WARP20: Terminal 5 NYC / Sheffield

Great timing: On my recent holiday in New York, not only did we get to experience the wonders of the Big Apple, but our trip also coincided with the WARP20 event. The pioneers of the hypnotic groove introduced me to electronic music many many years back. A great night was had (even though I was recovering from a stinking hangover from the night before after my Sister in Laws wedding) with Pivot, Flying Lotus, iii and Battles representing the innovative label stateside. It was great to see the sheffield label being celebrated half way across the globe.

Two weeks later, WARP returned to Sheffield for a night of skewed electronics, this time with a great selection of UK artists (old and new) - Harmonic 313, Hudson Mohawke, Clark, Squarepusher, Nightmares on Wax, Andy Weatherall and Forgemasters.

Two amazing events, and the icing on the cake was when the coveted 20 years boxset designed by Yes Studio arrived a week later, Some great production values (audio and visual!).

Posted by: Matt

ATP Festival - Minehead

The best christmas present ever - ATP Festival curated by The Breeders. Festival highlights included Shellac, Gang of Four, Melt Banana, Bon Iver, Wire, The Bronx and Times New Viking.

I'm now really looking forward to the Nightmare Before Christmas with My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth at the start of December!

Posted by: Matt

Man On Wire

Watch this film.

Why? "There Is No Why".

Posted by: Matt

SHU Jan van Toorn Exhibition

Graphic Design Monography and Critical Practice Monday 16 March - Friday 27 March 2009.

The graphic design monograph has been a central part of the history and evolution of the subject. This show focused on one recent publication by the writer Rick Poynor and designer Simon Davies on the work of the Dutch designer Jan van Toorn; ‘Critical Practice’. The gallery scaled and hung each page of the book alongside sketches and early designs.

A great design treat for Sheffield.

Posted by: Matt

Ten/SEA

Many thanks to Dan for this one. It’s been in my Amazon basket for some time, so when my Amazon Christmas voucher arrived it was a must buy. A compendium of work by London agency SEA from 1997 to 2007. Their work has brevity, simplicity, clarity and is a great example of british design.

Posted by: Matt

Come on, Al, were going home.

Reading about the Sam Peckinpah retrospective at the National Film Theatre reminded me of my favourite Peckinpah movie 'Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia'. I was compelled to get myself a copy as it had been many years since I had last seen it.

It centres on Warren Oates (his best role), as a seedy bar pianist in Mexico city seeking a reward for bringing to a feudal landowner the head of the man who seduced his daughter.

A visceral story of love & revenge set amongst the stifling heat of mexico.
A classic movie of the 70’s.

Posted by: Matt

BACK COVER ISSUE 1/NUMERO 1 Design Graphique, Typography, etc.

Back Cover is a new design publication from France. Rather than current work and trends its focuses on the designers influences and inspirations. All editorial content comes in both French and English.

Posted by: Matt

Buzzin Fly - 5 Golden Years in the Wilderness

Buzzin’ Fly are an independent record label concentrating on minimal/deep/tech house. London Agency, I want design are responsible for all sleeve designs, posters, and t-shirts using hand rendered type, collages, props and photography, giving the label an immediate - identifiable look. Music and design has always had a symbiotic relationship and this just proves it.

I was going to buy this on digital download, but thought for an extra couple of quid I could get a nice piece of design as well.

Posted by: Matt

Books with a little je ne sais qua...

These book designs were designed for French publisher La Découverte by the Parisian designers devalence.

Love the look of these, using a very utilitarian approach, the design is simple with striking typography to accentuate the title of the book.

Works for me.

The websites cool too. http://www.devalence.net/

Posted by: Matt

Stasiland by Anna Funder

Stasiland was my holiday read. It is about The German Democratic Republic when the days of communism ruled East Germany and how the infamous "STASI" affected the people living in it.

Taking on the formula of a novel, Stasiland is a collection of peoples stories from this time, former Stasi officers as well as victims of the regime, both groups who look back on the days of the GDR very differently.

The book is a captivating read and a great way to learn a little about the subject, it takes a humanistic approach to a very uncompromising time in history.

Posted by: Matt

That's why Matt's gone to Iceland…

Yep, expect the bad weather, but the charm of Iceland and its people make it very easy to fall in love with the country.

The views in Iceland are exhilarating; it was great to see all the natural wonders of the country, the huge waterfalls, glaciers, geysers and best of all, the geothermal blue lagoon set amongst the black rocks of the barren lava fields.

