A/V HAS MOVED!!!!!!!

check us out at our new home: http://audiblevisible.wordpress.com (by us i mean just me of course)

looove A/V

audible: Yeah Yeah Yeahs x joey2tits

Aside from the DJ name fit for a perverted sesame street character, this track from Yeah Yeah Yeahs mixed by joey2tits is clean and calculated.





Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Runaway (joey2tits Remix)

credit: hypem

visible: My Outfit Today

It's been a crazy few days for me, with office renovations, meetings, interviews, collection launch parties, networking/shmoozing, errands, multiple job-offers, french proficiency tests, screening exams, boutique hunting, after-dinner cocktails and late night Mackie-D's... in fact I'm sitting in my comfy bed right now, about to rest my head for the first time on my own pillow in three nights. Many updates and exciting visible-related entries in the coming days. Stay tuned...

For now however, I leave you with my outfit for the day. Simple, but effective.

Shoes : Opening Ceremony Burlap

Jeans: Levi's Red Tab

Bag: Art Berg-do

Belt: Tie-ups

T-shirt: Strellson Mel Ramos Pin Up

Cardigan: Victorinox (I know... really?)

Watch: Nixon Rotolog

credit: mom and dad for making a boy that is perfect sample size.

audible: The Presets @ Mod Club

Last minute decisions tend to send your life in one of two directions: homeless in Afghanistan, or partying up with your millionaire friends on their 60' yacht. Last night (edit: Monday, April 6th) fell somewhere in between partying and yacht. No millionaires though.

The aussies graced the stage for almost two full hours, and sent me home happy to have permanent hearing loss. I missed them last year in Vancouver due to exorbitant ticket prices, but when a friend was bragging about going, I knew I had to too.




(MUSIC REMOVED DUE TO LEGAL RESTRICTIONS)

The Presets - Girl And The Sea

The Presets - This Boy's In Love (Lifelike Remix)

The Presets - Kicking and Screaming (Bang Gang's E is for edit)

audible: Lil' Wayne x DJDT

Perfect ringtone material. Brought to you by Lil' Wayne and DJDT.





Lil' Wayne - A Milli (DJDT Remix)

Nothing says electro-rap companionship like taking your shirt off.

credit: hypem

audible: The Golden Filter @ Mod Club

Walked into the club to see The Presets last night at the Mod Club to a resoundingly 80's sounding ghostly female figure on the stage: The Golden Filter. Jaaaysus they were good. You know they're badass when they only sold 45's at the t-shirt booth, no CD's. I think they might be my new secret obsession.






The Golden Filter - Solid Gold


Little Boots - New In Town (The Golden Filter Remix)

As the primitive dancing style of The Golden Filter's lead singer entranced the crowd, my friend leaned over to me to utter: "You know, they had it right in the 80's. But no one is willing to admit it." Although The Golden Filter is probably not as 80's as I make them out to be, the influence is undeniable. And my friend had a point. Name one thing that was wrong with the 80's. I've tried.

Another interesting mystery lies in the identities of The Golden Filter members. Google them and you'll find out what I mean. Up until the time of this posting, there is no wikipedia page, no band bio, no info anywhere on who they are. Quite frankly, I don't care.

credit: shae and friends

visible: Fashionation

Brought to you by the folks at thecoolhunter.net, I came across Fashionation.us, a fashion blog that claims quite a bit:

Never before has the world's hottest fashion photography from the best fashion and pop culture magazines converged in one central hub. You'll also find the coolest offerings from fashion week events around the world, plus the best of the web's street style blogs. Fashionation - the only fashion destination online.

aside from audible/visible, of course.

It does have some pretty rad streeter styles for both guys and girls, which you even get to vote on head-to-head sartorial battles. Their photographer spots are pretty intense too. Here are a few styles that meet my criteria for posting on a/v:







Check it out, and get some ideas before you go to the Gap and spend all of your allowance in one spot.

Fashionation.us

credit: thecoolhunter.net

audible: Sasquatch! Sundays: Crystal Castles

I wonder how many segments I'll start and stop?

Here's the newest brilliant idea: 'Sasquatch! Sundays' — every Sunday I do a spot a band that I am pumped to see at the Sasquatch! Music Festival on May long weekend until I board that plane bound for Sasquatchdom. iCal is even going to remind me to do it.

