Palacio del Retiro, Madrid

by Max Gold

Of its many qualities, Palacio del Retiro wins the most points for its calming charm and perfect location. The small boutique hotel rests on the edge of Madrid's magnificent central Parque del Gran Retiro. Retiro, both the most coveted residential neighborhood and in walking distance to Chueca and Gran Via, the hopping neighborhoods known for their shopping and outrageous nightlife. (Basically, imagine Central Park West, if it started at the top of SoHo and ended somewhere in the Lower East Side.)

Though the building itself has some decorative elements of classical Madrid such as wrought-iron balconies and sweeping staircases, its style overall is understated and contemporary. The spacious bathroom's design is bright and completely modern, which is a nice balance to the dark wood floors in the bedroom. The bedrooms are comfortable and low-key with all the usual amenities, though it should be noted that WiFi is only free in the lobby.

Although there is not much of a scene in the hotel itself, Palacio del Retiro is the ideal jumping-off point for people looking to explore Madrid.

To book, see Mr & Mrs Smith, rack rates starting at €222.

Lazer Urbanize N' Light Helmet

by Brian Fichtner

For ninety years, quality and innovation have distinguished Lazer Helmets in addressing the needs of champion road cyclists and mountain bikers. Now, with the Urbanize N' Light, the Belgian company applies some of its signature design details to a helmet for the style-conscious urban rider.

Most anyone with a noggin knows that finding a helmet to protect your head from impact is simple. Finding one that is comfortable and easy on the eyes? Now that's another question. The Urbanize N' Light gets all of these points in spades.

The comfort comes from Lazer's patented Rollsys fit system, which, with the simple dialing of a wheel on the rear of the helmet, allows for a fully customized fit.

Aesthetics aside, I was instantly won over by the Rollsys the first time I put on the helmet. Later, when riding around town, I was further impressed in being able to adjust the tension on the fly without having to mess about with a cumbersome chin strap.

As for the styling, the Urbanize succeeds where countless others fail, in combining a sense of streamlined motion with modern simplicity. Neither an all-sport style circa 1985, nor an over-ventilated speed gesture, the Urbanize is subtle without being boring.

The final stroke of genius lies in the integrated light system. Situated in the front and rear vents, the LEDs can be easily removed for daytime riding and snapped back into place when the night falls.

The Urbanize N' Light is available for $100 (or $80 without the light system). For a full list of U.S. dealers, click here.

Wave Machines: Wave If You're Really There

by Karen Day

Influenced by drinks, drugs and gravity, the foursome behind Brit band Wave Machines pump out eclectropop hits packed with psychedelic undertones and catchy beats that make you feel like you're floating on air.

But their debut album, Wave If You're Really There, isn't only full of frolicsome tunes. Songs like "Punk Spirit" and "You Say The Stupidest Things" slow it down, showing off their rock 'n' roll attitude that keeps to the background of the more dance-inspiring tracks like "I Go I GO I Go" and "Keep The Lights On."

Set to hit stores 15 June 2009, the album is a perfect match for the summer weather and arrives in just enough time to get you hooked before the season's festival frenzy. Be sure to catch them at this year's Glastonbury or Bestival festivals or check their website for the entire list of upcoming shows.

Wave If You're Really There will be available for purchase from Amazon or you can pre-order now through HMV .

Interview with Sound Artist Diego Stocco

by Jacob Resneck

Italian artist Diego Stocco builds sound. Last year he unveiled The Burning Piano in which he ritually murdered a €200 piano by setting it alight and plinking out its last notes as it burned. Lately he's been more constructive, building musical instruments for original scores. He spoke to Cool Hunting earlier this week.

One of the most fascinating parts of your work is that you build your own instruments out of every day things lying around the house. How much are they tailored to create a specific sound you want and how much is the process a spontaneous discovery of whatever it turns out to be?
It's mostly a spontaneous process, some objects are more "musical" than others, meaning that they have a recognizable tuned tone that can be recorded and expanded. This was the case when I created Luminosonic, which is an entire composition made with light bulb sounds. Other objects or materials can have sounds hidden under layers of noise, like Music From Sand. After various experiments I found several ways to shape sounds out of things that apparently seem not that interesting. Regarding the more complex instruments that I build the process is a bit different, in that case I need to figure out how the instrument will actually work, tuned and played.

How long have you been doing scores for video games?
I started recently, I've been working mainly in films and TV before. My music has been used for several video game trailers but my first full score for a video game is the one I did for “The Conduit”.

How do you feel about these games as a medium for your work? Do you see games as supplanting the entertainment role of films in our popular culture or are they just another throw-away consumer product?
Films and video games are different forms of entertainment, I don't see one excluding the other. Games are interactive and the story can evolve based on the choices made by the player. Also the music can move forward based on that interaction and change its structure. In a film, once the music is approved, is not going to change. If I'm working on a video game I'm focusing on creating music with different modules that can connect together in more than one way. Based on the size of the market and the increasing interest revolving around new releases I think video games are already an established reality with a precise cultural role.

Do you compose a score beforehand and then set out to perform it with your instruments? Or do the notes come after you've created the instruments themselves?

Continue reading and see more images after the jump.

Grenson Spring/Summer 2009

by Doug Black

After 140 years faithfully hand-making British footwear, it's no small task to keep things fresh. But Grenson has managed to stay relevant while sticking to their core principles and standards of quality. Recently, they participated in a few exciting collaborations, most notably with Rag & Bone and New York boutique Odin. And last year, they made a long-awaited transatlantic journey to store shelves in the U.S.

Their current collection shows all the hallmarks of the brand. Designer and creative director Tim Little took a swath of classic British standards and added subtle embellishments to keep things interesting. Hand-stitched from calf leather, each shoe is individually burnished for color and "Goodyear welted." (This and other technical shoe expressions can be disambiguated with Grenson's handy Jargon Buster.)

The George (pictured at top right) is Grenson's take on the brogue. Made on a single sole with unburnished leather, it has the heft and detailing to compliment both a suit or a pair of jeans. The collection of Oscar desert boots come in an array of muted pastels. Built on a crepe sole, its minimal stitching and unpretentious construction ensure a comfortable and efficient shoe for years to come.

Check the Grenson site for the full collection and stockists. The line is currently available in U.K. and American stores.