MRDK/// MAD TO LIVE.

LIFEHUNGRY.TUMBLR.COM

2011-08-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

i'm there now, aswell as

theinternetandi.tumblr.com for reviews.

TODAY.

2011-06-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

JAMIROQUAI - BLUE SKIES (FLUX PAVILION REMIX)

2011-06-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

let your brain melt. outstanding.

THE PRIMACY OF CONSCIOUSNESS - PETER RUSSELL

2011-06-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

"Peter Russell explores the problems science has explaining consciousness and proposes that consciousness is not created by the brain, but is inherent in all beings. He shows why mind is more fundamental than matter, and the the key to this shift is the revolution in our understanding of the light."

a very insightful talk into the nature of consciousness
learn something about yourself!

FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS - THE BIG EMPTY.

2011-06-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

For The Fallen Dreams video for The Big Empty which will be on their upcoming album.

This song represents a more mature sound for FTFD which i'm pleased to see, the other songs off the upcoming releases have been pretty standard, pretty boring chugchugpickedmelody which we all know they can do so well, along with the rest of Rise Records band roster.

The song shows more interesting use of melody and chord work whilst remaining true to their original sound, but with the addition of clean vocals.

But what really intrigued me about the video was the camerawork, some of the shots are really quite captivating. I'm not sure if you can see it in this video though as Rise Records were darlings and wouldn't let me embed the video from their youtube site so if you can't go view on their channel, but at some points in the video their will be either a plain shot or rolling shot but a part of it will looked slowed down or curved, allowing quite a simple video to have another dimension.

Plus, their haircuts are cool.
haha

TYLER THE CREATOR - SHE FT. FRANK OCEAN

2011-06-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

so this dropped.
opinions?
also props to the Anon who sent me the Jehst & Asaviour track!

NOESIS.

2011-06-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

This free time is letting the obsessional part of me roam about, to dangerous levels.

I have a dream, and it's quite an obscure and strange one but it's a dream none the less.
That is to one day collate all the things i have read, learnt and seen into notebooks that will become cross-referenced and indexed, yep, thats right.
I suppose I hope that it will all lead to some interesting insights into how things are connected.
i like to know how things have involved, influenced and affected each other, i do it enough with people already as i'm constantly studying group dynamics and how individuals will react around different social groups, situations etc anyway.

yep, hi my names Ben and i'm completely fucking deranged.
But i'm happybonus right?

A VOTE FOR ROLAND IS A VOTE FOR REALITY

2011-06-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

so, recently Next launched their "make me the NEXT top model 2011" campaign (see what they did there? awfully clever)
and the current leader is causing quite a stir.

This is Roland B, from Belfast, Antrim

and he is currently 25,000 votes above second place.

go vote for him, as the uproar surrounding the prospect of his cute little face possibly winning this competition and forcing NEXT to make a potentially lethal PR decision about whether to use him or not is hilarious.

VOTE HERE

PROACTIVE IS GO.

2011-05-29T07:27:00.001-07:00

so, now that the last essay of the year is out of the way and i've officially finished my second year of University i can get back to doing all the things i enjoy without the nauseating knowledge of deadlines and the such.

I'm not a lazy person in the slightest, if anything i'd say i was waging a constant war against laziness.
so with that in mind i've got my challenges ready for the next month as I enjoy setting myself things to do and complete as afterwards i can be like "look at all the cool shit i've done" and consequently feel more than awesome about life.

For June
-Read Platos Republic.
My Philosophy course, however much i love it, isn't the greatest course out there but it's the only one in the country that is a joint honours with Art. I don't find it taxing in the slightest really, the reading is mammoth but that's about it.
So as I love Philosophy i'm going to set myself the challenge of finding a list of great ancient Philosophy books and reading them as i really should know them.

- Draw every day
I've already started this as i've missed drawing anything to my hearts content but i'm going to make myself draw everyday.
Practicing fonts and a more illustrative style which is applicable to Graff and Design.

- Write a song every day
This is going to be the hard one, but i usually write half songs / riffs every time i pick up the guitar so it shouldn't be too hard, i just have to focus my fleeting attention span which gets the better of me from day to day.

NEW JEHST!

2011-05-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

Too excited about this
new track from the long anticipated 'The Dragon Of An Ordinary Family' album out next month!

Sao Paulo: Graffiti Fine Art.

2011-05-26T05:40:00.000-07:00

Graffiti Fine Art - Official Extended Preview from Jared Levy on Vimeo.

PUBLISHED WORK.

2011-05-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote another piece for Bangor University Student Newspaper 'SEREN' which i'm very pleased to be a part of.
It was a commentary in an issue dealing with Alcohol on how i would encourage people to try and have a night out without the need for inebriation. it's available here http://www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/view.htmlon page 14.

if you saw it, i'm available for any more article requests as i thoroughly enjoyed writing it.
just leave a comment here or send me an email at bmevansus@yahoo.com

feedback would be appreciated!
thanks!

BACK SOON.

2011-05-10T18:05:00.001-07:00

in the meantime, follow my Twitter
i update it with crap every day
come think im as funny as i do.
twitter.com/lihefungry

2011-04-25T16:26:00.000-07:00

I'm home for easter, thus no internet.

