Cool Hunting
| 20 December 2007view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Hoiming Bags
by Ami Kealoha
by Damien Brachet
Sleevebags, shoulderpacks, gloveboxes—for those swell gals with deep pockets, Hoiming takes Russian cab driver jackets and hand beats them to the softest pulp, repurposing them as handbags.
Côte et Ciel Laptop Sleeves
by Ami Kealoha
Made from high-grade neoprene and free of zippers or any other unnecessary bulk, Côte et Ciel's laptop sleeves are our new favorites for toting computers. Engineered to fit Macs, the ingeniously simple construction uses the stretchiness of neoprene for a snug fit that, with the aid of small pull tabs, allows the laptop to slide in and out of a narrow opening at one end. It's a design that prevents computers from accidentally slipping out (yes, we've had this happen) and makes for a impressively slim profile allowing for easy stowage.
Inspired by nature, the bags come in a range of six colors including Saffron Yellow, Grape Green and Ocean Blue (all pictured). We recommend one of the darker colors (rather than a shade like Sandstone) as the neoprene is almost the opposite of stain-resistant. Pick one up from Côte et Ciel's online store starting at €30.
The Capstan Shafts: Sleepcure Theory Advancer
by Lost At E Minor
Despite creating beautiful and creative music, Dean Wells, the talent behind The Capstan Shafts has played only a handful of live performances over his near decade-long career. It's all about building that sense of mystique about his work.
In fact, his MySpace page is only updated once in a blue moon, which means that arguably some of the finest songwriting around today is left in the dark. Haunting, sweet and succinct, rarely do his songs pass the two minute mark.
"Sleepcure Theory Advancer," off the 2006 album Euridice Proudhon, is as close to perfection as a eulogy delivered in 1:58 can be. But good luck getting hold of the album.
Suzuki Omnichord
by Evan Orensten
When Suzuki introduced the Omnichord in 1981 it had a profound effect on both music instruction and as a tool for professional musicians. An electronic musical instrument, it features a touch plate and chord buttons, making it almost too easy to play. Just press the chord buttons, strum the touch plate and you're playing dynamic chord progressions. Beginners can immediately start playing in tune, while professionals often use the instrument to help map out and shape songs, especially on the road.
The Omnichord has evolved over the years, but we still love the original OM27 (pictured above), with its preset rhythms with tempo controls and voice effects like vibrato. Over the years new features like chord memory were introduced. Collectible for both musicians and techies, you can find used Omnichords on eBay and other specialized sites.
The most recent model, the QChord (pictured right), features a midi interface and song cartridge capabilities as well as numerous other features. True to the spirit of the original but substantially more advanced, it is still a great tool for students and professionals alike.
Over the years the Omnichord has gained a cult following. Musicians that use the instrument include Arcade Fire, My Morning Jacket, Dolly Parton, Elvis Costello, Bjork and others that might surprise you.
Steven Wilson
by Lost At E Minor
Steven Wilson just did the latest cover for The Fader magazine which really caught our eye. Fader's art director (and occasional Lost At E Minor contributor) Phil Bicker led us to Wilson's website. We're really impressed with how prolific he is and how he's created his own style that looks a bit '70s mixed with right now.
