Nick Walker, world-reknowned sellout artist and infamous player in Bristol's graffiti revolution of the 80s, is to donate some of his work the Mad Hatter's Ball and Art Auction in aid of Art Action for Kids in Bristol.
With an inate ability to mix beautiful delicacy and humour with the most hard hitting of political and religious messages, Walker's artwork has become highly desirable and sought after the world over, with sellout art shows from LA to London to Paris.
Notably the 'Walls on Fire' graffiti artist sold £750,000 worth of paintings and prints within hours at the start of his first one-man U.K show, back in 2008.
Walker's contribution to the Art Auction and is hoped to bring them one step closer to reaching their £500,000 charitable target.
Another Kitsuné compilation to further establish the label's inherent knack of dishing up seriously tasty electronic beef to satisfy even the hungriest of disco appetites.
The french music and fashion label's latest album folllows a similar premise to their 'Kitsuné Maison' collections, in exhibiting the talents of ‘dazzling newcomers and prestigious acquaintances’.
With their previous albums streaming the likes of Digitalism, Penguin Prison, Fenech-Soler, Punks Jump Up and Two Door Cinema Club into our consciousness before anyone else, we'd expect nothing less than dazzling from the french taste-makers.
However the 'Kitsuné Parisien' collection, if the title hasn't already gives it away, steps away from the international scene to focus soley on francophone electronica from 'le capital'.
Graffiti by Monsieur 'A'
Compliled by Kitsuné co-founder Gildas Loaëc along with infamous graffiti artist, party go-er and promoter Monsieur 'A' (André Saraiva), the 'Parisien' collection (named after their fashion boutique) showcases some of the city's most promising electronic producers, with some even making their recording debut on this prestigious album.
Kitsune Parisien is also name to their fashion boutique, which opened in Paris last July. In September 2011, they launched a second KP boutique in Barneys, New York.
In anticipation of it's release next Monday (21 February) Jerry Bouthier has put together a minimix, which is available to download.
Despite its 'freshness' in music the new album is distinctly 'Kitsuné' in its encompassing, diversely comprehensive approach to electronic sound, reflecting the label's etymological roots; with Japanese tradtion denoting the ability of the 'kitsuné' (Japanese for fox) to change it's appearance and face.
Thus the album has a remarkable ability to offer a varied cross-section of emerging electronic sounds from the Parisian clubs; taste-making the next generation of music whilst appreciating its diversity.
The multi-faceted Japanese Kitsune
The French-sung electro pop of Adélaïde, by Destin, opens proceedings and provides a fitting start to the album, with smooth vocals and repetitive beats layered over a synthy resonance, to lure us comfortably in.
Track two features Birkii; a french violinist turned songstress/producer. Her serene yet funky approach to electro disco irk somewhat thought not entirely of Breakbot. All in all this understated and uplifting track casts no 'Shades of Doubt' and follows track one particularly well.
Birkii
Track three, Reccession Song by Yan Wagner, seriously cranks up the funk agenda. 80s yet très nouveau; familiar yet hard to put your finger on. Maybe if I elegantly put French Horn Rebellion, Chromeo and Empire of the Sun inside a bottle of coca cola and shook it hard, it would fizz out some Yan Wagner.
Housse de Racket - Château (Golden Bug remix) offers an interesting fusion of laidback electro-rock. Think guitar riffs and snare hits littered amongst synth lines, chords and catchy melodies.
The happy-go-lucky disco of Saké by Jupiter makes it a favourite of mine, for the moment. I'd love to hear it on a night out. French/English duo Jupiter, who are a couple in real life, also feature on Kitsuné Maison 9.
Jupiter
Logo are also making their second appearance, this time with Hello.jpg. Computer game-esque and more electro-house than the rest, it's a gem made for a hazy summer's day.
Track seven - RYSKEE feat. Jenny Wilson – Horrors Of Love (Jamaica’s Sunshine Remix) - slips back into funk. Upbeat disco that's worth winding down the windows of your topless car and turning up loud to.
Youngguns BeatauCue take more electro-techno direction with eigth track Behold. An energetic display of electro laid over repetitive trippy beats.
Beataucue
Track nine, Glory by Sauvage, brings in a darker mood with it's eerie melodies, unusual structure, soft disjointed vocals and glitchy beats. MGMT-esque for 2011.
1999 by Valley - a track about the city itself - is the album's biggest pop contestant. Pulsating beats, dominant vocals and a catchy chorus that gets better with each listen.
Désorbitée by Exotica again demonstrates the musical beauty of french lyrics. Whether you understand them or not, her soft, elegant vocals do the talking for this single, in sealing its amibient new-wave, dreamy effect.
Saving the best 'til last; Meaning by Cascadeur is nothing short of a musical epitome, justifying its place as the closing track. Rich in classical instrumentation, this emotive ballad sets piano hypnosis against searing vocals. It brings the compilation to a breathtakingly, dramatic end, and in an almost symbolic representation of the entire album leaves you wanting for more.
Pre-order your copy here. In the meanwhile all of the tracks mentioned above are available to preview on YouTube.
This week anyone who's anyone within the extreme sports industry was turning their full attention to next seasons gear at Munich's annual ISPO show.
The ISPO showcase -International Trade Fair for Sports Equipment and Fashion - is represented by all the major snow brands and provides a business link for all those within the industry to test and assess the technical equiment and trends for the up and coming season.
Whilst the winter of 2010/2011 is still in full swing, expect to see flashes of the new season in a resort near you soon with trendsetters and PR coups yet to parade themselves amidst some of this seasons biggest alpine events, notably the European Winter X-Games (16 -18 March, Tignes in France) and Snowbombing Festival (4-9 April, Mayrhofen, Austria).
So here's a cheeky round up of some key themes and tasty offerings to tease your powdometer and keep you one step a-shred (ah dear) for this season and the next.
Colour block (particularly by the likes of O'Neill (above), Burton (below) and Westbeach) and neon brights were in full force.
Nikitta goes uber-casual with their range of slouchy, jogger-style pants:
Analog demonstrated a similar street-casual approach with their mens pants:
Denim Snowboard Pants
Twill Snowboard Pants
Apres-ski made easy!? The 80s trend doesn't stop at outerwear, typified by these denim-look layers by Bula:
Jackets are getting longer, goggles are getting bigger, hats are getting brighter...
Von Zipper go laaarge
Westbeach: going even longer for 2011/12and dabbling in plaid when they're not colour blocking
Pro Tec neon helmets good enough to eat. If you like your E-numbers
Flux DMCC: bindings to rave about
Mystical brights and cosmic colour blends:
Technical Outerwear by Volcom
Not for the shy: tie-dye jacket by Grenade
Lisa Filzmoser for Artec
And finally... K2 makes a statementwith this selection of beauties, proving once again that they can do no wrong when it comes do performance, style and design(£££ you get what you pay for):
