Benicio Del Toro is Magnum.. Gold

For some god unknown reason laconic Hollywood stud Benicio Del Toro (better known for his roles in Traffic & the recent Che saga) has teamed up with ice-cream Magnum Gold to create the ultimate advertising campaign. So obviously modelled on Brangelina's 2005 film "Mr and Mrs Smith" Del Toro and his leading lady set out to steal some gold in a good ol' fashion heist. Only difference is they've introduced 'a cousin' who helps orchestrate the plan.

Enter 'you'. Yes 'you'. Log onto Magnum Gold upload your photo and you are instantly affiliated with the thieving pair. However, in an unfortunate twist of fate it turns out the bevy of gold is that of the ice-cream kind. Hilarious!

Once you've created your part you can share it via email, Facebook and even via your own URL link. Quite a promotional tool. The kids at Magnum Gold seemed to have tapped into something noteworthy. It most certainly explores the whole viral idea. And Bencio Del Toro's affiliation definitely doesn't hurt anything other than MG's bank account. No doubt the company will get back what they spent.. and the rest.

I may or may not be the next Halle Berry.

SEE MY FILM DEBUT here.

Review: Camden Crawl 2010 - Day Two

Day Two of 2010's Camden Crawl is no less wet than the first. Yet rays of sunshine fill festival goers with that ever needed burst of punter energy. Running between venues, beer in tow is hard work. Check out the whole review at This is Fake DIY.

Live amateur footage of some of the musical spectacles can be found here.

Review: Camden Crawl 2010 - Day One

 2010's Camden Crawl. The first day of the UK's urban festival. It has everything the country festivals have including: live music, beer, excited punters and RAIN! The only thing that was missing was the squelchy mud. Thank God!

Check out the full Day 1 Review at This is Fake DIY.

Live amateur footage of some of the musical spectacles can be found here.

Dummy Album Review: Golden Filter

Dummy Album Review: Golden Filter.

Check out a track by track description @ Dummy Mag!

Theophilius London - Move O'er Kanye Woo

Theophilius London. WOW. This Brooklynite is a smooth as chocolate. Granted there's a hint of choreographed boy-band but only the slightest. I promise. Certainly not enough to turn you off. It's endearing listening laced with piano, drums and synths. He most certainly gives Mr Kanye West a run for his money.

The cover of his third mixtape features Theophilius holding  none other than Dave Sitek's cat. BoYz gOt Ze ConNecTions!!?!?!

As well as the moves. The below video shows T London with other avant-garde player Lightspeed Champion.

New Video: Beyonce - Why Don't You Love Me? - It'll Make You Blush

B-B-Beyonce. The B-Dawg channels Super-8 with her new music video "Why Don't You Love Me?". She spends a lot of time on the phone. Something she seems to be doing a lot of this year. (See her countless collabs w/ Lady Gags). She plays the home-maker, dominatrix, soapy minx and perfects the art of the 'Bridget Jones' granny panties.

It's a shameless, campy 50s experience and there's enough ass slapping to make you blush. Sound ain't too shabby either.

Roger Sanchez Interview for Skiddle

Roger Sanchez Interview for Skiddle. Here!

DJ Eddie Halliwell Interview for Skiddle

Interview: UK DJ Eddie Halliwell talks turn table tickery and toilet breaks for Skiddle.com. Happy Reading!

Camden Crawl 2010

SATURDAY

Race Horses


New Young Pony Club

SUNDAY


Gold Panda

Interview: Bombay Bicycle Club

Interview w/ London wunderkinds Bombay Bicycle Club. See the rest of their words 'ere.

LeCool Interview: Alex Noble - Lady Gaga's designer

This week's interview w/ London-bred fashion designer Alex Noble. Check out the weekly events o'er @ LeCool London

Lunar Youth Interview for 'SUP Mag

LUNAR YOUTH Interview up on 'SUP Mag. CHEEEEECK iT!

