Archive for March, 2011
high tides
The Body is an Ocean
You could say it’s a hazard of the job to be frequently toing and froing across the high seas at 30,000ft, but last night we experienced an altogether different birds-eye view of the ocean…
the body is an ocean
Running for one week only at Paradise Row gallery, London, the installation ‘The Body is an Ocean’, by the young artist Eloise Fornieles is an immersive experience. Black buckets filled with sea water line the gallery floor beneath a collection of dimly suspended glowing light bulbs. As you weave your way through the buckets the intensifying sound of a heartbeat emitted at an almost subsonic frequency charges the room to represent birth, sexuality and death. Above the heartbeat a chorus of opera singers mimic the ocean’s song.
You’ll never think of the beach in the same way again…
Eloise Fornieles: The Body is an Ocean runs 31 March – 2 April 2011
(8 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
Loading ...escape machine
The place: Paris. The problem: Red buttons. Even worse… Red buttons on big black boxes. Travellers beware, passers by all over the French capital are currently being goaded into violating a golden rule of health and safety – DON’T PUSH THE BUTTON. Oblivious to the consequences, the button is pushed and, well, things start to happen.
that's what happens if you push the button
The latest marketing ploy from Voyages SNCF, the Escape Machine, is a phony ticket booth-cum-couture-jack-in-the-box, put together by advertising agency DDB to celebrate the French rail company’s new Escape Service. The message is that this new facility will allow you to travel anywhere you want. Wander close enough and you’ll be asked where it is you’d like to go. Respond, push the button and behold the all-singing, all-dancing eruption. The box sprouts shapes and colours, lips with legs and carrot-like canons firing glitter to the heavens. Amid the rainbow chaos, you’ll be presented with a supersized mock ticket to your destination. It might not fit into your wallet and it definitely won’t get you anywhere, but there’s nothing like a bit of free fun à la française.
James Snowdon is Editorial Intern at Black Tomato
(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...fat freddy’s drop (in for a chat)
fat freddy's drop
Ed Schofield caught up with Chopper Reedz, the saxophone player from one of New Zealand’s top bands, Fat Freddy’s Drop. If they’re not on your playlist yet, we’d recommend taking a look.
So first and foremost…what’s the story behind Fat Freddy’s Drop? How did it all begin?
fat freddy's drop
It kicked off about 10 years ago as an informal jam based around DJ Fitchies sets in various Wellington nightspots – he was one of the go-to guys on the turntables back then. He started dropping more instrumental joints and musicians would get up to jam over the top… among the first to get invited back were Antonio Chang aka Toby Laing our trumpet maestro and Joe Dukie aka Dallas Tamaira on vocals. Bit by bit the cast of players grew and Fitchie moved into production, live dubs and effects until it reached a critical mass.
Your live sound has a more improvised and jam style feel to it when compared to your studio recordings…Can you tell us a little bit about the difference between the two for the band?
Well that’s where the band started… and still feels most comfortable now to be honest. The vast majority of our music is worked out on the road in live situations and then our studio time is spent trying to tame the tiger. It can be really difficult trying to capture the spirit and spontaneity of our live approach when you’re locked away in a dark studio but we’re getting better at it.
wellington, new zealand - the band's hometown
When you released the Midnight Marauders EP in Europe in 2003 it did pretty well. With a lot of DJs particularly in Germany dropping it in their sets. Since then you have toured around Europe almost every year up to now. Do you have any particular memories from your time spent on the road?
Yeah, Marauders has a lot to answer for. Come to think of it so does Germany… and Berlin in particular. If you’re talking about bad habits on tour look no further. I mean that in the nicest possible way of course – they know how to party over there. Actually, we’re very lucky to be hosted by some amazingly generous people on our trips… and most memories come from either killer gigs or sampling some beautiful food and wine. Food and the social aspect of sharing a meal together have been a constant part of our tour ritual, though that has been joined by fishing, digging for records and playing golf in the past couple of years. Jetlag Johnson (guitar shredder extraordinaire) has a pre-show “Jäger ” ritual that is threatening to become a bad habit…
hopepa, tony chang and chopper reedz
The sound of Fat Freddy’s Drop seems to be built and layered out of a diverse range of sounds and vibes, where do your draw your influences and inspirations from when doing what you do?
If nothing else, we are all very open in our listening to and appreciation of other music. We pick up new (and old) music wherever we go and one of the great things about coming from a young-ish (and pretty open) musical culture like New Zealand’s is that we are quite comfortable grabbing ideas from whatever takes our fancy, we’re not locked into any rules by having a really hardcore dub, disco, soul, roots etc scene to please. The vast majority of gigs we play, we can drop a roots/reggae influenced tune without having a section of the crowd turn their backs on us.
What’s in your headphones at the moment? Can you tell us anything about Fat Freddy’s Drop in 2011?
Well, I’ve spent the last year or so on the road picking up disco 45s and afrobeat LPs, so a lot of that. I’ve been getting into 80s boogie too – and a lot of music influenced by those sounds – Dam Funk, Nite Jewel, Onra. On an NZ tip I always check out my man Julien Dyne (he’s got releases on BBE Records), Ladi 6, Shapeshifter and Lord Echo. The other guys in the band? Your guess is as good as mine… but I trust them, they’ve got good taste. I can’t wait to get back in the tour bus for an iPod challenge now.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...a tale of two cities
Tuscan hills
You may have noticed that we’ve had our eyes on Italy recently. The trip we have just launched today takes you from Rome to the countryside just outside Florence. It probably has a lot to do with the amber hues currently bathing the Tuscan hillsides (see above), but we reckon this is the best time of year to go (the hordes haven’t got there yet and it’s not so baking hot that you feel as lethargic as a sloth). Perfect really.
rome skyline
We’ll whisk you off to Roma, where stunning architecture from days gone by fuses with a contemporary elegance and vibrant spirit that the city is so renowned for. Once you’ve had your city fix head to the Tuscan hills where you’ll find rural bliss and views to die for at your 14th century boutique hideaway. And did we mention more mouth-watering pizza and vino than you could shake a stick at? Ah bellissimo.
