A freshly brewed cup of Java.

Since my girlfriend got me a french press, my morning routine has changed quite a bit. Thought I’d share those changes by recording my most recent one. By the way – as most of you probably already now -you’re always welcome to have a cup of freshly brewed coffee when you drop by.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

When I look at 2011, it was a musical eye opener for me. That’s why I’d like to give you my four favourite songs of 2011. Hope you’ll find something you like.

Something Old

Bon Iver has been around for quite a long time, but since Birdy’s popular cover, some attention has gone back to this wonderful artist. Which is why, this song fits onto the 2011 list, whilst being from 2009. And although I have a lot of respect for the talented Birdy, I can’t help but think that the original is infinitely better.

 

Something New

This is new, as in ‘extremely fresh’. The Glitch Mob made an excellent album, with We Can Make the World Stop being my favourite track on it.

 

Something Borrowed

Brussels based deejay The Magician decided to borrow I Follow Rivers, by Lykke Li for his remix. And I can’t blame him for taking the song and giving it some oomph.

 

Someting Blue

Sadness is beautiful, even more so if it’s placed deep within a soothing song performed by one of the greatest and most underestimated singers of 2011, Lucy Rose. Be sure to check out her site, she’s got a few free tunes that you shouldn’t miss out on in 2011.

Bonzai Worlds

Bigger is better, but not if you’re Akinobu Izumi, a Tokyo-based architect who makes “Tiny worlds in a bottle”. Have a look below, he sells his stuff too, so check the link if you’re interested.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

An Elephant on the tube

I reckon everybody has seen a animal-shaped cloud in his life, or if not in real life, at least the bunny-shaped cloud in  Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain. I get it a lot, seeing something that’s not there,  looking at optical illusions and seeing both the young girl and the old lady or the duck and the rabbit. Paul Middlewick had it too, but what he saw, was quite a bit more special, in 1988 he spotted the first animals on the London Underground maps, over the years a lot of people have contributed other animals to the collection. Now they’ve all been placed online, where both me and you can enjoy them.. so check out the gallery below or visit their site for more info.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Soothing energy

Due to a great lack of time – caused by my exams – I haven’t been posting the many awesome finds I came across during the last couple of weeks. Luckily I’m almost at the finish line, which means I’m able to again provide you with the ultimate entertainment for moments like these.

Pro Rider Danny MacAskill – also known as Taggart – has an amazing story leading up to this indescribably amazing video. Back in 2009 he recorded a 5-minute video together with his flatmate and uploaded it on Youtube, rendering him instant fame. The video was a direct hit which displayed an extraordinary  amount of talent, originality and quite frankly also balls. It was only rightly so that a short while after the video, he was given a sponsorship by RedBull. A few months ago MacAskill and his crew decided to take on a journey from Edinburgh back to his hometown Dunvegan, in the Isle of Skye. The intense energy of this sport combined with the soothing songs, that were also parent in his first video, make this a must see for just about everybody. I could go on for hours about this video, but I’ll let the images speak for themselves, so check it out and enjoy.

Stuff No One Told Me

I’d like to recommend this blog I stumbled upon, it’s not so much a blog as it is a tree of whisdom. Alex Noriega is a 29-year old illustrator from Barcelona. Using only a pencil and some photoshop, he creates stunning cartoons that everytime shows you a smart, witty phrase alongside an awesome drawing. The blog is called Stuff No One Told Me(but I learned anyway) and I’d like to recommend it to everybody out there. Bookmark it at once!

His personal sketchblog is also worth checking out, it contains some awesome and very funny illustrations. I’ve placed some of his work in the slideshow below, but be sure to head out to his blog afterwards. Enjoy!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Am I Blu(e)

Whether you’re an early bird or not, waking up with this smooth track is always great. Just a quick post here, bringing you the smoothness brought by Blu, but he’s not the only one bringing the smoothness on this track. The sample is of course from the song Am I Blue by Billie Holiday, which I’ve listened to even more than the song by Blu, but still, it’s a masterpiece and it’s called Amnesia, I’d recommend you check out the sample first if you’re not familiar with it, it makes the song Blu made, even better.

The song is one of the masterpieces from the HerFavoriteColo(u)r mixtape (released back in Februari 09), which is still up for free, so if you like the track, don’t forget to download the mixtape here below! Enjoy!

Click the image to download

Blu – HerFavoriteColo(u)r Tracklist:

1. Love
2. Amnesia
3. Since
4. Morning
5. Melo
6. Wind
7. When
8. Silent
9. Pardon
10. Vanity
11. Beggars BlackGold
12. Celln’Ls
13. Untitled(LovedU)2
14. Peace

Song or Sample?

A quick post, cause I’ve still got quite a few exams to make..

After reading Kon & Amir‘s article about the 50 greatest Hip-hop-samples of all time, I kept on listening to some of the samples. One of those samples is the one used for the T.R.O.Y. (The reminisce over you) track from Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth it’s a tribute to their fallen friend, Trouble T-Roy and most definitely their best track in my humble opinion.

The sampled track is from the great Saxophonist and musician Tom Scott, it’s called Today, and it’s an awesome song with an awesome solo in it. So here’s the thing, I can’t make up my mind, over which of the two tracks is the best, so I’ll let you guys decide, check out the two tracks here below, and let me know which one you dig the most. Enjoy!

The Sample: Tom Scott – Today

The Song:  Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – The Reminisce over you  (T.R.O.Y.)

PS: Have some patience with the sample, it takes a while before the song reaches its climax.

Quote #03

“If there is a God, why did he make me an atheist?”

Ricky Gervais

Dubstep to this

Dj Phaded, who is an awesome deejay and also a good friend, just made a short 20minute mix. The mix is called Step to this and is filled with Dubstep and Grime tracks. I’m certain a lot of you here will appreciate the mixing style.

DJ Phaded & Kasper

.

Phaded is a California-based deejay with a heavy addiction when it comes to controllerism. He’s been around for a long time now, and it’s fair to say that he masters almost every music-style there is. Dj Phaded also works together with talented rapper Kasper. I’ve added the playlist and the link here below. So just sit back and enjoy!

.

STEP TO THIS by DJ PHADED

Tracklist:
1. Take That – Flux Pavillion
2. Shaolin – Bar 9
3. Retreat – Datsik
4. Hollybrook Park – Joker
5. Sweet Shop – Doctor P
6. My Pet Monster – Caspa
7. Nuke ‘Em – Datsik
8. Woo Boost (Borgore Remix) – Rusko
9. Woo Boost – Rusko