I've been pretty active

I've slept a lot, been to the gym and put off the work i need to do.

if you need me join the line, as you can see my schedule is packed.

RECENT.

2011-04-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

CECIL OTTER - REBEL YELLOW.

This album left me breathless, one of the most perfectly crafted collections of music i have heard in a long time.
This song in particular.

I haven't written a personal post in a while, so for those of you with hungry eyes towards my heart
this ones for you.

I took the big step of having my first councilling session this week, and I feel changed
I feel clean, i don't feel angry anymore, I feel better.
The business with my father had left me without energy towards anything, I can now mention him without wanting to throw myself into the path of a train.
The realisation and acceptance that I do indeed have quite a few problems due the way I have grown up, and that they are undoubtedly going to affect my behaviour in parts was the catalyst.
The very moment I let myself accept that instead of blindly denying it, It all fell away.
There is something inside me that wants to be normal, now you could rightly argue that there is obviously no such thing as 'normal' as it is entirely down to personal opinion.
I don't want problems anymore, I've grown bored of the wolves, i'm tired of feeling muddied and down.
I've spent the majority of my life being heavily 'alternative' but something is leading me away from there
and i'm actually happy about it.

I DONT FEEL SAD ANYMORE.

MARKUS FIELDER.

2011-04-08T05:56:00.000-07:00

Incredibly impressive Beeswax Sculptures from Markus Fieldermore on his website.

the element of fragility in these for me provides the crux as to why they're so amazing, the feather in particular.
The colour aswell, a sort of shining yet muddied orange
Just looking at them has me imagining the smell, which I would hope is delicious. There is obviously the juxtaposition of the human made vs the natural, but I think thats a comparison which can be all too easily thought up, not to take anything away from the work that is.

SUPREME DISAPPOINTMENT

2011-04-08T05:21:00.000-07:00

This is the new SUPREME X NEW ERA range, and it's all terrible.It represents for me the pinnacle of the extremely disappointing collaborations I have seen Supreme do recently
the collab they did with Thrasher, which could have been extremely exciting, was horribly bland
their new Vans releases were also not in any way excitingI think the only redeeming items I have seen so far were the Playboy jackets.

With this i would have liked to have seen the new era cap - which in itself is an iconic thing - display a bit more amibition in it's attempt, the logo is just downright bad.
There is a lot of room for creativity with New Era collaborations and this one is lazy.

Someone please explain to me the hype behind this brand?
am I just not getting it?

VANS HALF CAB 2011.

2011-04-08T04:06:00.000-07:00

Vans April 2011 New Releases.

Half Cabs were intended to be my next purchase as they are classics in the skate shoe world. Plus they're beautiful and look like they'd skate well too,these just re-affirm my beliefs. I like the muted grey and red colourway, not too bright and has a nice relaxed feel to it.
The White ones are just straight up nice, so clean.

PICK THEM UP HERE along with lots of other rad stuff to blow money on.

SKATING IN CHRISTCHURCH, POST QUAKE.

2011-04-08T03:59:00.000-07:00

Quickly gaining traction is this new video from Adrian Anker-Payne as he gives us a glimpse of what life is like for skaters adapting to their environment in Christchurch, New Zealand, following the devastating earthquake disaster. “Quaked” features appearances by Jack Woodrow, Kent Edgeworth, Kurt Green, Tom Clark, Shane Jones, James Kingstom, Zak Gray and Ben McConnell. Filmed and edited by Stunts. Enjoy!

See, this is why I love Skateboarding
complete ingenuity in the face of destruction.
When life gives you Lemons, Ollie the Lemons.

MIKE HOUSTON + MARTIN MAZORRA.

2011-04-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

These are woodcuts, everything you've done with your life is now invalid.
CANNONBALL PRESS

MONTANA COLOURS.

2011-04-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

MTN COLORS: The Original Since 1994 from The WereHaus™ on Vimeo.

"The good people of The WereHaus just shot a nice video documenting the history of MTN Colors North America, featuring some of the major staples of San Francisco's graffiti scene. APEX, NEON, they are here, talking about how to get graffiti supplies to the right people: the graffiiti writers."

PAUL CHAN.

2011-04-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

'OH WHY SO SERIOUS'

ANTISTATIK.

2011-04-06T15:23:00.000-07:00

ANTISTATIK

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PAINT THIS LIKE, THIS IS AWESOME.

GIVE UP.

2011-04-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

This is a current Last Witness t-shirt design.
See now i'm not quite sure what i think of it,
Hardcore is obviously adopting a lot of streetwear styles at the moment, with BWP & Your Demise being prime examples merch wise
But I want hardcore to stand for something and not just buy into pop-culture as a reference for merch designsWhat the fuck happened to the reaction inherent in the genre? This displays none of it.
kids will buy this and kids will love this but why not slightly re-appropriate it into a statement that means something.
Even the overly expensive Your Demise Justin Bieber t-shirt with the target over his face, despite the fact it was terrible, still had something original about it.
This could've been a good design if it went into the infinite avenues that arise out of pop-culture subversion.