Have a peek here and you’ll see what we mean…
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...let the pictures do the talking
We’ve gathered a few snaps together from our brand spanking new photography competition, View Finder, to tempt you this weekend with some pure unadulterated wanderlust. Fancy entering yourself and winning a trip to South Africa to stay at the luxurious Makanyane Safari Lodge (yes please) click here.
ballooning over namibia
the electrifying northern lights
sun-kissed bathing in turkey
the salt flats of bolivia
the majestic swiss alps
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...follow friday in focus
With the recent launch of our epic photography competition, View Finder, we have photography on the brain (and little else).
worth a 1000 views
To celebrate this beautifully sunny Friday (hmm, good light conditions) our minds are drifting off to the sun-kissed plains of South Africa to the luxurious Makayane Safari Lodge for a touch of inimitable Savannah chic.
Could your holiday pic make you our View Finder? Show us your snaps and you could be jetting off to Makayane faster than a herd of antelopes.
How to enter?
-Upload your best view on our Facebook wall**
-Get your friends, family, anyone you know, to ‘Like’ your photo in our album
-Friends who vote are in with a chance of winning a KODAK PLAYSPORT so they have a good reason to…
-On April 7th we’ll announce the 20 finalists with the most ‘Likes’ on Facebook
Simples. Good luck and get snapping.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...figgy figgy pudding (and starter and main)
Now, Scandinavian Sinister may have cast a bit of a shadow over Northern Europe. And we’re sorry for that. We love the current red wave of crime thrillers spilling from Sweden and Denmark, but there’s more to Danish knifework than a murderous stab in the back. Following in the foodsteps of René Redzepi (chef-patron of Noma in Copenhagen – widely acknowledged to be the best restaurant IN THE WORLD), another delectable Dane, Head Chef Christoffer Hruskova, is tantalizing our tastebuds at Fig Bistro in Barnsbury, North London.
fig bistro
The former grocers has undergone a Nordic facial and now boasts understated fine dining in a sleek, intimate environment. The 60 bin wine list offers great variety for a small establishment and the bistro’s menu marries the simple mantra of New Nordic Cuisine (fresh, seasonal flavours and local ingredients) with gorgeous produce from across the British Isles – pan-fried Dorset cod, grilled Hereford rump, Galloway onglet beef and poached Cornish halibut. Proof again of a secret northern renaissance in subtle flow. Enslaving TV Drama and gourmet nosh are flooding south at a rate of knots and it’s high time we all started taking note, switching on and booking a table.
James Snowdon is Editorial Intern at Black Tomato
(9 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...could you be our next view finder?
We’re challenging you, yes you, to wow us with your amazing, drool encouraging snaps from around the globe.
What does our winning View Finder receive? Return tickets for two on South African Airways and a stunning stay at Makanyane Safari Lodge for the ultimate views over the South African plains. Not bad eh?
whats the deal?:
-Upload your best view on our Facebook wall**
-Get your friends, family, anyone you know, to ‘Like’ your photo in our album
-Friends who vote are in with a chance of winning a KODAK PLAYSPORT so they have a good reason to…
-On April 7th we’ll announce the 20 finalists with the most ‘Likes’ on Facebook
what happens next?
-Our Top 20 finalists will appear here
-Our Finalist Panel will consider each photo and pick their winner.
-On April 14th, the winning View Finder will be announced and will soon be off in search of more views in South Africa.
**If you don’t have a Facebook profile, or have trouble uploading, you can e-mail your photos to viewfinder@blacktomato.co.uk and we will upload it for you.
Now get clicking and bon chance.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...in for the short haul
With spring in full swing it seems fitting that London’s restaurant scene is in full bloom as this year’s wave of Pop Up gourmet institutions are springing up all over our fair capital. Cue the temptation of a myriad of foodie delights in some of London’s most stylish settings, for a limited time only.
Our response (naturally)… was to hop to it and see what all the fuss is about.
the pop up pantry
This week we headed down to the newly opened Pop Up Pantry at Meza which has pitched tent in Soho for one month only. Chef Anna Hansen of the well-established Clerkenwell Modern Pantry has transported her unique trans – global gem of a menu across the capital to ravenous SoHo-ites.
The interior is sleek and effortlessly chic, with grey and white walls softened by billowing terracotta drapes that create a luxurious and intimate vibe. With a mouth-watering menu featuring old favourites like the famed Sugar-cured New Caledonian prawn omelette, and the twist on the Spanish classic Roast Cod, Chorizo and Clams with squid ink mash and samphire, it’s definitely got our taste-buds in a frenzy.
Better catch it quickly before it pops off again.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...spectrum in the sand
Richard Of York Gave Battle… on the Beach? Thinking back to those first school physics lessons, we can all draw on at least one thing with comforting familiarity. Roy G. Biv, the famous mnemonic devised to memorize the split in the colour spectrum. Rainbows deciphered. But chasing those colours in the sky usually means looking up, not down. Over at Beach they’ve had their thinking caps on and picked out some of the world’s most colourful seaside stretches. Sand that’s pink as flamingo down, black as coal or green as powdered olive leaves. Think paradise should be golden? Then think again… Click here to see what we mean.
James Snowdon is Editorial Intern at Black Tomato
(7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