Bear In Heaven

Caught Brooklyn band Bear In Heaven at East London's Rough Trade. Their album is AMAZING. Their live performance didn't disappoint!

Caribou Interview on skiddle.com

Check out the whole Caribou interview on skiddle.com

Cocorosie Interview

Full interview up on This is Fake DIY

Have you started planning for the impending tour?

We know we’re going to have a beat boxer, a creole based percussionist, playing alternative instruments like pots and pans, and pianist Gael Rakotondrabe who’s been playing with us for three years. He was a big part of this record. All the piano you hear on the new record is him; drunk and blindfolded, being fed crazy music through ear phones. He was just completely intoxicated.

So no inhibitions then?

(Laughs). Well we wanted to challenge him. He’s like a prodigy pianist. He plays with so many musicians that we wanted this to be a completely different experience.

What would you have been if not half of CocoRosie?

A sheepherder.

Seriously?

Before I started this group that’s what I wanted to do. I was going to start in Switzerland; I found a guy who was going to let me apprentice starting with cows. Traditionally you have to apprentice for a couple of seasons. So they start you off with cows and then you move to sheep.

And are cows more timid than sheep?

I guess cows are less dangerous cause sheep can run away and get eaten by wolves.

CocoRosie - Grey Oceans Album Trailer 2/3 from Souterrain Transmissions on Vimeo.

Cocorosie's new album is unleashed in May 2010. Brace yourself. They'll be showcasing their work in London on 5 May at the Union Chapel.

Watch out for the interview up soon on This is Fake DIY!

Notte - Move over Lykke Li

Oh Sweden is there nothing your people don’t have? God must have been in a well good mood when he produced your lot. They’re genetically blessed, friendly and pretty good at carrying a tune/playing an instrument. There’s Royksopp, Robyn and now Lykke Li’s replacement Nottee. She’s 24 and has recently been honing her craft as bassist for her brother’s band Lofi-Fink. Not sure if you’ve heard of it? Course you ‘ave! The wunderkind has been playing guitar since the tender age of eight and her track ‘Control’ featured on the Kitsune Maison Compilation 8. Brace yourself for blonde, fair-skinned electro pop with angelic crooning, icy drum machines and housey piano. Wed 21 April she’ll be at Pure Groove at 1:15pm and HOXTON BAR AND KITCHEN at 8! /

Sketch Book hosts Amelia's Anthology

Last week I took a trip to Soho's Sketch Book Pop-Up Store to hear Amelia's Anthology founder and editor Ameilia Gregory tell the tale of her now internet based magazine.

Her 10 year = 10 issue journey in a nutshell:

Each year the number of issues went up by 1,000 issues. Ie. 1,000 copies were made of the first issue. 2,000 of the second etc etc.

Each year it cost her the number of issues printed. 3,000 issues cost her £3,000 etc.

She always made enough money to pay her dues and create the next but never any to be frivolous with.

With each issue she tried to add an extra/innovative element. Issue 9 saw her release a supplementary memory stick with a variety of music tunes. Along with the £9000 it cost her to print the 9000 issues she forked out another £15,000 for the memory sticks.

She became tired of seeking out advertisers and hence on of the reasons the printed version ceased to exist.

She is still paying off debts.

It's always enlightening to hear the trajectory of others who share a similar passion; however, because Gregory's ideals are quite different to mine I did not find her story that inspirational. I would have been willing to sacrifice some of my 'ideals' in order to make the publication a financially viable business. She created a concept which mainstream commercial investors were not too interested in and because she was not willing to compromise her vision she had to sacrfice a more 'successful' future. But kudos to her for not letting the golden $$$ persuade her otherwise!

The Sketch Book Pop-Up store will be around for a couple more weeks with a bounty of interesting talks to come.

The above drawing is just one of the many amazing illustrations by John-Paul Thurlow who is currently exhibiting his works at the Pop-Up Store.

Check Sketch Book's blog for more info!

