Musical Friday

Telepathe - So Fine



Laura Marling - Night Terror




Whirlwind Heat - Purple



Hecuba - Suffering




Kings of Convenience - Boat Behind

Anish Kapoor at the Royal Academy

Oooh this is exciting! No, really it is. A giant blocks of wax bieng pushed back and forth through the building's archways. Balls of wax bieng shot at the grade 1 listed walls. The art and the building merge together. Sooo innovative. I cannot wait to go!

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/anish-kapoor/about/

BlogSpotted: The Sartorialist

Without a doubt my most favourite blog. Scott Schuman's creation features every-day people out and about (mostly in New York) wearing their every-day clothes. The photography is lovely and the people...well, they're perfect. It's amazing that they're real, but also really depressing. How can they look that good on a regular day and get their picture put up on such a famous blog? It's not fair.

Big-wigs in the designer world turn to the blog for inspiration as they believe it is a good insight into what people really wear. They also like to spot up-coming trends. I like it for it's blissful escapism. Enjoy but prepare to be envious.

http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

Roy McMakin

Wallpaper*'s Chair Arch at the V&A

Us Brits enjoy wierd traditions. We like jumping on horses and killing little bundles of fur. We believe any bad situation can be solved with a cup of tea and we love calling any female on TV with a sob story 'The Nation's Princess'. I blame Diana for that one. But I had no idea we like making arches out of chairs.

Architectually it's genius but true to form it's odd and totally pointless. The picture below was taken in 1884. The arch was built in High Wycombe to celebrate a visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales. Imagine the Princess trying to climb up a pile of chairs whilst waving to the public with the stiff wrist, trying to stop her, e-hem, crown from showing!

Wallpaper* magazine were so impressed with the structure of these arches that they've build their very own in the V&A Museum's country garden. It's getting pulled down on the 27th of September so if you're around, pop in and have a look. It's pretty impressive.

Fernando and Humberto Campana for Lacoste

3,000 alligator logos have been sewn together to make this polo. The Campana brothers have quite a fascination with alligators (once making a chair from alligator toys) and what better way to celebrate the obsession then by creating a twelve piece line for sport reptile lovers Lacoste?

www.lacoste.com/campanas

Musical Friday

TGIF!

Bat for Lashes - What's a Girl to do



Lykke Li - Little Bit (CSS Remix)



Vetiver - Been So Long



No Bra - She was a Butcher



Sexy Kids - Sisters are Forever

Films you should never see...

Obsessed, 2009

When I saw this film the only thing I was obsessed with was finding the exit. Beyonce and her man are oh so happy and don't they want us to know it! They've got a kid and have bought a new house in suburbia. Omg! Could it get any more perfect? Of course it can't! A home-wrecking slut tries to ruin their lives by coming on to Beyonce's man at... the office Christmas party, of course! She gets more scary; telling people she's his wife, following him on business trips and scariest of all, sneaking into his house to sprinkle rose pettles on the bed. Aaahhhh! It's so scary!

Beyonce starts off all sweet and homely, as if she's watched too many episodes of Dezzy Wives. But perhaps producers thought she would alienate certain viewers, so all of a sudden she becomes incredibly ghetto shouting things like 'Bitch, I know you di-ehnt' and 'No skinny ass ho' is gonna steal my man.' It's all very odd and incredibly awful and Beyonce gave the one of worst performances of the whole year so far. Nice one, girlfriend!

Beyonce: I hope he won't notice I just let one rip...

Idris Elba: Sniff, sniff. What the...?

Georgia Rule, 2007

They should have made it a rule to never, ever let anyone release this horrific mess of a film. Lindsay Lohan plays a slut *insert obvious joke here* who goes to stay at her granny, Georgia's house (no, her last name is not Rule, it's just a saying duh). The town she's stranded in is sleepy and quiet and, well, Linds is just a city girl who wants to have fun. She makes passes at older men, smokes (oooh naughty!) and alienates all the girls around her. She also has issues with her mum, Felicity Huffman, who drinks a lot and wears a very odd wig halfway through the film. Of course, they break down walls, reveal their deepest (shallowest) souls and out Lindsay's child abuse pain, caused by her step-dad. Granny, mum and Lindsay come together and live happily ever after. Rigid acting, pointless script and a sense that the actors are cringing all the way through makes horrible viewing.

