This cool limited edition boxed set is looking mighty dreamy!! Almost like a pillow that you could lay your head on and dream of hearing great music coming out of it! Chances are, you will. “Music For an Accelerated Culture“, is the debut album for the Leeds 5 piece, grindie pop outfit, Hadouken! The album drops 5th of May on Atlantic Records (U.K. only) and will contain nine new and two older songs. Play it loud!!

For those that were to desperate to hold out for the album and ended up with 1 of 2 advance leaked versions, shame on you! The hour for the REAL one is near and it doesn’t include any fake tunes! Patience is a virtue. Also available on itunes, U.K. including 2 remixes!! Buy the real deal and continue supporting the artists!!

If you’re fiending for some of their favorite older tunes, which they compiled on a mixtape sometime last year, you can still download it here and have a listen. The video to their latest single “Declaration of War“, came out sometime in April. What a chune! Watch it here and expect to either fall in love with the Hadouken! or hate them for being too cool. Check the following links to stay up on the band, with events happening up and down the U.K. throughout the entire spring/summer!!!
Hadouken! MySpace
Hadouken Remixes

Per Hadouken!’s site regarding the limited edition boxed set –
Fans who purchase the limited box set will automatically have a years membership to ‘Aerials’ an exclusive community with sole access to an avalanche of Hadouken! music and privileges throughout the year. Check the limited boxed set link above to see what those goodies are!!!!!

Cool design by STIP

If there’s one thing that is definite about Markus Smit, (aka Markus Wormstorm, one half of South African hyper colorful duo, Sweat.X), is that nothing he does could ever be considered yawn-inducing. Quite the opposite. He has had his hands in a plethora of creative works spanning from writing theatre plays, to music and sound – all of which are unique and push art to the furthest boundaries.

This creative Cape ‘Townian’ originates from Pretoria, South Africa, where he was classically trained in music and writing it, at the young age of 15. He has gone full speed ahead, dabbling in a variety of projects which include, The Constructus Corporation, an electronic hip-hop act out of South Africa and the Real Estate Agents, which involves a lot of fine turntablism. At present he is active with writing and directing for a creative manifesto, The Blackheart Gang and since 2006, collaborating with Spoek Mathambo on Sweat.X, which is signed to U.K. label, Citinite.

It still baffles me at the amount of work so many artists undertake. Juggling not one, but two, three, four projects at a time. Just where do they find the hours?? Must be the passion to create that keeps them up into the wee hours. Hustle and flow.

Here we have a few words from Markus on what he’s up to these days, cats, his dream of recording the Cape Town Philharmonic and the spectacular animation, “The Tale of How”. He has also sent us his latest track, “Get Up feat Chi Chi“, which is a playful and glitchy delight. The young lady on vocals, Chi Chi, has such a fantastic voice at a mere 14 years old!! Nice collaboration!!

“I spend my days in Cape Town, underground (like it says in the song), in a basement, jacked into a machine. Kinda like a cyborg but friendlier. My studio is called “Say Thank You”. I like vintage cars and cats.

I’m a founding member of this fantasy art collective called The Blackheart Gang… In 2006 we made this movie called “The Tale of How“. (click link to view at Lumen Eclipse) It’s the second part of a trilogy of works… and we’ve just started working on our next movie called, “The Tale of Then”… It’s a tale of a hill who loses his mind when the woman that he loves dies and gets buried inside of him…. It’s gonna keep us busy for about two years.

I want to record the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra… I’m very busy on Sweat.X too… I have to finish our new EP by next week… It’s called “187″… We are planning to tour EU in June… I think I want to move to Berlin…?

