New Corrections House video for “Grin With a Purpose”, directed by our good friend Brian Sowell!

Rainforest Spiritual Enslavement - Black Magic Cannot Cross Water

We are loving this dark ambient and minimalist epic from cult label Blackest Ever Black. These long form compositions strike a particular chord in the psyche and the haunting atmosphere is dead on. The story behind the release goes like this:

A man investigating the disappearance of a number of missionaries, some of them musicians, in Papua New Guinea in the ‘80s discovered a box of cassettes at a market in Port Moresby. He was told these were the only remains of the group, who often sojourned into the wilderness for weeks on end before returning to tinker on machines in a rented shack. The tapes began to circulate among a small circle of enthusiasts. Rumors swirled that these recordings— containing long-form, dread-heavy compositions for minimal synthesizer and field recordings— reflect those lost Christ-bringers’ descent into heresy, with their hearts and minds being consumed by jungle spirits.

First released on cassette by L.A.’s Hospital Records in 2012, this is the first time it’s available on 12”. More info here.

There are a few “Street Fashion” sites out there offering trendy clothes at low prices, but this is the first time I’ve come across one offering such remarkable designer knock offs. Take a look at these items from Choies.com:

Givenchy Rottweiler T-Shirt - $265

Choies Dog Sweatshirt - $69.99

Alexander Wang Aline Leather Sandals, $695

Choies New Style Toe Sandals, $82.99   

Alexander Wang Agata T-Strap Sandal, $725

Choies Lucid Toe Sandal, $71.99

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M, $349

Choies Wedge Boots with Lucite Heels, $171.99

Maison Martin Margiela Leather Trimmed Mesh Boots, $1050

Choies Gauze Transparent Heel Shoes, $129.99

3.1 Phillip Lim Ka Pow Sweater, $425

Choies Crew Knit Jumper with KA Print, $89.99

Acne Music Tee, $120

Choies Oversized Music T-shirt, $22.99

Simone Rocha Fluorescent Green Daisy Dress, $1775

Choies Daisy Dress, $47.99

I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. I can’t find any negative reviews of this company (unlike when I looked into similar sites such as Romwe, for example), so it might be worth a try. Of course nothing compares to the real thing.

Australia Fashion Week took place this past week in Sydney and we pulled together some highlights of our favorite looks and trends.

Karla Špetić, one of the Guardian UK’s “Three Designers to Watch,” showed minimal, playful, and pop culture/art inspired pieces. Her Autumn/Winter collection featured Lichtenstein prints and her most recent collection was inspired by William Eggleston. We love these modern pieces and the sheer cutouts, which was a big trend on the runway in Sydney. 

“ …sophisticated and chic, timeless and directional, with unexpected twists” is how Staple The Label describes their line of clever, affordable basics. You can find their pieces online retailing for around $100 or less. We liked these futuristic looks from the runway:

Elissa McGowan is another young up and comer who recently graduated from the Fashion Design Studio in Sydney. Also drawing inspiration from art, Elissa looks to artists such as Dale Frank and Francis Bacon for inspiration. You can see the fine art influences emerge in these beautiful pieces: 

Alex Perry is definitely a veteran in the fashion world, launching his couture line in the early 1990’s. Perry is known for his red carpet ready gowns and his work as a TV personality appearing on the Australian versions of Next Top Model and Project Runway. The first thing that caught our eye from Fashion Week were the killer lace up thigh high boots…insane.

There were plenty of bold prints to juxtapose the monochromatic collections - here are a few stand outs:

Camilla.

Emma Mulholland.

Gabrielle Lee

And of course there were swimsuits. We were drawn to these very “Addicted to Love” inspired looks from Skye and Staghorn:

Check out more at http://australia.mbfashionweek.com/. 

Carpenter Brut - Le Perv 

Watching Silver Strain videos non stop.

Silent Servant at Boiler Room Berlin

[Broadcast on 30th May 2012]

Tracklist & video at http://boilerroom.tv

Put this on now.

NOIR CITY: HOLLYWOOD, 13th ANNUAL FILM NOIR FESTIVAL

The 13th edition of the Film Noir festival returns to L.A.’s famed Egyptian Theater April 1st - April 20th. This isn’t your typical selection as 25 of 28 films are not available on DVD. Even if you can’t make the screenings, check out the schedule to learn about some amazing films.

More information here.

This Ain’t California

Opening in New York today, Marten Persiel’s hybrid “documentary” is a killer ride through 1980’s East Berlin. It tells the story of a group of young skateboarders who reunite to tell old tales about thrashing beyond the Iron Curtain. While the film uses real archival footage and authentic photographs, it is mostly fiction. With that being said, the milieu is real and there was a thriving, energetic punk and skateboard scene that somehow evolved right under the nose of Communism and far from the sandy beaches of Southern California.

OAK NYC - SUNGLASSES

Sunglasses will forever be an essential component of one’s sartorial arsenal. Solar rays are among the most vile and destructive forces to our ocular well-being, so quality protection is of the utmost importance.

Behold the latest offerings from one of our most trusted merchants, OAK NYC.  Made of acetate of the highest merit, use these as your shield for the coming summer months. At around $100, they will also keep your pockets hefty.

Find out more here.