Our base was Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital and biggest city (Population around 120,000 of Iceland’s 330,000). It's no metropolis but that’s the beauty of the place. Thriving cafes, high-energy pubs and clubs, and a brightly coloured old town with rows of wood-and-corrugated-tin houses cluster together in the compact city centre. The place has a very relaxed atmosphere (except at the weekend, when the inhabitants indulge in some serious heavy drinking in the 15 or so pubs and clubs). A phenomenal place and the best fish and chips I have ever tasted!

Unfortunately the weather was that bad the pics don't do the place much justice. But check out http://gasperak.com/iceland/1/ which shows the place in its full glory (see if you can see the elf behind that rock!)

Posted by: Matt

The Radical Architecture of Little Magazines 196X–197X

Clip/Stamp/Fold

I didn’t hear about this event until only recently although I did find the subject very interesting with a very comprehensive website to boot. Clip/Stamp/Fold covers independent architectural magazines in the 1960s and 1970s which instigated a radical transformation in architectural culture with the architecture of the magazines acting as the site of innovation and debate.


Clip/Stamp/Fold: The Radical Architecture of Little Magazines 196X – 197X takes stock of seventy little magazines from this period, which were published in over a dozen cities. Coined in the early twentieth century to designate progressive literary journals, the term “little magazine” was remobilized during the 1960s to grapple with the contemporary proliferation of independent architectural periodicals. The terms “little” and “magazine” are not taken at face value. In addition to short-lived radical magazines, Clip/Stamp/Fold includes pamphlets and building instruction manuals along with professional magazines that experienced “moments of littleness,” influenced by the graphics and intellectual concerns of their self-published contemporaries.

http://www.clipstampfold.com/


Posted by: Matt

BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN

Taking place during Batman's early days of crime fighting, this collection tells the story of a mysterious killer who murders his prey only on holidays. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month. This story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman's deadly enemy, Two-Face. A prominent story in the new batman movie. A real must read with phenomenal illustrations.


Posted by: Matt

British Council Newsletter (2005)

I admire the dedication of the Belgian designer Sara De Bondt. The newsletter, images as well as text, are rendered entirely by hand.

Printed in one colour on newsprint paper, size A5, 16 pages.

Hopefully they went easy with the amends.

Posted by: Matt

You're Fired! The Apprentice 2008

Sir Alan makes my day.

Making Wednesday evening a whole lot better. Quality viewing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/

Posted by: Matt

Jason Miller's “Seconds” Dinner Plates

I've just bought a new dinner set, but I'll be getting a set of these purely for decoration - I might even mount them on my wall!




Jason Miller's “Seconds” series challenges the rules that surround modern day consumer items. Do decorations always need to be centered? Is a whole bird better than a half? Here, Jason’s elegant “mistakes” are artfully and carefully applied to porcelain dinner plates. Too cool to eat your dinner off.

Posted by: Matt

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN MY LIFE SO FAR

Stefan Sagmeister is among today's most important graphic designers. Since 1993 Sagmeister Inc. has focused on all things printed, including posters, brochures, books and graphics and packaging for music clients. His work has won nearly all the international design awards available. Born in Austria, he now lives and works in New York.

‘Things I Have learned in My Life So Far’ is a book based on a list of Stefan’s personal maxims.

The maxims were published all over the world, in spaces normally occupied by advertisements and promotions: as billboards, projections, light-boxes, magazine spreads, annual report covers, fashion brochures, and, recently, as giant inflatable monkeys.

Made by the graphic designer on his “experimental year”, where he took time out from working on commercial projects, the book holds 16 unbound signatures housed within a laser-cut slipcase (allowing 16 alternative covers).

Whilst stefan’s book could be considered as self indulgent, look further and you will find a Visually interesting, Funny & philosophical piece of work.


Posted by: Matt

Watergate, Berlin

Steve Bug, phonique and Pokerflat Records at Watergate, Berlin.

Steve Bug is one of my favourite Dj’s, and once discovering he and the majority of his label mates were playing Watergate whilst I was in Berlin, it was a dead cert I would be there.

Watergate is one of the top clubs in Berlin, it has a fantastic soundsystem, an amazing riverside view, a floating chill out area and the best ceiling I have ever seen!

Posted by: Matt

Can I make everybody happy?

This book is a must, it contains a range of email conversations between the client and his or her graphic designer. Very amusing and something we can all relate to!

Posted by: Matt

There Will Be Blood

There’s not much to say about this film that hasn’t already been said. Daniel Day Lewis exceeds anything he’s ever done playing the oilman Daniel Plainview in an epic tale about obsession, oil and religion. The infallible Paul Thomas Anderson’s takes cinema to a new level. Awesome stuff.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_vantage/therewillbeblood/