Vampire Weekend [reloaded]
You’ll be hard pushed to find a group around at the moment that draw on quite the same influences as Vampire Weekend. Not since Paul Simon’s Graceland have an American band pulled elements of traditional South African music into what is otherwise straight-up US indie, and made it sound as tight and organic as they have done. Another product of New York’s burgeoning music scene, the four-piece seem unlikely messengers for the oft-subordinated sounds of Africa. Sporting the standard tight jeans and preppy youthfulness, Vampire Weekend contrast image with sound, weaving the influences of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Kanda Bongo Man into their songs with deft precision. While frontman, Ezra Koenig, cleverly soundscapes the savannah with the use of a single, standard-tuned electric guitar, it’s the percussion that really drives the music. Chris Thomson is the main hook for the African influence, and his frenetic rhythms successfully propel the listener far beyond the confines of New York. The sound is uncluttered; fresh as anything you’ll hear this year, and equally original.
Listen to Vampire Weekend’s, A Punk.
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Also by FRANCIS ANDREWS
Irina Werning’s Back to the Future photo series
Argentine photographer Irina Werning has complied this beautiful and poignant collection of portraits of adults re-enacting images of themselves as kids. From what I gather, she has asked people to submit photographs of themselves and then returned with them to these same spots at the same times in their lives. She’ll take this project round the world, from Baghdad to Eurodisney, and is looking for willing participants. Read more
Bug fighting in South East Asia
Of all the little idiosyncratic activities I’ve come across since living in Southeast Asia, this nears the favourite. The bug fights are held in a cemetery about half an hour outside of Chiang Mai late in the year when the stags are at their randiest. It pulls an impressive crowd who bet some hefty dollars on the winner, claimed by the beetle who throws its opponent off the revolving log and struts (or crawls) to victory. Read more
What The Fuck Should I Make For Dinner
All hail the magic 8-ball of cooking; the answer to those painful moments of indecision that plague every shopper at around 6pm on a hectic Monday evening. It’s not the nagging voice that questions every decision you make, but the blunt, obnoxious hollering of an online Gordon Ramsay. The kitchen abides.
YOU'RE SAYING (1)
HAVE YOUR SAY
The Photobooth app on Macs has provided hours of inane tooling around for most people and resulted in countless stretched and distorted images that only their makers find entertaining, but Brooklyn artist Mark Pernice has translated a wonky webcam image of himself into a terrifying 3D mask. Reminds me of Aphex Twin. Read more
If I stare long enough at Andy Gilmore’s kaleidoscopic designs, it’s like I’m being transported into a vortex, the colorful, swirling patterns colliding to form off-kilter shapes like small planets bouncing around some condensed parallel universe. Read more
In my next life, I want to sing like Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison. Oh, and grow a lush beard, so I can play in their band. Better start cracking.
Ais Design Studio in Cyprus are responsible for the interior of Hollywood Bar in Larnaka. Amongst the glossy surfaces, with their minimal colour palette, you’ll notice Andreas Achniotis Perales’s trademark X in his custom designed wallpaper and lights. Read more
Yes, Cuteoverload has been doing it for years, but can there really be too many sites devoted to cute animals? Fuck Yeah Puppies may not be original, but they have puppies. Lots and lots of puppies.
I’ve just come across the music of Minneapolis band Cloud Cult, and their song Chemicals Collide in particular. Their sound is a mix of scratchy acoustic guitar riffs mixed in with staccato beats and airy harmonies, all infused with a beautiful sense of lyrical melancholy. Read more
Wow, these rings by Yasushi Jona, intriguingly designed and rusted and corroded to look as if they were found on the sea floor, are really gorgeous. Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Communication prosthesis by Sascha Nordmeyer
This ‘communication prosthesis’ by designer Sascha Nordmeyer is hilarious and awesome. I want to wear one to a job interview.
It’s refreshing to see artists like Joe Kievitt who are contented to explore the beauty in simple forms and asymmetrical patterns. Read more
Nerd-attack! Man, this TARDIS zipper robe is so much cooler than any Star Wars crap people are hawking this days. This is for the true gangsta nerd.
The return of the Brionvega rr226
Italian brand Brionvega has resurrected the classy Radiofonografio piece first created in 1965. The updated version is just like the original turntable/radio unit, but also has a CD/DVD player.
Here are a couple awesome pieces by Matt Leines that were recently on display in the Doubting Thomases exhibit at Nudashank gallery in Baltimore. Gives me ideas for Halloween. Read more
New York-based artist Suzuki Mariko has made this handmade felt doll set of a mom and happy baby bear sitting on a sofa. At just three inches wide and two inches high, it’s perfect for your side table. It can even watch TV with you. Aw! We have it for sale in the Lost At E Minor store. Read more
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ronnie said | 19 February, 2008
they are great!!