Male-Model Turned Actor: So this is how you got The Parent Trap!

Lindsay Lohan: Gulp.

Rumour Has It, 2005

Probably the most surreal storyline ever created in the history of really, really bad rom-coms. Jennifer plays Sarah Huttinger who finds out The Graduate is based on her dead mother and grandmother's affair with a man named Beau Burroughs. Always feeling different from her family, it dawns on her that because her mother had an affair with Beau (Costner), he might be her father.

With the knowledge that this man shagged her mum and her nan, she goes to find him to get some answers. He's not her dad (he's impotent due to a hockey accident or something) so she sleeps with him.

They have an affair until she meets... HIS SON. So he's not impotent? Omg, Jennifer just slept with her dad! For most people, that kind of thing generally leads to therapy or suicide, but Jen just has a brief 30 second freak-out moment until she finds out the kid's adopted. Phew! Anyway, she dumps him and sorts her family life out and all is great. The wierdest bit is when she tells her sister the story and she goes 'You slept with dad? Eeewww!' completely casually. These people are freaks.

Kevin Costner: Don't shay my career is ovah. Hiccup. Thish ish a ggrreaat film. Hiccup.

Jennifer Anniston: I miss Friends...

Match Point, 2005

Woody Allen, what the hell were you thinking? How can you not see that Match Point is a horrible, horrible film? The acting, the script, the over-dramatic story line. Oh, it's too much to bare! Chris Wilton is a tennis pro (with the wierdest Irish/English/French accent I have ever heard) moves to posh London to teach tennis. Geddit? Match Point? Anywho, he meets posho Tom and his boring posho sister Chloe, who he dates. He meets Tom's, oh-so deep American actress girlfriend Nola (Johansson) and embarks on an affair. It all gets out of control. She gets up the duff and all of a sudden transforms into a nagging, self-loathing, obessesive mistress set to ruin Chris's life. So 0bviously he shoots her and her neighbour for shits and gigs. Honestly, it all comes out of nowhere.

The script is hilarious. It's almost as if they're improvising and the scenes are way to long. Allen, who usually always gets his environments spot on, paints London in a one dimensional light. It seems snobby, unrealistc and fake. Much like the film itself. It's a puke-fest. Don't bother.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers: We're talking about ping-pong. Interesting, huh?

Scarlett Johansson: ZZzzzzzzz......

Films you've got to see...

Woody Allen's Interiors, 1978

Perhaps a more obscure choice of Woody Allen's films, but this is one of my favourites. A haunting story of three sisters dealing with the seperation of their parents and their mother's increasingly disturbed mind. This is no comedy, but the cinematography is gorgeous. The stills could be wonderful photographs in their own right. It's cold and bleak, the storyline distressing yet enthralling, and the aesthetics are perfect. The greys and cold blues mirror what the characters feel inside and their clothes even match the rooms they are in. Out of all Allen's films, make sure you see this one.


Jean-Luc Godard's Alphaville, 1965

Ah, this film is amazing. Forget all the CGI, green screen, simulation stuff (did I say all that right? I'm always afraid of sounding like a middle aged dad...) and appreciate a film with no special effects; just perfect vision and creative timing. Set in the future, a planet called Alphaville (actually the night-time streets of Paris) is in danger of bieng destroyed by Lemmy Caution, along with its creator Alpha 60 (don't worry that's a good thing.) I won't go into too much detail of the plot, you just have to see it for yourself. Perfect choreography, costumes and cinematography make this film one of a kind and even the tiniest details have been thought of by Godard (a scene where Anna Karena runs through a giant building and seperate lights flash in time with the music springs to mind). Also take note of Kelly Osbourne's 'One Word' music video homage to the film. On second thoughts, don't.


Jean-Luc Godard's Une Femme est Une Femme, 1961

Still want to give Godard a try but fancy something lighter? This is the film to see. The New Wave film centres around Angela and her lover Emile. She wants a baby, he does not. Throw in a best friend with the hots for Angela and you've got a problem. Deliciously colourful, fun and yet sensitive this film is probably my fave of Godard's. Also, notice the music change as the characters do. It mirrors their emotions, which is a beautiful touch.