Last Witness are a band that deserve your attention no doubt, but someone please give them advice on merch?

2011-04-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

GLORY DAYS.

2011-04-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have a god awful amount of footage from my younger days kicking around at home and at some point in time i must've made some videos and forgotten how to spell the 'compilation' (as i spell it complimation on the channel)
These are on my youtube channel, along with some other terrible, terrible things.

All filmed by me, between the ages of 13-16? god knows
featuring the kids I used to skate with....and Bod, who's about 40.
i have about 4 tricks in both videos, the first trick in the "driff it up" (Heelflip Nose slide), switch flip stuff on the bank in Hull Sessions and a Nollie 180 over a drain in that same video.
yea, apparently i could Switch Heelflip? at some point in time, who knew.
Plus, you can see my younger emo self prancing about like a twat and trying to do a handstandfuck yea right? ha..

ahh, memories...

PALACE.

2011-04-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

GANGBANGING AT GROUND ZERO from Slam City Skates on Vimeo.

"Palace Skateboards recently took a trip to New York City and done some filming for a promo 7 minutes long full of some dope footage filmed in New York City and around the ground zero site.

Gangbanging at Ground Zero features the finest talents of the Palace skate team including Olly Todd, Chewy Cannon, Lucien Clarke, Rory Milanes and Charlie Young. The video stays true to Palace’s style in terms of art direction and i feel the way in which the promo has been put together reflects well on the brand. Yet again Palace prove why they are up their with the rest of them and why they get the love that they get."

I lost track of UK skateboarding for about 3 years and am now trying to catch up with it, thoroughly ashamed of myself for going astray so this video has left me going "WHAT THE FUCK, I THOUGHT HE WAS ON BLUEPRINT / LANDSCAPE?"
namely Olly Todd, Chewey and Lucien who've all skated for the aforementioned teams.
i'm going to hit myself with a stick for sleeping on current UK Skating for so long.

anyway, enjoy
there's some nice stuff on it and it's put together very well, that 360 onto the ledge? fuck that, if it had anymore style i'd of tried to seduce it.
so good.

JAMIE THOMAS - WELCOME TO HELL.1996.

2011-04-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

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I remember back at school my friend had this on VHS, i was never that much into Toy Machine but he fucking loved it.
Jamie Thomas's part is insane, weird to see how young he looks here
The man can 50-50 anything, what the fuck is up with the rails in this? they're massive.
To have even half this mans balance.

be in awe.

PHLEGM.

2011-04-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

Phlegm from Andy Skillen on Vimeo.

UK street and fine artist, Phlegm (fun writing that name, we have to admit), was just the subject of a short video shot by Andy Skillen, just following the artist has he completes a few street pieces we can only assume in the UK.

He has also just had an exhibition with ROA and ROBOTS at an abandoned warehouse in london

2011-04-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Film Robert Matzke, ROOKIE, liquidluck from iGalore on Vimeo.

GRIEVES.

2011-04-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

THE CONFESSIONS OF MR. MODEST.

Got this today and it's majorly impressed me,
ffo - Atmosphere / anyone on Rhymesayers.

REAL AT MALOOF EDIT.

2011-04-02T11:34:00.000-07:00

Real at Maloof Money Cup LA: 2010 from dlxsf on Vimeo.

WANT THE NEW VIDEO ALREADY, FUCK.

RYAN MCGINLEY AT GALERIE GABRIEL

2011-04-02T04:27:00.000-07:00

Gabriel Rolt hosts McGinley's "Somewhere Place," a body of new works that Rolt describes as "perhaps the most cinematic yet. The photos have developed a surreal, action-film quality— people ricocheting through unknown spaces, a couple starting up at an apocalyptic sky, figures falling from trees in wet darkness. They’re dramatic and moody, full of storms and rushing rivers and night skies."

Something somewhat biblical about these photographs
The skin of the subject seems to shine, malleable and soft.

UNDEFEATED S/S 2011 DELIVERY 2.

2011-04-02T03:56:00.000-07:00

Not majorly impressed with the recent UNDEFEATED line
everything seems a bland and nothing has stood out for me at all, which is a shame because they've done some nice pieces before.
The best in this second delivery have to be the 2 t-shirts, the UNDFTD club house and the plain black logo t
The worst have to be the awful blue hoodie with the logo on the hood and the bars on the sleeve and the orange hoodie with an orange arch print? what the fuck is that?

COKE AND CARL LAGERFIELD?

2011-03-30T02:11:00.000-07:00

Wait...what? why?

"2011 welcomes a new assortment of Diet Coke bottles produced in collaboration with fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. Three designs are featured in the limited edition collection, each inspired by Diet Coke heroines- Bernadette, Eleanor and Irene. Polka dots match Bernadette’s romanticism, swishy swirls for Eleanor’s fashion forward stance and rock drama to tally with Irene’s persona. In addition to the bottles, Karl photographed the collection’s advertising campaign featuring Coco Rocha, Heidi Mount and Jeneil Williams. A release is scheduled for June 2011, available individually or in a special collector box set."

HOW I WISH I COULD SAY THIS.

2011-03-29T16:37:00.000-07:00

BALLS.

