmetaldiscoclub #20

Sure as day follows night and eggs is eggs here's a Weatherall mix for you to listen to,featuring a Black Merlin (George Thompson) remix of an Asphodells track from the remix album of Ruled By Passion Destroyed By Lust due in September.

http://soundcloud.com/deathmetaldiscoclub/deathmetaldiscoclub-020-andrew