Mos Def Live London Review - Skiddle.com

See the rest of Mos Def's 2010 London review here.

M.I.A Disses Gaga

Like fellow UK resident Lily Allen rapper M.I.A never sits on the fence. An interview with music magazine NME shows the singer stickin' it to Gaga and her incessant publicity wheel.

Check it the NME interview.

Devendra Banhart x Natalie Portman

Nike's 'Cadencia' - Darren Bartlett's spirit of Brazil

Through Cadencia British director Daren Bartlett relives his past. Having spent three colourful years living in Rio de Janerio Barlett felt inspired to give something back. Bothered by the clichés and misunderstandings that cloud this beautiful city Barlett set out to expose the truth; that not so tangible character that lives within all Brazilians. His documentary explores the symbolic identity of the South Americans, through sport and culture; two vital elements that unify the community. Through vibrant visuals, honest interviews (look out for legendary 80‘s Brazilian football captain), and traditional kite and carnivale culture Bartlett channels the spirit of Brazil; its rhythm or ‘cadence’. In association with Cadencia the documentary Nike’s 1948 Shoreditch store will be exhibiting installations, art stills and a large scale video installation. The Brazilian spirit awaits!

Public Show: 25th March - 25th April 2010
Location / Exhibition: 1948, Arches 477 - 478, Bateman’s Row, London, EC2 3HH

Nisennenmondai

Nisennenmondai is a Japanese psychedelic noise punk band. It's like cross between US experimentalists Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and UK noise punk machine Comanenchi. Nisennenmondai - three girls who like to rock out with their...It's repetitive as hell - which saves me from having to press repeat! It's angry sex music for the masses. LOVE IT!

Alex Noble x Lady Gaga

Top photo: Noble's Carnival Muero head piece.
 
British fashion designerr Alex Noble indulges in the avant-garde. He's a left-field player who releases his inner being through painting, styling, designing and curating. 

It's been a very busy year for this 26-year-old Londoner and Lady Gaga is very lucky to have him on her team. Along with fellow creatives; Nicola Formichetti (Creative director for Dazed & Confused Mag), Fred Butler and Craig Lawrence, Noble has been busy contributing to the Haus of Gaga. Lady Gaga is no longer just one woman, she's a global brand held up high by many MANY international artists.

Gaga's sports Noble's white lace body-suit & shoes at the 2010 Brit Awards.

Gaga wears Noble's red bondage strap-suit for music video Bad Romance

I had a chat with Noble in his De Beauvoir studio about his childhood, work habits and the path that lead him to the busiest time of his life. Today welcomes Alex Noble; a man who at university was told he was 'more of a stylist than a designer' and in turn 'didn't do so well'. Today welcomes Alex Noble; a designer who is commissioned by stylists to create their visions.

Interview coming soon!

Also look out for Alex's favourite London haunts soon to be appearing in London's weekly culture vulture 'LeCool'. Sign up to receive it straight to your box.

THE DRUMS - Dummy Mag

Click here for the rest of the review

Maluca - El Tigeraso

Women rappers will never die out because women ALWAYS have something to say. True dat.

American Apparel Rummage Sale Riot – London

Easter Friday kicked off a 3-day American Apparel 'Rummage' sale on Ldn's Brick Lane. It was closed down within the first 2 hrs. Was it just an outlandish publicity stunt by nefarious moustache wielding founder Dov Charney? Either way I'm quite certain he's very happy w/ the outcome.

The Drums Live Review @ The Old Blue Last - DUMMY MAG

Named after the signature instrument synonymous with every band Brooklyn rock quartet The Drums play like a beating heart. Simple, effective and as strong as a fist. In mid-2009 the 50s inspired musical endeavour was born. It would be a completely selfish venture set out to please only themselves and tonight’s Old Blue Last gig was to be the first of their six sold-out UK shows....

