Stringless Pleasure Stereo System

by Ami Kealoha

by Brian Fichtner

Audiophiles have had a tough time of it in recent years. Ever since the digital music revolution made it possible for music lovers to archive entire collections on a hard drive, high fidelity and the golden age of home audio equipment have all but disappeared. Fortunately for the stalwarts, a few companies still value the home stereo system as an important element in modern living.

The British manufacturer of high performance speakers, KEF, recently teamed up with the Italian manufacturer, Giorgetti, to prototype a beautiful hybrid stereo-cum-shelving unit, queerly dubbed Stringless Pleasure. Designed by the architect Chi-wing Lo for the Creation 9707 project (a campaign to promote Hong Kong design), the unit is fabricated from antique wood and accentuated by precious stone dials, a slot load CD drive, and a concealed iPod dock.

Although there’s no word on pricing or commercial availability, interested parties are advised to hold on to their jewel cases and contact the manufacturers for further details.

Right On Fight On Tee

by Mike Giles

Available now at the Quiet Life's online shop is the first t-shirt from their Good Cause project. The winning graphic was chosen in an online competition and our friend Neil Doshi was behind it with a shirt titled "Right On Fight On."

The idea behind Good Cause is to help raise funds and awareness for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with100% of the proceeds from the sales of the design going directly to the cause. The tees start at $25 from The Quiet Life.

Leah Robertson: General Admission

by Lost At E Minor

Melbourne-based documentary and music photographer Leah Robertson has an exhibition of her work running at Melbourne's Prahran's IMP Gallery until 9 March 2008. We got the scoop on the inspirations behind her shots.

What's been the most memorable gig you've attended in recent times?
Sufjan, Arcade Fire, Bjork and Rufus have all just played consecutively in Melbourne. It's been one hell of an incredible, horn-heavy experience. Sufjan and Rufus' respective wings and stilettos were lovely. My favorite local bands, The Drones, My Disco, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, and Baseball, are always great live, always memorable.

Anyone you haven't shot yet that you'd love to?
Bjork would be amazing, but it'd be difficult to live up to the talented slew of photographers who have shot her before me. I tried to steal some snaps of her from the crowd during her Big Day Out performance (no Melbourne side shows!) only to be rather firmly reprimanded by security. Threatened actually! I'd love to officially shoot Nick Cave. And Gareth Liddiard from The Drones. Despite religiously attending their shows, I've never felt able to sufficiently capture that ferocious stage presence.

Was it hard editing the images to run in the exhibition?
This is my first show, and I didn't realize how heartbreaking it would be to have to cull shots! It was very difficult. What's ended up in the show is pretty much what felt right. The images I was drawn to all have a similar emotive quality. Audience members are all kind of dazed or engrossed and the performers are intense. Actually, none of them are "performing" as such. They're all kind of in-between performing, gasping for breath, wiping away sweat. I think together the works convey a pretty cohesive atmosphere.

General Admission
Through 9 March 2008
IMP Gallery
145 Greville Street
Prahran VIC 3181 map
Australia
tel. +03) 9510 3531

Living and Eating

by Ami Kealoha

With gorgeous photography, elegant recipes and an uncluttered aesthetic, architect John Pawson and food writer Annie Bell's book "Living and Eating" is a primer on warm minimalism. Shunning fussy presentation and elaborate preparations, the book celebrates the joy of of a lovingly prepared, simple meal, emphasizing the food itself and enjoyment above all else. As the authors put it, "The result of all this—we hope—is one of harmony."

Originally published in 2001, Pawson and Bell's book shares many of the same values championed by Alice Waters, Judy Rodgers and other leaders of the "California cuisine" movement, albeit with a British perspective and a design that's coffee table-worthy. Tips on cookware, techniques, food pairings and setting round out the collection of modern classics like Sea Bass Baked in Salt and Poppy Seed Cheesecake. Other standouts include Parmesean-broiled Chicken Breasts and Roasted Pumpkin with Garlic and Chili, but there are plenty of basics as well and all the dishes boast uncomplicated instructions. The upshot is a book as appealing to seasoned cooks as it is to aesthetes and those of us who are still developing their culinary repertoire.

Pick it up from Amazon or Alibris.

The Wave Interactive LED Coffee Table

by Doug Black

A real godsend for those of us in need of constant visual stimulus, the Oakland-based group Because We Can has devised a way to interact with your coffee table. The "Design-Build studio" teamed up with the tech whizzes from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories to create an LED Coffee Table dubbed The Wave. They fitted the table with 480 bright LED lights, along with 32 near infrared optical sensors. The result is a surface that reacts to any motion by following it with a cascade of glowing light. In a dormant state, the table subtle twinkles, adding a touch of class to any living room. And even at its most active state, the low-power LEDs use far less power than a single conventional lightbulb.

You can chose between a fully clear or frosted tabletop and any combination of LED colors. Since each table is made to your particular specifications, expect a lengthy wait time and hefty price tag (about 10 weeks and $2,215). Order from Because We Can's online store.