This week, CRYSTAL CASTLES. Holy shit, I looked at the 'audible' link list to your left and realized that there was no Crystal Castles link present at all, despite them having invented some of the baddest sounds allowed to exist. Granted, some of their tracks are like listening to knives have sex, others are simply too good to not let the invisible crowd outside your car know how good a DJ you are for playing Crystal Castles on your drive to work.





Crystal Castles hails from my home turf, Toronto, Ontario, and is another notch on T.O.'s Belt of Electronic Dominance in Canada. They could almost be considered veterans of the electro touring scene, and I am pumped to see 2000+ people thrash their inebriated bodies around to their sound-waves at Sasquatch! in May. I'll be able to brag about how my city is better than the nice-to-meet-yous' there, whilst pointing to the stage in a drunken rage. Mmmmm, sweet sweet superiority.


Crystal Castles - Courtship Dating (A/V Highly Recommends)

Crystal Castles - Untrust Us

Crystal Castles - Vanished

Crystal Castles - Crystal Death

credit: hypem, sasquatch, pitchfork

audible: Radiohead x Gigamesh and more!

So, there's this little band called Radiohead, (an 'up and coming') and they made this song (like a kind of secret track that nobody has ever heard of) that this guy called Gigamesh played with the volume levels and stuff (i don't know what they do! lolz!1). Anyway, mrbk dropped this track for me a couple weeks back, and the rest is, as they say, the history channel.






Radiohead - Everything In It's Right Place (Gigamesh Mix)

And just for kicks: check out this doozie by Annie remixed by Designer Drugs:

Annie - Antonio (Designer Drugs Remix)
Enjoy!

credit: mrbk

audible/visible: Coco and Lowe

Listen up Torontonians and citizens of the World: your very own audible/visible just got a shout out from one of the best blogs this side of the Pacific Ocean, Coco & Lowe. These two girls are not only in the game, I'm pretty sure they run the indie blog scene in Toronto, with spots on fashion, phenoms, and features that will remind you of how many things you have left to do before you die. In a good way. Best part is that they update all the time, so their content as always so fresh and so clean, clean.

A few of the interesting items buried deep into the catacombs of cocoandlowe.com:


good call on this track! Ratatat - Wildcat...

features from their travels (in this case LONDON...)

features on phenomenon-artists such as Iaian Greenson

This blog has been on my blog roll for a couple of weeks now since it's discovery, but let's make it official. Check out

http://cocoandlowe.com

credit: C&L, thanks girls!

visible: From Tokyo, With Love

Look into the future of fashion... or the past since everything is cyclical. Anyway, I cherrypicked a few looks from Tokyo Street Style for you to peruse and plan your wardrobe four years in advance:

(minus the head)

I suppose these looks are all applicable to us Westerners, and that's probably why they appealed to me most out of those I shuffled through. Oh, to be back in Tokyo.

credit: TSS

audible: Flying Lotus x Low Limit

Music has many dialects.

It speaks to different creeds, colours and consciences by varying it's tonal accents in the form of instruments, structure and intent. When someone asks you, "what kind of music do you like?" how do you usually respond? I believe that those of us who find it hard to describe our musical tastes in one convenient string of words are most likely the same people who can appreciate a vast spectrum of interpretations of reality within our own reality easier than those who don't. I dub this the 'Audio-Reality Transcendence Theory'—or ART theory for short. Despite sociological classifications, a suburban white middle-class male should be able to easily subscribe to the sounds and vision of hard ghetto rock groups bred in the heart of Detroit—a place well out of the comfort zone of said yuppy—without being affected or guilted by the stigma attached to this 'exclusive' niche of music. Simply because one is not from a specific breeding ground of eclectic music, does not mean that they should not be able to let it influence them. On the contrary, not only should it influence them, it should be encouraged, so long as that person does not fail to realize that their role in the evolution of music is that of an information gatherer, until of course they reach the position of being able to produce music as widely acclaimed as those who produced the initial influential music. Only then will the cycle complete itself and a new breed of musical authority can emerge, much like the evolution of language and dialects themselves. This is the foundation of the ART Theory.