2011-03-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

from DOING ONLY CROOKED SHIT
Sponsered by Montana Cans.

ATMOSPHERE.

2011-03-29T05:28:00.000-07:00

It all started when I was 15 and my friend sent me godlovesugly
I sent him Slayer - Threshold in return
he wasn't as appreciative haha.
his last release has been on constant repeat this past week.

RARE TOM PENNY FOOTAGE. !

2011-03-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

More Skateboarding Videos

consider this your christmas present from me.
Rare Tom Penny footage from the 90's

Even back then he had style for miles and frontside flips on lock
the switch fs flip off the ledge? absolute butters.

HLD TGHT.

2011-03-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

HLD TGHT are a curation collective in the north west.
more work HERE

EMERICA - BA. KU.

2011-03-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

More Skateboarding Videos

To coincide with the launch of their Francis Hi x Barrier Kult collaboration shoe for Spring 2011 Emerica have released the hidden Barrier Kult section from the end of their celebrated 'Stay Gold' DVD.

Black Metal, Balaclavas and Barrier thrashing.
tear out your eyes for satan.

IAN FRANCIS

2011-03-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

Paintings by IAN FRANCIS

ANNIE COLLINGE

2011-03-25T04:07:00.000-07:00

Interesting, surreal photographs from

MUD ART?

2011-03-25T03:29:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Jesse Graves, writes "I began stenciling with mud to put environmentally conscious messages in public spaces. I use mud or earth because it is a fundamental life-giving substance, logical for my messages. Mud stencils are an evolving medium, intended for art and social justice, not corporate advertisement."

Materials: Mylar, X-Acto knife, tape, mud, sponge.

1.) Design your stencil. Draw your stencil the size you want it, or design it on a computer and print it. Make sure you do not have islands (parts of an image that will fall out if you cut around them, like the middle of an O.) If you are using text, use a stencil font. If are using a computer print your design the size you want the stencil to be. If it is larger then 8X10 cut it apart in photo shop and print it in pieces, or enlarge it at a local copy store.

2.) Cut it. Tape your design behind or in front of the transparent Mylar. Mylar is the same stuff used as transparencies for projectors, you can find a roll of it at art stores. Use the X-Acto knife to cut your design out of the Mylar.

3.) Get Mud. Find or make some mud. I mixed soil and water then beat it with a whisk. Make sure your mud is not watery. It should be about the same consistency as peanut butter.

4.) Post it. Tape the stencil to whatever you want it on, it works on sidewalks or walls. If parts of the Mylar roll up put some tape under it. Then use the sponge to dab the mud on your stencil. Do not press too hard because if you squeeze muddy water out of the sponge it may sneak under the stencil.

5.) Enjoy. Remove the tape on the outside of the stencil. Carefully remove the Mylar, and enjoy your non-toxic mud stencil.

LEARN MORE HERE MUD STENCILS.COM

MALARK.

2011-03-25T03:21:00.000-07:00

some new pieces up from Malarky, available for your viewing pleasure on his Blog.
HERE

2011-03-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

Always
from fellow stoke-on-trent inhabitants, friendsand art inspiration providers.
NTRPRNRS

GREG PAPAGRIGORIOU

2011-03-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

GREG PAPAGRIGORIOU

y'know when you're looking for a way to synthesis two long held and practiced styles in artwork and you've run dry on things to do and then all of a sudden you come across an artist and he's doing something you haven't tried?

yea...
annoyingly relevant, brilliant artwork from Greg Papagrigoriou

JANOFSKI MIDS.

2011-03-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

Nike SB Stefan Janofski Mids out now.so nice.
"THE ALL NEW MID TOP STEFAN JANOSKI SHOE BY NIKE SB

ALL SUEDE UPPER

MID VERSION FEATURES SUBTLE EXTRA HEAL PADDING WITH TONAL STITCH DETAIL

TONAL LEATHER PANEL PIPING

2 SETS OF ROUND LACES, ONE BLACK, ONE WHITE

VULCANIZED SOLE CONSTRUCTION, NIKE ZOOM AIR INNER SOLE

NIKE SB STAFAN JANOSKI CUSTOM GRAPHIC WOVEN LABEL ON THE TONGUE, NIKE SB ICON LOGO PRINT ON THE SOCKLINER

£62.
FLATSPOT

BRING ME THE HORIZON - BLESSED WITH A CURSE

2011-03-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

2 days ago BMTH released their video for their new single 'Blessed With A Curse' from their latest album.
Now I haven't had a chance to watch it yet so i'm relying on you lot to give me the verdict
but if it's anything like the last video i'm sure i'll enjoy it.

Hate on them all you like, but every market they've aimed at they've nailed and they have certainly been an interesting band to watch progression wise.

Nancy Sinatra – Bang Bang (White Noise Remix)

2011-03-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (White Noise Remix) by Hypetrak

turn that frown upside down with this,
it's sunny in Englandyea i know right!

RVCA NORTHWEST, 1 0F 2.

2011-03-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

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smooth styles, smooth tricks
all good.

THRASHER: DEATHMATCH 2011.