......On stage The Drums are more than a musical outfit. They’re a performance piece in which every member falls to the mercy of the energy and spirit of the live spectacle; all inhibitions are completely lost. Non-fussed in their approach to both the lyrics and the music; there are no chords and every song is constructed around the three-minute ‘verse-chorus-verse-chorus-end’, the Cali-inspired band offer instant gratification with catchy hooks and a straight-to-the point libretto......vocalist Pierce bellows down the microphone while happily indulging in his ‘trade-mark’ jerky spasmodic dance moves; angular in style. Guitarist Jacob Graham plays like a mini-hurricane; bouncing about the stage; spinning back and forth tambourine in hand. They’re instinctive, lost in their creation and completely self-unaware.

Their synth-laced tunes are reminiscent of bands such as New Order and Joy Division while their heartbreaking teen melodramatic themes reference 60s pop groups the Ronettes and The Shangri-Las. Their EP is good but their live show is better. The Drums are bookish types that make fast-uptight rock ‘n roll songs with 60s pop inflexions. Their vivid on-stage presence; wild yet refined, further justifies just what all the fuss is really about. They are the ultimate ‘generation me’ rock band creating music only for themselves and they are damn lucky the rest of us share their passion.

Full review up on Dummy Mag here!

LeCool Ldn April 1- 7

Check out dates & other events here Don't forget to sign up!

The Drums - Bestfriend

The Drums - Best Friend on MUZU

Love this song by US quartet The Drums. It's a kind of clumsy song about mourning the death of a friend. It's no poignant poem, instead it gets right to the point. Blunt as a knife yet as sweet as a cherry pie.

"You're my best friend, but then you died. I was 23 & you were 25. And how will I survive, survive, survive, survive?" 

Kitsuné - Semi-Naked Models Battle It Out

Ultra chic Parisian label Kitsuné has its finger in many pies. And to help them promote these 'kitsch' pies they've decided to strip down. Or rather their 'well-fit' models have taken it upon themselves to de-robe for the good of the 'cause'. The game is simple really, the two mannequins race against one another to see who can be the first to take off an outfit and put on another. Between them sits an iPod dock blarring the music of non-other than Kitsuné affiliates Two Door cinema Club, Silver Columns, The Drums et al. All the featured songs appear on the Kitsuné Maison 9 album released April 26. And the garments? Everything you see them put on and most importantly take off is from the new Autumn Winter 2010 collection.

It's a sort of cross promotional stint; a melange of three of the most luring elements in society. Fashion, Music & Sex. Well, I'm convinced. But don't take my word for it. Take  a gander - it's only fair.

Aurel Schmidt for Opening Ceremony

NY based artist Aurel Schmidt has made everyday debris a cause for celebration for Opening Ceremony. Schmidt was chosen as one of the Whitney Biennial's 2010 exhibiting artists. Each chosen artiste was limited to one submission. Schmidt's piece entitled Master of the Universe / Flexmaster 3000 (see below) uses the quotidien detritus, including cigerette butts, condoms and insects; normally considered dirty and ugly, to create a specimen of beauty. It's a warts-and-all reactionary statement. 

Since her 2007 series Dirty Pretty Things the Canadian born artist has forced the viewer to move away from their comfort zone, to view a different type of beauty; one that is not widely accepted. This March welcomes the ubiquitous Aurel Schmidt on Tee. There are 11 in the series which when put in the correct order spell, you guessed it, Opening Ceremony. They're 60 USD a pop and are just what the doctor ordered. 

Terry Richardson takes her portrait here. NSFW (obviously).

Mr Chaz Budnick

The name Chaz Budnick doesn't carry much of a punch but Toro Y Moi certainly does. The 23-year-old Californian creates blissed out rhythmic funk. But that's not the only thing he's responsible for. Heard of Les Sins? It's his side project that whispers in your ear and causes tingles down your spin. His sexy tunes seduce you with sun drenched lyrics and heavy synths. It's a l'il more Cali than his current sensation Toro Y Moi but no less captivating. Pressing 'play' will cause disco house to pulsate through your veins. Chaz Budnick is most certainly at the forefront of 2010's artists to watch. It's French House that'll remind you of Cassius and Starsailors. What a way to start the year.

http://www.myspace.com/lessins

Blissed out ambient electronica

http://www.myspace.com/thebabeinthewoods



www.myspace.com/neonindian



http://www.myspace.com/toroymoi

I'm beginning to see a pattern - & I like it.