On that note, enjoy this blissfully hip-hop inspired electro by LA native Flying Lotus, remixed by Low Limit, hailing from San Fran (?)... I highly recommend you all to check out their MySpace pages if you want to melt your brain.

Flying Lotus

Low Limit

Flying Lotus - Tea Leaf Dancers (Low Limit Remix)

Up yours, corporation-backed intrusive mainstream.

credit: hypem and friends

audible: Passion Pit

In light of their upcoming appearance at Sasquatch! Music Festival at The Gorge (which conveniently coincides with their new album release titled Manners on May 19th), I decided I need to start listening to the Massachusetts-native Electro-poppers more actively, in an attempt to be the coolest person at the festival.



Take a listen to their second most liked song:

Passion Pit - The Reeling

And then listen to their most famous song—BAM! techno remixed— because I'm secretly a robot and this song transmits important encoded information from a distant galaxy only robots can decipher:


Passion PIt - Sleepyhead (Kids At The Bar Remix)


Looks like it's a gonna be a good a show ah.

credit: hypem

audible: Sasquatch! Music Festival

There is an outside chance that I may actually be on the West Coast when this year's Sasquatch! Music Festival is taking place (May 23-25), since I am walking the stage at UBC. This makes me very happy. I attended last year with four comrades, and it left an indelible impression on my youth. For those who have yet to attend a music festival, or think EdgeFest or SarsFest is even in the same league is seriously mistaken and wow this blog is so G-rated. Just imagine road trip/concert/camping/partying/$12 heinekens/3 hours of sleep/no work/all play for a couple of days, not to mention the memories.. ohhh the memories....



I would punch a baby to see any of these, let alone all on the same weekend, at this venue, with some close friends, drunk:
Kings of Leon / Yeah Yeah Yeahs / The Decemberists / Animal Collective / Bon Iver / Passion Pit / Crystal Castles / M83 / The Dodos / Deadmau5 / Natalie Portman's Shaved Head / Silversun Pickups / Santigold / Grizzly Bear / Girl Talk / Chromeo / Demetri Martin... plus all those artists that I have only vaguely heard of that will turn out to be Godly.

Those who will be willing to travel to, or will be in, the Vancouver area for the May long weekend needs to get in touch with me so we can plan. Holy shit I'm super excited.

credit: the gorge.

audible: Dark Was The Night

Purchased as a house-warming gift (what makes a house warmer than distinguishable sound of vinyl-on-needle action?) for a rad couple, I unwittingly discovered the Dark Was The Night compilation record. Ironically, I find myself smack-dab in the middle of musical transition stage, where I can almost see the icy waters of the lake slowly transform into a viable weekend destination, and when each day is allowing me to shed one more piece of winter clothing. A transition from cold, calculated electronic music is once more giving way to organic indie rock and roll and folk rock, as the days become longer and the sleeps become shorter. Welcome to spring everyone.



One of the more remarkable tracks is from my good old friend Sufjan Stevens. By good old friend I mean, of course, someone who has forced me to entertain the idea of becoming a nomad permanently, questing for invisible waves of sound that induce all those happiness-inducing hormones. Have a listen (bear with it for a couple of seconds through the– intense, if anything else– intro):

Sufjan Stevens - You are the Blood

Anyway, get the whole album. You will not be disappointed. Granted, most of the compilation is comprised of much less intrusive songs: bon iver, decemberists, arcade fire, etc..

credit: vinyl records around the world

visible: My Outfit Today

I was feeling very Hollywood-in-New-York-esque today. Like a slice of pizza topped with jet-black dyed flying fish roe.



Blazer : Cold Method
Shirt: Strellson
Cardigan: Vintage from Australia
Tie: H&M
Belt: Vintage
Jeans: Energie
Hat: Urban Outfitters
Glasses: Tom Ford Knockoffs (Look down)

These pics are for you cam. Not bad, hey?

visible: My Outfit Today

Do I smell new segment? Perhaps. In light of my recent discovery of LOOKBOOK.nu, I want to show you how I dress. Hate it or love it, let me know. (but just don't tell me if you hate it).


Jacket: Victorinox
Blazer: Cold Method
Shirt: Sand
Tie: ZZegna
Jeans: Levi's Red Tab
Boots: Cafeina
Belt: Tie-ups
Bag: Art Berg
Glasses: Tom Ford knock offs that look amazing and I just got them so I'm still really excited

Perhaps I should invest in a decent camera. And a full time personal professional photographer.

credit: me

visible: Post Strellson Show

Let me start off by expressing my frustration and total disappointment with the fact that the Strellson Fashion show coincided with the Britney Spears concert last night in Toronto, and thus eliminating my chances of fulfilling my dreams of catching a few drops of Britney-sweat in my mouth because I know all the lyrics and was singing when she wriggled her torso in such a way that salty bodily fluids launched into orbit around the imaginary planet representing my love for the pop-princess and crash-landed on my tongue in a bitter-sweet fiery explosion of emotion.

Let me follow that up with the Strellson Fashion Show at Ultra Supper Club was very good. I would wager that about 300 people showed up, and if you knew someone of high stature in the Strellson world, you would drink Belvedere and Peroni because you are so cool (and because it was free). Here are a couple shots from the show (forget camera = stuck with iPhone):

The models there were fantastic! The guys wearing the clothes on the runway were pretty good too.

Overall, I felt the line was comfortable and casual, however perhaps a little too 'loose' for my tastes. There really wasn't any piece that stood out, and I almost feel snobbish for even thinking that, let alone telling the world. Almost. Then I remember it's okay to have an opinion on fashion, it's what it's all about. In the end, it was a great event and I got to meet some new people and drink with old acquaintances. The Strellson line's strengths, in my humble opinion, lie in the smart casual and dressy sides of their designs, which easily rivals BOSS on quality and design whilst beating them on price. 

Special props to Patrick Huffman of Vital Design for orchestrating the event. You rock!

credit: phuffman

visible: Blue Blood

I happened to be looking at Elvis Jesus for the fall at the EJco's Toronto distributor's showroom, (side note: we saw some phenomenal cashmeres priced at a modest $500CDN/ea of clear Elvis Jesus pedigree but somehow the combination of intense detail and soft cashmere created this magnificent juxtaposition of class and clash... looking forward to seeing them in stores, and perhaps get my hands on one if I'm lucky)... BAM sidetracked!

Okay, we were at the distributor's showroom and they wanted to show us a new line they have started to carry called Blue Blood. Being a somewhat premium-line rookie, I had never heard of it, but I'm pretty sure I won't be forgetting it any time soon. Take a look at some of their looks, for both men and women from this spring and fall:










They are a true denim-inspired and driven line (hence 'Blue Blood' as in the indigo dye in denim). And apparently they're only focusing on the highest possible quality without really worrying about that pesky thing called price, unlike most other sucker brands. That aside, I tried on a $2900 cashmere blazer today, and if I died then and there I would have been okay with it. Their price points for jeans are between $300 and $1000 for the selvedge Osaka denim (2nd picture from the top) which were pretty amazing IRL.

I particularly like the jumpsuit in the last picture, actually. Other than that look, it's pretty clean, with just well balanced outfits and colours. Blue Blood is really one of the few high-end lines that the runway clothes aren't exclusively runway clothes, and that you'd actually want to wear. 

In other news, I just stumbled upon a freaking fantastic site called LOOKBOOK.nu for new fashion looks that just ate up an hour of my life without me even noticing.

credit: Agency One, randy
a/v rating: why do i even bother rating? everything on here is golden.
factoid: I broke the zipper on an $1100 EJ leather jacket today and I felt bad about it.

audible: Röyksopp's new album!

More info on the much anticipated follow up to arguably one of the best albums in the history of electronic music according to every single personality in my head, The Understanding CD: Röksopp's new album Junior will be out on March 23rd, and features many-a-cameo appearances by star female vocalists from around the big fat world (Robyn, Lykke Li, Karin Dreieireereiijer, Annelli Drecker) and, wow. Oh, and yay. I almost forgot, and friggin' sweet.