Jim Jarmusch's, Stranger than Paradise, 1984

I first saw this film at University and loved it. It's a three-bit feature length (the first part inspired the second two seperately), where hipster Willie's life changes as his Hungarian cousin Eva comes to stay. Along with his friend Eddie, the three embark on road-trips, gambling and listen to music. Completely of its time and yet so relatable to the now, this dead-pan comedy is utterly brilliant. Jazz musician John Luria plays Willie, former Sonic Youth drummer, Richard Edson, plays Eddie and Hungarian It-Girl of the '80's, Eszter Balint plays Eva. It's funny, subtle and oh-so-cool. Go see it!


Pedro Almodovar's Talk to Her, 2002

My favourite Almodovar film. Two men (Marco and Benigno) meet in hospital and wait for their loves to come out of their comas. However, all is not as it should be. Marco loves Alicia, and dedicates all his time to her almost lifeless body. He bathes her, sings to her and changes her underwear. But Marco is not her husband nor her boyfriend. He works at the hospital and things become intense and disturbing when he is accused of rape. The film follows the journey of these two men whose lives intertwine in a story of lust, immorality and friendship. An amazing film, which is beautifully shot. Get it on DVD and get ready to perch on the edge of your seat!

Julie Delpy's 2 Days in Paris, 2007

Whilst taking a tour around Italy, lovers Marion and Jack stop off in Paris to collect their pet cat from Marion's parents. They decide to spend two days in Paris, where American Jack becomes more paranoid by the second. Meeting Marion's eccentric parents was interesting, if slightly uncomfortable, but when old boyfriends continually come out of the woodwork, Jack reaches his limit. Watch how he tries to decipher what French speaking Marion and her ex-lovers say, what a certain touch of a shoulder means or an over-enthusiastic laugh. Laugh as earnest Americans ask for directions and eco-warriors blow up fast food restuarants. It's a completely hilarious film. The script is well-written, the cast is perfect and the clash of European and American culture is brilliant to watch. Can Marion and Jack survive two days in Paris? Watch it and find out.

John Galliano, Fall 2009

Fall being the operative word... They are amazing but, John, how are we supposed to walk?

Outsider Art: Henry Darger

When the neighbours of reclusive Henry Darger discovered his 15,145-page, single-spaced fantasy manuscript called The Story of the Vivian Girls, in What is known as the Realms of the Unreal, of the Glandeco-Angelinnian War Storm, Caused by the Child Slave Rebellion, they were shocked. Whilst he was resting on his deathbed they found piles of drawings, paintings and manuscripts strewn all over his one room apartment and realised they had found Darger's wonderful secret world. In this world, children save the day, giant winged girls float through the sky and Darger himself is accepted.

Having grown up in a boys home, Darger spent his life alone, relying only on a few neighbours who helped him pay the rent. Some thought he was simple, others were unsettled by him. Little did they know of the genius lurking beneath his shy exterior. When a neighbour told him how amazing his work was, the rapidly depleting Darger whispered "Well, it's too late now..."

I adore Henry Darger. I love him not only because of his amazing story (where a group of little girls named 'The Vivian Girls', who I believe inspired the name for the band, save the world from anti-religious evil forces), his attention to detail, colour and description but because of the man himself. Confused about sexuality (he drew little girls with penises), tortured by religion and greatly distressed by child-cruelty, Darger escapes to his imagination, unable to face the real world.

The fact that he didn't know how good he was suggests a certain naivety; a refreshing change from the likes of Hirst and Banksy, whose 'Starbucks' artistic approach kills any sincerity or modesty.

To know more about Darger, make sure you watch Jessica Yu's 'Realms of the Unreal'. It captures Darger's story perfectly, bringing to life his creations and giving them their own voices. It's available on DVD, but I think only in USA format, so try and catch it on Sky Arts, as it is often played.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cud2HHLWnmc

Dizzee Rascal, old bean!

I positively adore Dizzee Rascal. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of his music. No, really, I'm not just saying that. I actually find his songs rather annoying. Bonkers? The lyrics are hardly inspired. But, I cannot get enough of his hilarious interview skills and attitude towards other celebrities.

Check out this video of him telling Kate Moss to 'go away' after she bombarded his interview with her massive team of sycophants, sorry, assistants at the GQ awards last week. Desperate for the attention to be on her, she cried 'has anyone seen my lipstick?' to which some revolting excuse for a human bieng replied 'Do you want me to look for it Kate?' Heellooooooooo?? It's Kate Moss! She was the face of Rimmel for about five years, I'm sure she's got enough lipstick lying around. And stop pandering to her laziness. She can find her own bloody lipstick!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChdNqrDTJQc

And this... oh it's an oldie but such a goodie! Dizzee Rascal on News Night talking about Obama and other, erm, interesting things. Watch as he sways from side to side, cracking up at every comment he makes, interrupting the very serious political expert and telling Paxman, "'Course I'm British, man. You know me!" I'm sure he does 'Mr Rascal', very well indeed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM1XrVVVBAk

Waiting for the Bus

Goooddd, waiting for the bus is sooooo boringggg. If I wasn't such a greenie I'd drive. Ok, if I wasn't such a retard I'd drive but I just wish the council would make it more fun to travel with the public. Like, imagine waiting for the bus in a giant watermelon? People in Japan like to do it so why can't we?

Or maybe swinging the time away? Bruno Taylor's creation looks like lots of fun. To be honest, I can't see it bieng used for anything other than a it-seemed-a-good-idea-when-I-was-fucked-now-I'm-stuck-in-the-hospital moment. But, hey it's creative. It should be manditory for every bus stop.


And Paris. Get them with their sophisticated 'we're better than you' LED bustop. Oi, Paris, we've got a swing, alright? The stop has an interactive screen and the LED display is 6ft high. Put one of those up in England and you'd have a giant cock spray-painted on it within a day. Actually, that gives me an idea for a bus stop...

Upcoming Exhibitions, The Saatchi Gallery

Nothing excites me more than knowing an exciting exhibition is coming to town. The Saatchi Gallery, famous for its wide variety of unnusual artists, will be hosting two of, what I think will be, the most interesting and ground breaking exhibitions this year. Oooh, just look at these pictures!

One to look out for is Newspeak: British Art Now, where artists such as littlewhitehead ('Sentient Orbs' pictured above and bellow) and Alexander Hoda (also my absolute fave, Tessa Farmer, who deserves her own post) will be displaying their work. 25 October - 17 January 2010.



Another to watch out for is Shape of Things to Come: New Sculptures where the likes of Michael DeLucia, Terence Koh and Jorge Mayet, whose 'De Mis Vivos y Mis Meurtos' is pictured bellow. The book is out now (£53.55...eek!) so I believe the exhibition should be open soon (date is unavailable on the website, so why don't you pop in for youself and see!).


Daphne Fitzpatrick's 'Let do It' pictured bellow. How is it standing up on its own?!

Musical Friday

Hooray, it's musical Friday! You know what that means? No? Never heard of Musical Friday before? Well, it's Friday so let's listen to some music... Hooray, Musical Friday!

The Golden Silvers - True Romance



First Aid Kit - In Our Own Pretty Ways



Flashguns - Bells at Midnight



Little Joy - Next Time Around



Stricken City - Ta O Tak

The Propeller Island City Lodge, Berlin

I don't know about you but one of my pet peeves is boring hotels. I mean, bog standard gaffs like The Holiday Inn... well, they make me so angry. A regular bed? En-suite bathrooms? Mini-bars? It must be some kind of joke. They can't expect holiday goers to be happy with a comfortable room, a replica of their ones at home. It's almost as if they want us to be comfortable or something. Ggrrr, I'm furious.

If only there was a hotel out there that mirrored the trippy dream I had the other night where I went to sleep in a coffin and woke up trapped in a room of mirrors. My bed then proceeded to float off the ground and I had to go to the toilet through a wardrobe that was actually a door...



... I gazed at my reflection, unaware I was looking into a two-way mirror and some German pervert next door was staring straight at me. I then averted my eyes skyward and noticed that all the furniture was stuck to the ceiling and my bed was rotating...

Wait... There is a hotel just like that? In Berlin? For around 80 Euros a night? I don't think I can live my trippy dream in the flesh. It's bad enough seeing it on my blog.

http://www.propeller-island.de/blog/index.php

The Yellow Bird Project

Muscians and charity go together like pickle and cheese. They love to give, we like to receive. But don't let the likes of holier-than-thou Bono, Sting and Chris Martin put you off . The Yellow Bird Project is a non-profit organisation, based in Montreal, that gathers together musicians such as Bon Iver, Little Boots and Broken Social Scene to design T-Shirts and give the proceeds to their chosen charites. Not only does this raise awareness for the charity but it also gives the muscians a chance to flex their creative muscles, for the good of mankind, without selling their souls to companies with fruits for logos.