Ldn LeCool Interview - Dusty Limits

Culture vulture Le Cool London lives here.

Interview: Men w/ political inflexions

MEN is a complete paradox. It's an ironic statement that on stage consists of 2 girls and 1 guy. However, off stage we're offered a whole smorgasbord of talent. MEN shares its member with sassy feminist electro band Le Tigre. Check out the whole interview at This is Fake DIY.

Review: Air @ The Roundhouse, London

Check out the rest of the review 'ehe.

LeCool London 18 - 24 March

Paper Route Interview on SUP Mag

Check out the rest of the words at SUP Mag.

Check out their music 'ere.

"All The People Look Well In The Dark"

Crookers Interview - 'No more girls just angry people'

I recently interviewed beat mongers Crookers - The pair are as Italian as a big ol' bowl of Gnocchi pasta. Hell Phra still lives w/ his Mamma. They take everything with a grain of salt and are the masters of self-effacement. Bot's demure nature is a great compliment to the greagarious nature of co-creator Phra but in the box all inhibitions are put to the wayside. 

Their album launch at South London's Fire was a melange of alchemy and  debauchery. Good decisions were made - rocking up to witness the magic- as were equally bad decisions - candy that induced involuntary reactions of rejection-.

Their debut album 'Tons of Friends' is a canvas of the musical elite; a testement to their off the cuff approach and to all that is aurally delightful.

Check out the interview - it's all in a honest vein - the only way I like 'em.

LeCool London 11- 17 March

Like that bacon cremated? Give us a little finger pop at this week's LeCool London.

Lady Gaga - Spot the Product Placement

Lady Gaga's latest song Telephone (feat. Beyonce) has been matched with a video of epic proportions. Channelling Tarantino's Kill Bill saga Gaga goes for the ultra gloss pop art look; a satirical comment on the world as a consumerist society inundated by information and technology (which is also the main purveyor, obviously). The video is a comment on today's world; a world of instant gratification where we are constantly at reach and on call (via the telephone). 

It's all very clever really. The video comments on her apparent gender ambiguity (a rumour she started), has real porn star Alektra Blue, makes use of the 'pussy wagon' borrowed from the Kill Bill set, features her sister Natali Germanotta and uses the diner from US crime show NCIS. However, we do wonder what 'avant-garde' dribble Gaga’s gonna spit out to substantiate the ‘post-modern’ product pollination; a further comment on global conglomerates and the hypodermic needle? 

Now that would be a little to convenient, wouldn't it Gaga?

For visual ticklers click here.

Le Cool 4 - 10 March

Interview: Two Door Cinema Club

Read the rest at This is Fake DIY

Dorian Concept - Just Call Him Fingers

What started as an alternative to playing Mario Kart has exploded into a synthesised melange of samples and wonky beats. Dorian Concept is a 20-something producer from Vienna, Austria. He learned the piano as a child (he's self taught!) and then one day discovered the joys of marijuana. It kind of gave him the 'buzz' he needed to release something visceral from within. Now he's a force not to be reckoned with and somewhat of a YouTube star; his tweeks get over 200,000 hits.

He's debut album 'When Planets Explode' hit shelves March of 2009 and it offers 10 spaced out tracks referencing jazz, hip hop, lounge and electronica.

Catch him if you like: J Dilla, Madlib, Jazzanova & or Vienna's own jazzed-out maestro Joe Zawinul.

March 12 he'll be orchestrating an intimate session at London's Jazz Cafe. So come witness the jazz scales and electric freedom as his fingers hyper-actively skip over the keys. 

It may sound something like this: