Robo Fish

If you’re having struggles keeping your aquarium content alive, leave it to the Japanese to solve your maintainance problem. At this years Tokyo Toy Fair, toy company Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. presented the Robot Fish. The lifelike fish swim around in random motion on cell-sized batteries and are available in various styles. No more need for regular water changes or feeding. A bargain at ¥2,900 a piece.

Chain & The Gang

Chain & The Gang is a Rock ‘N’ Roll group who makes a declaration of… Dependence. Yes, you heard that right! They say: “Depend on us for martial rhythms, minimal riffs with maximum fuzz, bass throbs, shrieks, shouts, mutters, and confessions, as well as bewitching call and response tunes to make any indentured work force proud.”

Oh sure; the “Independent Set,” or the “indies” as they like to say, dig their groups and that’s all fine… if you are into nice, unassuming, and thoroughly respectable “music.” But the “Deps” – represented by Chain & The Gang, are into something else.

They Depend on the manic thrill of outlaw noise and performance… they need it like a fish needs water, like a bird needs air, like a heart depends on love. And dependability is what Chain & The Gang provides. Dependably perverse, dependably ecstatic, dependably astonishing. CATG’s audience depends on them to bring the moveable riot into the local clubhouse… they depend on the tunes too, crying out for “Certain Kinds Of Trash”, “Free Will” and “Hunting For Love” from the new CATG LP “In Cool Blood”.

Yes, that’s right – a third Chain & The Gang record. After 2009′s “Down with Liberty… Up with Chains!” and 2011′s “Music’s Not For Everyone”, the world said: “Chain & The Gang” just can’t possibly top themselves.” But you know what? Chain & The Gang proved those doubters wrong.

“In Cool Blood,” starring Chain & The Gang troublemakers Ian F Svenonius Katie Alice Greer, features Brett Lyman playing the electric guitar, Chris Sutton on electric bass guitar, and Fiona Campbell driving the drumkit, as well as a combo of Chain & The Gang stalwarts and ringers like Brian Weber (organ), Fred Thomas (bass guitar), Amber Fellows (piano), Spencer Kelley (electric guitar) and Austin Cooper (bongos). All recorded by Calvin Johnson at the infamous Dub Narcotic Studio in Olympia Washington and released on the K Record Label!

“In Cool Blood” is Chain & The Gang’s most dependable record yet. One listen and you too will count yourself a “Dep.” Check them out November 19th at OCCII, presented by Red Light Radio.

In the meantime, here’s Chain & The Gang’s video for “Certain Kinds of Trash”

Blade Runner Sketchbook (1982)

30 years ago today, director Ridley Scott released the dystopian science fiction film Blade Runner. FutureNoir unearthed the sketchbook for the 1982 classic featuring original production designs by Syd Mead, Mentor Huebner, Charles Knode, Michael Kaplan and Ridley Scott, collected for this rare out-of-print sketchbook. Check out the full copy HERE

The Grandmasters

Wong Kar-Wai is hands down one of my favorite modern day filmmakers. He works outside of the usual representational approaches that underpin classical narrative cinema and transcends artistic boundaries flawlessly. His works carry distinctive themes and signatures: Emotional resonance, avant-garde filmic aesthetics, gorgeous framing and lighting, voice-over narration, backed with an eclectic soundtrack. WKW also often re-casts actors/actresses, most notably Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, both favorites as well.

“The Grandmasters” has been in the making since 1997 (best believe that!). After numerous delays, prolonged shooting, date changes and broken arms, WKW’s latest work is now finally finished at last. The film is a biopic about the legendary martial artist Yip Man (Bruce Lee’s Wing Chun master) and other kung fu masters of his time. What you can expect is arguably the most stylish martial arts film you have ever seen, with cool as fuck Tony Leung as Yip Man and the gorgeous Zhang Ziyi as an eight diagram palm master. Check out the first full length trailer below.

“The Grandmasters” is hitting Chinese cinemas on December 18th and overseas in 2013.

Patta Snaps: Matheus Simões Pires (Mutta Shoes)

Patta x Suckafree T-Shirt.
Matheus Simões Pires. Mutta Shoes. Brazil.

NYC Dark

In late October, Hurricane Sandy affected at least 24 states in the USA, from Florida to Maine and west to Michigan and Wisconsin, with particularly severe damage in New Jersey and New York. The storm surge that hit New York City flooded the streets, tunnels and subway lines and cut the power off in and around the city that never sleeps. Seeing it without power is a surreal experience. Jared Levy captured the feeling of what it was like to walk around the darkened streets of lower Manhattan. Eerily beautiful.

See all of Jared’s photos HERE