Chi Chi – vocalist on “Get Up”. is Bukky’s 13 year old sister… (Bukky is the girl that featured with Spoek on The Bulgarian’s track…”Zombies Jack their Bodies”… On the Zombi Door EP by Potty Mouth records… (((do you know The Bulgarian? hes soooo cool))) – (Yessss, we do!) Anyway yeah, she’s thirteen… So I have to be careful when I write lyrics for her… Shes got perfect pitch… and she’s really TALL…”

Markus Wormstorm - Get Up feat Chi Chi

If you stare at this cotton candy colored pink record long enough, you just might end up hypnotized!!!!! Ok, maybe not, but it sure is nice to look at, innit?! When you get too dizzy, run out and get it!! (Or stay in and order it online, like everything else) Just one of the many cool things HEARTSCHALLENGER has for you to collect!

We’ve been screaming HEARTSREVOLUTION to you for months now and there is no end in sight cause their camp just keeps bringing it!!! Music + graphics. Believe tha hype. Their 6-track Switchblade EP, is out on Kate Moross’ brilliant ISOMORPHS imprint. Full details here, HEARTSREVOLUTION - SWITCHBLADE EP.

“Switchblade” (LA Riots Remix) off the iheartcomix/Scion mixtape, has made its rounds the past few months and we’re not sick of it yet!! Will we ever be?! My instincts tell me NO. So here it is for you to enjoy, along with the official “Switchblade” video shot by Kitty Von-Sometime for The Weird Girls, out of Iceland. Cool costumes custom made by Tao Wei that you’re going to want to wear. Check out some of the video screenshots here.

Heartsrevolution - Switchblade (LA Riots Remix)

*Chicago peeps – LA Riots, Bloody Beetroots + Felix Cartal at Smart Bar for the Scion party tonight!!!!!

It has been a while since the last feature on The Toxic Avenger and the timing couldn’t be better as he has sent over his latest grinder of a track, “Defeat!“, as well as some exciting updates!! To say that the Toxic Avenger has been working, would be an understatement. He has been relentless at gigging in the U.S. and Europe and still finding time to create new music, remixes and prepare for his forthcoming EP and LP.

Having just finished off 2 new remixes, Ladytron’s “Ghost” and one for South African group Playdoe, (side project of Spoek of Sweat.X + Sibot), Toxic is set to release his EP, 26th of May on Boxon Records. The EP will contain 4 brand new songs. “Bad Girls Need Love Too“, with remixes of the track by Les petits pilous and Leonard de Leonard. The 4th song is titled ” __________”. (that is the name) For now, you can have a listen to all of them at Toxie’s Myspace.

With a cast of talent collaborating on the video for “Bad Girls Need Love Too”, it looks to be a visual masterpiece! Styled by esteemed Parisian fashion designer, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, (also known as JC/DC), who has dressed some of our favorites, including M.I.A. and Yelle, we can expect to see some colorful pop art inspired fashion!

The above image is a video-clip of The Toxic Avenger – “Bad Girls Need Love Too”, created by Mathieu Danet of the talented Born To Film team. The video was shot in Paris on 7th of April, and is due out at the beginning of May. The EP photo cover was created by Hélène Giansily and the cover design by Anem. The model in the video is a young French girl named Solweig.

Toxic is also working on his LP, which he is hoping to have out sometime in late 08′ off iheartcomix. If you happen to find yourself hanging out in Aix, South of France, the 28th of June, festivities will ensue with the likes of: MSTRKRFT, The Bloody Beetroots, Vicarious Bliss, Les petits pilous (LIVE), Toxic Avenger, Strip Steve, Uffie (LIVE), Paraone (LIVE) and ER2 (LIVE). Looks to be a swell time!

The Toxic Avenger - Defeat!

Yes kids, it’s true - HeartsRevolution are releasing their Switchblade EP at midnight tonight - GMT.

There are only 500 copies of this uber exclusive ep - so warm those typing fingers up and go to the ISOMORPH RECORDS website at midnight as they are only available to buy there and a few handpicked boutiques in London, Japan and Paris.

Incase you have been living under a rock for the past few months HeartsRevolution are releasing their debut EP on Isomorph Records a.k.a one of our favourite ladies - Kate Moross‘ art driven record label.

