From makes the best surreal indie pop that comes from Beverly Hills. The band sounds like Nico + Kraftwerk on a Magical Mystery Tour, and the blog covers design, advertising, Swedish music, and post meta fun times.
Louise Goldinis is a London-based designer known for her edgy silhouettes, futuristic fabrications, and bright colors. I love how she balances sexy with sharp. Her spring 2010 collection also included shoes that are so aggressive that they’re kinda cute – they’re so densely and luxuriously embellished with spikes that they look like they were crafted by someone who didn’t realize the hardware is seeped in punk and S&M.
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Sony just introduced new TVs at the CES in Vegas. Their flagship model, the Bravia NX800 is stunning and could easily pass for a Braun product designed by Dieter Rams. The screen also tilts back 6° to accommodate viewing the set if it’s on a low TV stand.
It’s ridiculously beautiful. I’m so happy to see sharp edges back in product design, and I’m glad Apple’s not the only company making beautifully designed electronics.
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Greece-born, London-based designer Sophia Kokosalaki collaborated with Ilias Lalaounis for a limited-edition jewelry range. Lalaounis is a fourth-generation Greek jewelry house that updates Hellenic visual traditions for modern yet rich pieces. The Kokosalaki jewelry reflects the designer’s edgy, post biomorphic lines that are so beyond trends, they’d look new for a while. The way to transcend trends is to go different, not classic. It’s the classics that fall prey to the changing silhouettes and fabrications, but the eccentric stays out of the game to win it.
This glowing Hershey’s Kiss is actually an outdoor fireplace built in Trondheim, Norway by Haugen/Zohar architects. Inspired by Norwegian turf huts an old log construction, the structure is made of 80 layered rings of pine core pieces and oak separators. Each layer has a different radius and center point, so the silhouette shifts in shape from different view points. The spaces between the building pieces glow when the fire’s burning, and the whole structure looks like shimmering firewood. But that’s secondary to the functional purpose of the mesh surface – the airflow allows the wood pieces to dry, which is very useful during the Scandinavian winters.
No, “Afrika” isn’t a European answer to the Afro beat trend amongst some American indie bands. Thankfully. “Afrika” is a track from the forthcoming debut by Swedish band Ikons, and it sounds like a mod foray into psychedelia with its neat yet repetitive groove. It’s fitting that Ikons opened for Spiritualized during their Scandinavian tour this past summer.
The six musicians and one video artist that make up Ikons are based in Göteborg, and their self-recorded album was mixed by Alex Palmestål of Pistol Disco and Dan Lissvik of Studio. They’ll announce UK & European tour dates this spring – go if you’re there!
The album IKONS will be released on February 15, 2010 on CD and 180g vinyl. Stream it now at their excellent label Service.
With its prismatic, luxurious mod sea of gold, that proposed set for the canceled Kanye-Gaga tour looked like the ballroom of a Bond villain’s compound. Turns out this design was very timely and faceted surfaces have been emerging on products ranging from speakers to shoes. Here are some favorites, including my own shoes (flats, no less).
Not to be missed.
- Toronto Star
The band From is indie-pop of the catchiest caliber.
- Pretty Much Amazing!
It’s your move, Gregg Gillis.
- Idolator
two minutes and twenty-seven seconds of editing magic. This video from Roni Brunn is what we call FUN.
- Lost at E Minor
Roni from the band From. In my mind, she's a genius.
- Pigeons and Planes
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