My new husband, Devendra Banhart, was the first musician to contribute a design. Ah, so kind, so loving, so generous. The proceeds from his T-Shirt are going to the 'Teenage Cancer Trust'. I also really like The Shins design, as well as Clap Yours Hands and Say Yeah's interesting effort.

Check out the website, you could find something you like...

http://www.yellowbirdproject.com/products/clap-your-hands-say-yeah

Documentary: I Think We're Alone Now

"I think we're alone now. There doesn't seem to be anyone around..."

The irony of this song is that, according to Sean Donnelly, Tiffany is never alone. 'I Think We're Alone Now' is a dark and innovative journey into the lives of obsessed (understatement of the year) Tiffany fans. The singer (famous in the '80's for having red hair and dancing in a lot of shopping centres) is the eye of a very bizarre storm as we are taken on a journey into the secret lives of obsession.

The fans (ok, stalkers... look, I'm trying to be sensitive here), originally seem comical. On face value, one might think Louis Theroux has gone Box Office. But soon, we are left feeling uneasy witnessing the lonliness, frustration and, worst of all, unrequited love these people feel. Rejected from society, they have one person to turn to and it just so happens to be Tiffany.

This distressing yet poignant documentary will be playing at The Raindance Film festival, in London, from September 30 - October 11. Check out the trailor. Chilling stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MxXqF-fgJY

Lauren Dukoff's 'Family'

I recently received Lauren Dukoff's 'Family' from my brother (oh, the irony) and have to say I was very, very happy. Lauren Dukoff is a wonderful photographer, who manages to capture her muses in a serene, gentle light. She has travelled all over the world with her musician friends and this book is a documentation of their time together. Each portrait is different. She can capture the performer, the thinker, the private couple. Her subjects look into her lens like they're in the middle of telling a secret. Sometimes they smile as if they're sharing an in joke. Each photo is endearing and glamourous. But not in a bragging way. Dukoff is no pompous photographer.

Of course, there is another reason I wanted this book and love it so much. His name Devendra Banhart...

What was that Devendra? Marriage? Moi? But, I'm only 21. Are you that desperate to have me? Oh, fine, have it your way...

Dukoff''s family members are so attractive and talented she makes me wish I was adopted. The book features Bat for Lashes, Hecuba, Espers, Cibelle, Vetiver, Little Joy, Megapuss (many bands feature the same members, rienforcing the fact that these people really are like family) and many more. Every single one of these musicians create wonderful music, bursting with originality and yummy creativity. The book's layout matches their mish-mash of musical styles perfectly.

If unfamiliar with the music scene Dukoff is involved with, this book is a good introduction to it. If, like me, you are in love with (nooo, not Devendra) most of the musicians featured, it's a must have. If none of the above, get it anyway. Dukoff is brilliant and I love this book.

Reid Peppard and Polly Morgan

What better way to start this blog then by writing about a dead hamster on a comb... Seriously though, I've found myself falling head over heels in love with Reid Peppard's more than interesting creations. Now that Autumn is approaching, I'm thinking one of his pieces would be a wonderful way to spice up an outfit. Perhaps slightly controversial, I think everything he creates is beautiful. Yes, I said beautiful. Don't you think so?

I totally have my eye on Peppard's pigeon wing headband. It's like angel-wings for the city dweller. He takes animals, usually considered vermin in the Western world, and gives them the opportunity to look glamourous and command centre stage. It's tongue in cheek with depth.

Taxidermy is all the rage right now. Polly Morgan's 'The Age of Marvelous' Exhibition starts on October 15th (One Marylebone Road), where her elegant, provocative, frightening and delicate masterpieces will be on display. In the past she has placed a stuffed crow on a telephone and a dead bunny 'sleeping' next to a magic hat. What imagination!

I'm desperate to get my hands on one of her prints and if you check out her website, I'm sure you'll be impressed as well. See you at the exhibition.

P.S. I'll be the girl in the corner with wings sprouting from her head.