The EP is very sophisticated, it comes encased in a holographic foil sleeve on heavy duty art card. Oh and if that is not causing you to foam at the mouth - there is a double strike Neon inner print and the vinyl is a gorgeous candy pink colour! The music on the vinyl is also rather tasty, it contains 5 glorious tracks celebrating the glory that is - HeartsRevolution.

All ARTWORK by Kate Moross

To reiterate - the record comes with insert and bonus holographic sticker. This release is limited to 500 hand numbered copies!

The track list includes: switchblade, wolves+libertines, digital suicides, ULTRAVIOLENCE, & DIGITAL SUICIDES LULLABY bonus track. For a mini taster of the ep listen to “Switchblade” below.

HeartsRevolution - Switchblade

A few weeks ago I came across the profile page of a fantastic graphics/illustrator by the name of Takun Williams. I got to flipping through his albums, gazing at his style of work and found myself feeling quite inspired and loving the visuals!! The bold outlined characters filled with rich, vibrant colors really make quite an impact. I hit up Takun, told him I loved his work and wanted to feature the image of Obama and a few others on Trash. He was thrilled. This is what he had to say.

“My name is Takun Williams. I live in Brooklyn, NYC. I was hatched out of an egg and introduced to technology at an early age and never stopped growing with it. Although things are very strange in the world these days, I support Obama because his whole persona screams “CHANGE!” And we all need a little of that shit in our lives”.

Obama definitely signifies change. He has my vote. Check out Takun’s work at his My Space. Let him know you think he’s the hot shittttt!!!!!! And for all those in need of some fine graphics for your EP, LP, poster, skateboard, party flyer, what have you, why not have this young man render up some goodness??

Ok so I have news that has actually caused me to salivate profusely! Yes hipsters it’s true this news caused enough drool to rival Homer Simpson’s when he sees a doughnut!

What’s the news I hear you cry?

Well, Trash Fave - Glamour Soundsystem & partner in crime Lillica Libertine combined their excessive bundle of talents to create Stylenoir - an exciting media company set to blow your newest and most fabulous Marc Jacobs bag straight off your dainty arm with excitement!

Seriously, after witnessing a drunk Kelly Osbourne attempt to present the Birmingham Style Show last weekend the news that Stylenoir are publishing a bi-annual book entitled ‘The Black Book of Art and Fashion’ was welcomed as a well timed vodka shot to put me out my fashion misery. The book will primarily showcase the works of up-coming fashion designers, photographers and artists, but beware it will only be stocked in London, Paris, Milan and New York City – exclusive or what?

This fabulous book will be jam packed with plenty of fashion-based delights from designers such as Charles of London, Ioannis Dimitrousis, and Pavla Kopecna (Vogue Italy, Dazed & Confused, Tank magazine) as well as many of the usual desirable suspects.

A Stylenoir website will be launched to provide fashionistas with a new portal to keep them up-to-date with fashion news across the spectrum from the alternative fashion all the way up to Karl Lagerfeld’s latest move.

Last but definitely not least, there will be a dazzling launch party for Stylenoir on 11th of May at London hipster venue - Hoxton bar. This sophisticated shindig will be hosted by Matt Horne (who hosted the NME awards), and will also host performances from Tapedeck and one of my personal favourites - The Real Heat, oh and don’t forget a catwalk show from Charles of London!

So there you have it - check out Stylenoir online, buy the book and blag your way into the party - just don’t forget to arrive fashionably late!

photo from SharperImage.com

For a mere $600, you can own beamz (”beamz,” as in laser beams…but with a “z”! Is that how all the kids spell it nowadays?), which does for the theremin what lawn jams did for funk music. I just spotted this on Gizmodo, which, posts the video demo and accurately describes it as “amazingly asstupid.”

All I gotta say is–two middle-aged men exchange hi-fives within the first 5 seconds! Is it so asstupid, it’s asstastic? Or just asstupid? How ’bout you watch it and judge for yourself.

beamz hits stores April 15, 2008.