2011-03-22T17:51:00.001-07:00

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ULTAVIOLET NEON INK.

2011-03-22T05:32:00.001-07:00

SESSION Vandal'Anartch'Ink from MOUARF- du PhotoGraff Collectif on Vimeo.

MCBESS X VANNEN

2011-03-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

"Matthieu (McBess) Bessudo’s has teamed up with Vannen XL to bring you a limited edition artist watch they’re calling “Time Machine”. The “Time Machine” artist watch is limited to 150 pieces worldwide and is going for $85, plus comes with signed and numbered packaging for all you collectors out there. On top of all that, it comes with a FREE digital download of the Malevolent Melody EP from the Dead Pirates. Time Machine hits March 25th and will be available at vannenwatches.com and select retailers around the globe."

LUCA FONT.

2011-03-22T04:54:00.000-07:00

"Living and working in Bergamo.
Born with graffiti writing, living with tattooing and drawing, everything else yet to be known."
LUCA FONT.

HANS SCHABUS.

2011-03-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

"Klub Europa"
HANS SCHABUS

LUMINANT POINT ARRAYS.

2011-03-22T04:35:00.000-07:00

A series of Photographs by Stephen Tilmans showing tube televisions in the moment they are switched off.
The television picture breaks down and creates these structures of light

STEPHEN TILLMANS

NIKE SCHRODER.

2011-03-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

Nike Schröder uses thread to create artwork. Now that we haven't heard that before right?
But the interesting difference being that she uses thread that comes from her direct surroundings to create the pieces.
‘The Edgar Eduard Emma Herbst Series’ pays homage to a friend of hers and plays with ‘the adaption of the chaotic way the thread develops painting like qualities very adequate to his personal character.’

CHRISTOPHER LANDIN.

2011-03-22T04:20:00.000-07:00

DOPE - STUDDED HAT

2011-03-22T04:04:00.000-07:00

Mate, don't even think i'll be buying that
plain snapback hat and a fuck ton of cheap gold studs
diy winner.

BERST.

2011-03-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

"SERIOUS"Quick two and a half hour freestyle session in rotorua
BERST

reminds me of a Kandinksy pantingthe colours and construction of this are breathtaking. I'd strongly urge you to visit to follow the link above to his Flickr page, the work thats taking place is simply incredible.

ARTWORK. 2011

2011-03-21T05:21:00.000-07:00

Untitled 1, Untitled 2

Pen on Paper. A3

2011.

Artwork from this semester
playing with the idea of constructing space, starting out with two connected points on a piece of paper and evolving the piece by further adding and connecting points.
The idea being that the viewer is supposed to get lost in the myriad of points and fine detail of work
hiding behind it the subtle knowledge that it started out as two points and can therefore by the very nature of construction
be deconstructed to this.

There is also the obsessional side of the work which mirrors my own personality
so it becomes about the human fascination with rules.
There's many metaphors and parallel philosophical theories that can be deduced from the work, and up until last week i would of gladly spewed them on here in some of sort accidentally pretentious diatribe
but i find it weighs down my practice, so i shall let the pieces speak for themselves.
I shall add however that Kants notion of space & time, foucault and nihilism occupied my thoughts at the time of creation.

With a view to doing larger pieces,

I'll just say that Rothko has become a prominent influence in my practice.

view my work with this in mind.

2011-03-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/CoelumFriday, March 18, 2011: The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula sits in star cluster IC 1396, in the constellation of Cepheus. A cloud of high-temperature gas warmed up by newly born stars forms the emission nebula. Hydrogen, the most common element in space, glows intensely in red light when heated by hot, young stars seen inside the “trunk.”

It seems terribly cliche for me to start posting nebulasand yes, the source is Tumblrbut I enjoy the colours,SO FUCKING CONCENTRATE ON THE COLOURS.

NEW VANS CANVAS SYNDICATE S/S 2011.

2011-03-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Wrap your peepers around these new beauties from Vans.
A predominantly canvas collection, there is however a half cab shoe made from the heavier 140z Canvas for those who wish to adopt them for shredding the gnar, although from personal experience griptape does not treat canvas kindly.
They should be available widely, go out and treat yourself.

MAC MILLER - DONALD TRUMP

2011-03-19T07:16:00.001-07:00

Made my day considerably brighter.GET HAPPY

ALIFE SPRING 2011 FOOTWEAR.

2011-03-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Following the release of their spring lookbook today, ALIFE have treated us to a peek of their upcoming footwear collection. Nice clean lines and bold colours which we've come to see as standard in their footwear are matched with some more organic looking pieces. First and last shows being personal favourites.

EUROPEAN FREIGHT TRAINS.

2011-03-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

HERE

2011-03-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

KATE MCCGWIRE.

2011-03-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

"I gather, collate, re-use, layer, peel, burn, reveal, locate,
question, duplicate, play and photograph "
Kate MccGwire's practice probes the inherent beauty in daulity, making us re-align our thoughts about objects. The feather that occupy her structures decieve us, they at once make us think of something fragile and wispy, but the amount and strength of the overall do much to shake this thought. All whilst adding large amounts of motion and a hint of the obscene. She has a show entitled HOST in London at PERTWEE AND ANDERSONGOLD until the 24th, don't miss it.
Get intrigued, KATE MCCQWIRE

BRAD DOWNEY

2011-03-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

There are multitudes of signals and systems that govern our cities and imperceptibly determine our everyday movement. Artist Brad Downey stakes a claim for the right of the individual to interpret and understand these systems, and thus regain power in the public arena.

As a public, we are acclimatized to these signs and beacons,
and their subtle manipulation and proliferation can go undetected. Brad Downey, via his art, shines a light on this institutional regulation of public behavior. By wider awareness of these controls, his viewing public, he hopes, will gain greater understanding of his own urban and social situation.

2011-03-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Merely to breathe was enjoyment; and I derived positive pleasure even from many of the legitimate sources of pain. I felt a calm but inquisitive interest in every thing. With a cigar in my mouth and a newspaper in my lap, I had been amusing myself for the greater part of the afternoon, now in poring over advertisements, now in observing the promiscuous company in the room, and now in peering through the smoky panes into the street.

Edgar Allan Poe - The Man Of The Crowd.

AGNES CECILE.

2011-03-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

astoundingly, all painted.
HERE

THE HANGMAN - MAURICE OGDEN

2011-03-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

‘The Hangman’ (1964) by Paul Julian

The Hangman’ is a cynical look at how humankind loves to feed others into the death machine, from a disturbing poem by Maurice Ogden, read by Herschel Bernardi.

D*FACE - ALL YOUR DREAMS BELONG TO US. 2009

2011-03-17T03:51:00.000-07:00

From D*FACE.

"What now seems like a lifetime but is merely a decade ago I sat slumped at my desk, head on arm pushing a pencil round a piece of paper dreaming up ways to kill time and break the chains holding me to my desk, Monday to Friday each day became the same and I was eating my brain.

Then one day whilst dreaming up further ideas in the series of 'Ways to kill time' the pencil lines on the pad started to become characters, strange and dysfunctional they formed my dysfunctional world which had no rule. Slowly I figured the pencil could be replaced with a marker pen - the Pentel N50 to be exact - and the paper replaced with cheap vinyl which was 'acquired' from DIY stores, these characters once resigned to a life on paper filed in a folder under 'Not suitable for visual consumption' began to have a life of their own; adhered to lamp post and electrical boxes they plotted and linked my route home, one became 10 and slowly 10 became more than I can remember. Each evening and as much of the day as I could rob was spent drawing and cutting out stickers. Stickers became posters, posters became more ambitious... and somewhere in between I quit my job or maybe that was I got fired, either way the inevitable had happened. Like a river cuts it's own path, I'd cut mine.

This family of dysfunctional characters began evolve, they started to satirise and hold to ransom all that fell into their grasp – a welcome jolt of subversion in today’s media-saturated environment - the very same thing I'd grown up on. Bank notes were drawn and printed over and put into circulation for the unsuspecting to receive in their change, billboards taken over with public service announcements... I wanted to encourage people to not just to 'see', but to look at what surrounds them and their lives, reflecting our increasingly bizarre popular culture, re-thinking and reworking cultural figures and genres to comment on our ethos of conspicuous consumption. A Pandora’s box of bittersweet delights - sweet and sugary on the surface, but with an unfamiliar, uncomfortable, taste beneath.

This isn't the beginning, it's not the end it's happy never ending.

D*"

Also, todays required listening is more Alan Watts.

"The mystery of life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced"

THEO ALTENBERG.

2011-03-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Paintings by THEO ALTENBERG

ALAN WATTS - NOTHINGNESS.

2011-03-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Alan Wilson Watts (6 January 1915 – 16 November 1973) was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience.

let's get Metaphysical on this Wednesday afternoon shall we?

PRICKLES, GOO, APPLING AND I.

2011-03-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

I woul hope you count yourself amongst the singers and dancers of this world
as that is how it should be

I am most definitely Goo with Prickles.
Produced by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

15/03/11

2011-03-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

Nothing is devoid of hope, for all the colours radiate
all the everything has shape and brightness.
Hidden in neon signs and glaring billboards lies the one and only.
We are not far from knowing inwardness as Mondrian says, we have just forgotten how to look for it.
It lies in every external appearance and smiles back at me through a gentle breeze.

CODY HUDSON X STUSSY.

2011-03-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Stussy - Cody Hudson from Stussy on Vimeo.

Can be found HERE

CODY HUDSON.

2011-03-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

STRUGGLE INC

ORCHESTRA COVERING RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.

2011-03-11T03:16:00.000-08:00

Best / worst thing i think i've ever seen
Girl at the front in the red going for it is my new hero.

ROBERT MOTHERWELL.

2011-03-10T16:53:00.000-08:00

ILL BLOOD.

2011-03-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

song for todaylistened to this album a lot whilst walking home a while agorealised both my fists were clenched.

Peaceful bonobos may have something to teach humans

2011-03-08T14:52:00.000-08:00

Humans share 98.7 percent of our DNA with chimpanzees, but we share one important similarity with one species of chimp, the common chimpanzee, that we don’t share with the other, the bonobo. That similarity is violence. While humans and the common chimpanzee wage war and kill each other, bonobos do not. “There has never been a recorded case in captivity or in the wild of a bonobo killing another bonobo,” notes anthropologist Brian Hare.

Hare is an assistant professor in evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), he and his wife and colleague, Vanessa Woods, studied bonobo behavior at Lola ya Bonobo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an orphanage for young bonobos whose parents were killed for the bush meat trade. The war-torn Congo is the only place in the world where these endangered apes can be found.

“We go to this sanctuary and we play these fun problem-solving games with them to just try and get inside their heads and figure out exactly how they think,” says Woods. “They’re wonderful animals to be related to. It’s a shame so few people have heard of them.”

Woods is author of the book “Bonobo Handshake,” a memoir about her experiences with these peaceful, playful primates, and some of the differences she noted between bonobos and common chimpanzees.

“Chimpanzees can be very empathetic, loving but they also have this darker side. They have war, they kill each other, they beat their females. Bonobos don’t really have any of that,” explains Woods. “They’re different because they’ve managed to live in a society virtually without violence. How do they do that? Humans, for all of our intelligence and all our technology, we haven’t managed to live without war, and so I think that’s something very important that bonobos can teach us.”

One way bonobos deal with conflict and tension is to have sex. Yes, they’re the ultimate hippies—they make love, not war. “Whenever things get tense in the bonobo world, they’ll usually have some kind of sociosexual activity and this seems to really help everybody get along. But another one of the ways that they sort of have this peaceful society is they’re naturally more tolerant. They share more, and if one of them gets upset, it’s not just sex but they can also hug and comfort one another.”

In one study, Woods and Hare were surprised when a hungry bonobo opened a gate to share prized treats with another bonobo. “The idea that you would give something to someone else at a cost to yourself, we thought this was something only humans would do.”

Bonobos’ generous nature likely evolved because they live in an area of the Congo where food is plentiful. They never had to compete with gorillas or kill for a meal like common chimps do.

The females stick together, creating a matriarchal society, and when necessary will gang up on threatening males. “Females will work together to protect themselves from male aggression. So male aggression is just simply not tolerated,” says Hare.

With chimps, the most aggressive males tend to team up to dominate females and weaker males. In bonobo society, Hare says it’s the mother and son relationship that commands the most respect.

“Basically, bonobos are the ultimate ‘mama’s boys.’ Essentially, it’s more like a debutante society where mothers have to introduce their sons into polite society and it’s through your mother, as a bonobo, that you will gain access to other females,” explains Hare.

How did two such similar species, the bonobo and the common chimpanzee, evolve so differently? Hare says understanding that may shed light on human behavior, considering that we are a lot like both of them.

“Humans are probably the most generous species on the planet,” notes Hare, which is very bonobo-like. But like chimps, Hare says, we have that dark side. “Bonobos don’t have a darker side. So, although they can’t fly to the moon, they don’t kill each other. I think they challenge your normal notion of what intelligence is. I think we have a lot to learn from them.”

Provided by National Science Foundation.

COMEBACK KID - BALANCE.

2011-03-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

todays song.
if you don't own this album, cut off your hands
their best release to date and a heavy contender for one of the best albums i've ever heard.

DOG CONGA.

2011-03-06T11:09:00.001-08:00

This.

SILVIA MOGNI.

2011-03-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

HERE

MALARK.

2011-03-05T05:42:00.000-08:00

"MALARK
Street Artist, Illustrator, Skateboarder and Idiot

Originally from the depths of South London, I now spend my time drawing somewhere between the narrow streets and the sunny sky in Barcelona. "

HERE.

I STUMBLE HOME.

2011-03-02T04:53:00.000-08:00

Fora perfect example of silence as a prime factor in Defeater songs,
skip to 6 minutes in this video.
fucking astounding.

Defeater / Carpathian - Nottingham 2011.

2011-03-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

I'll admit straight off that I had stayed away from Defeater before the last UK tour with Dead Swans and More Than Life because of Kerrang, any band that Kerrang attaches itself I tend to convince myself are shit. Yea, turned out I was wrong and majorly so. If you've followed this blog for a while you'll know of what can only be described as the epiphany that happened when I saw Defeater and I would now be ready to argue that they are one of - if not the - best band in hardcore right now.

The universal hype surrounding the new album has been somewhat pandemic-esque and i for one can understand why, Defeater proved themselves by not only releasing 1 forward thinking concept album, but 2. If you weren't moved by any of the songs, which frankly means (just like if you didn't cry at the movie UP) that you don't have a soul, then you must indeed respect them for being brave enough to write concept albums, and ones that reference each other at that.

So, it was pre-supposed that Damon Edwards and I were to see them in Nottingham with Carpathian. I've seen Carpathian a couple of times without any prior connection to the band, but i've always thought they put on a very good show and are worthy of the praise they receive, despite the artwork for Isolation looking at little too like Shipwreck A.D's Abyss and the way the lyrics have sometimes relied a bit too much on going for that 'i'm oh so alone in a world full of friends' angle. These are my gripes though and probably not universally agreed upon and as i've mentioned, I think they're overall a very good band.

This was my first interaction with the Nottingham 'scene' aside from the Architects show but that's a different kettle of pandoras worms and I have to say it was on par fashion wise. Many bobble hats, beanies, barbour coats, black noir-type designs on white t's from one name hardcore bands and the now obligatory Only snapback hats and overly large t-shirts. It was impressive to say the least. Mens fashion is now an inescapable thing and I find it intriguing to view how the hardcore scene assimilates certain aspects of it and incorporates the alternative side aswell, although it has diluted this alternative side extremely since the Myspace days but thats a given, Job For A Cowboy were Deathcore back then and we all looked like girly fools...you get me.

we came as the The Rivercard started and they're an extremely solid band, for the time they've been plugging away they should be bigger. They were tight and reminded me of Carry On in places, which is in no way a band thing. They have a new 7" out for about £5 which features the song they finished with that's entitled 'fresh meat' which was an absolute stomper. Spoke to the guitarists and they were sound, band highly recommended. Plus they originate from Stoke which is where i'm at university so y'know.

Carpathian were up next and were frankly fantastic. They've been around long enough to know what they're doing and the last record signifies a maturity, albeit a deliberately melancholic one. Unfortunately they're a band with whom i have no connection record wise I so cant fully describe how the songs were translated, which is a shame. Damon dug it and he loves them so i can presume they were good.

Last time i saw Defeater they opened with the acoustic part of Prophet In Plain clothes, a hardcore band opening with an acoustic song was somewhat of a subterfuge towards my knowledge of hardcore gigs and blew my mind, today was the same affair. Opening with the increasing-towards-a-rather-angry-climax I Don't Mind which was utterly mesmirising. The set was crafted perfectly, the great thing about Defeater being that they know how make use of silence to emphasize their music. The most important moments of this coming in The Red White and Blues / the absolutely epic Cowardice during which I actually felt my voice break.
In short: Defeater are a band it's absolutely fine to cry to, infact i'd encourage it, stop being such pussies and cry you fucks, as they are not just brilliant musicians but storytellers as well. Go and see them, they are incredibly important to hardcore and music in general.

As we couldn't get home the rest of the night was spent playing scrabble in the adjoining bar and meeting complete fucking nutters, watching someone getting glassed and nearly being raped by an essex girl who asked me to "fuck her in the toilets" after I said I wouldn't dance with her were highlights. I'm always down for toilet fucks with unknown heroin loving sluts and playing scrabble with some 35yr old dude called Lewis who kept telling us about his 18yr old kid? wtf.

note: wherever you go, try to convince strangers your tattooed friend is famous. 60% of the time, it works every time.

2011-03-01T04:29:00.000-08:00

Dear you

there is a write up of the Defeater / Your Demise shows coming, hopefully be up by tonight.
keep those eyes peeling.

MRDKmmxi

EVEN BUZZ LIGHTYEAR HAS BAD DAYS.

2011-03-01T04:27:00.000-08:00

from BENJAMIN FARR

MERCHANDISE

2011-03-01T04:20:00.000-08:00

Werchandice - Schoolyard(Club Mix) from Id House Vid. Group on Vimeo.

The new 7" single from a much celebrated band at the moment,it makes you want to dance, whilst thinking?
go get your wayfarers and get on it, as i love them.

BOSTON STRANGLER - OUTCAST.

2011-02-28T04:52:00.000-08:00

supergroup with members of anxiety / social circle /
mind eraser / no tolerance / rival mob

HERE

ADVICE FOR TODAY:

2011-02-28T04:51:00.001-08:00

YOUR DEMISE.

2011-02-26T05:12:00.000-08:00

Saw Your Demise out of pure curiosity last night and they managed to thoroughly run my prejudices about them into the ground.
The Kids We Used to be marks an obvious departure from the previous works, but forges its own unique brand of Sinking Ships style hardcore with a tasty amount of meat behind it to allow the heavy edge to not be drowned out by the melody and become weak. A perfect mix of breakdown and emotion.

aside from this
i'm currently running over some thought patterns about the current state of hardcore with an insight to start writing some cultural theories on it, after a 5 hour discussion between me and friend which covered every aspect the past 5 years musical progression we've witnessed. Fashion wise especially Hardcore in particular has gained not only half a conscience, but one large enough to engulf the scene in some invisible rules regarding what you are wearing and how this relates to how you are perceived within the 'scene'. These invisible rules which not only cover fashion but status make hardcore an incredibly intriguing genre.

i'm excited.

HOWLIN' WOLF.

2011-02-22T05:35:00.000-08:00

I ache all over today.
although, a playlist comprising of far too much Tom Waits, Howlin' Wolf and Leadbelly is making me feel slightly happier. Can't listen to Punk all the time can we?haha

WAKING LIFE.

2011-02-21T18:32:00.000-08:00

Keep asking yourself,
are you dreaming?

2011-02-21T03:18:00.000-08:00

My favourite time of day is the morning, when no-one else in my house is awake
and everything is peaceful
the world is waking up, and i am sat in my kitchen
most probably eating porridge,
watching it.

Rothko Chapel.

2011-02-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

Silence is so accurate.