Here is a musical triplet, designed to inspire the mind and revile the kind of blind signs that seduce our times:

Röyksopp - Miss It So Much (Feat. Lykke Li)

Röyksopp - Tricky Tricky (Feat. Karin Dreijer)

Röyksopp - Forever

There's a certain epicness/perfection/seamlessness Röyksopp never seems to stray from. Despite it's clean and precise intervals of blips and beats, there's still an organic feel to it. You know, the feeling you get when you are surrounded by rolling green grass knolls while sitting under an oasis oak tree. Natural. Fresh. Röyksopp. See how well that name flows? I told you.

credit: hypem
a/v rating: it's like the moment you walk out of the dentist's office because you know it is the longest possible time before you must return
factoid: 'Röyksopp' is a stylized version of the Norwegian word for the puffball mushroom, or literally, "smoke mushroom".

visible: Strellson @ Ultra

I made my way to School Bakery & Cafe (a Liberty Village watering hole, not a learning institution) for the Mel Ramos + Strellson launch party, where I got a whiff of the new Strellson swiss cross line. Mel Ramos is a decorated—and perhaps one of the last active- true Pop Artist, and it is evident in the collection:

I learned that there was to be a Strellson fashion show on March 18th at Ultra Supper Club on Queen West, and anyone who is interested in coming can drop me a line or RSVP on the Strellson Fashion Show Facebook page!

credit: huffdaddy
a/v rating: events are fun
factoid: Strellson and Hugo Boss were once one in the same.

audible: Calvin Harris @ circa

I have some glorious news in the form of DJ royalty gracing the stage at Toronto's tallest house of loud music. Calvin Harris will be playing a set at Circa March 27th 2009. He will be joined by a Mario J (A.D/D) and MRK.



I will be there. You should come. Seriously.
A teaser:

The Hours - See The Light (Calvin Harris Remix)

credit: god
a/v rating: i'll let you know
factoid: rumour has it that it costs $10,000/month just to run the escalators at circa

audible: The Hype Machine

Well buoys and gulls, I know a secret, and it is sooo good to hear it. Want to know know what it shwas? All right. I'll tell you what it shwas. I know, how to count, allll the way to Hypemachine. You can check out my updated favorite tracks list whenever you feel like it by clicking the link in the top left spot of this page. If you want to be added to the hypemachine list, let me know and I'll gladly add your loved tracks link. It'll be like a music slumber party except there are no pillows and probably nothing even closely related to a slumber party.

visible: Jonathan + Olivia

If I wasn't so poor, I would probably be richer and subsequently purchase much more stuff from Jonathan + Olivia (ooo! fancy new website). I stumbled across it in Vancouver last fall for the first time, and hobbled my way to the store on Ossington in TO in February. Great little collection going on for both guys and girls. The only way I can describe the store is that it's like an British dude living in New York with major West Coast attitude. I don't know if that helps.

Where the magic happens. photo courtesy blogto.

Oliver Spencer

YMC

On that note, I think I am qualified enough to become your personal freakin' fashion adviser. I may just turn that into a job eventually, so catch me at my good rates before I get too expensive for you (I'm free right now, just take me shopping!!).

For those who follow this blog religiously (probably only Cam, thanks Cam!) then brace yourself. Things are going to change around here.

credit: my legs, blogto, j+o, god, my family, oh my god thank you, thank you for this honour
a/v rating: a/v likes
factoid: jonathan = 'gift of god' + olivia = 'olive tree'

audible: Adele

Adele + CCC =

Mmmm....Hometown Glory - Adele (Chewy Chocolate Cookie Remix).

credit: i forget but let's say mrbk
a/v rating: the song is too short for it's own good
factoid: i never make speeling mistakes.

audible: La Roux

Ok. This song is not for everyone. But it gets me. It understands what I need in a song. I get it. I know what it needs in a listener. And we both deliver.




In For The Kill (Skreams Let's Get Ravey Mix) - La Roux

La Roux is signed under Kitsune, and Skream produced some of my favorites including the Black Ghosts and Klaxons, so I'm not surprised I have struck ear gold (metaphorical, of course) with this track. The first 1:48 has absolutely no beat, but really, who needs beat when you have brain melting sound waves penetrating your face? Just listen to the track.

As for La Roux, I'm not gonna lie, she is pretty wicked-cool. She doesn't just throw back to the 80's, she was born in the 80's. Wait, so was I. But she actually lives it. Check out this music video of the unmixed version of In For The Kill, and you can see for yourself. Sweet ride.

credit: god
a/v rating: a really really good rating
factoid: kitsune has the worst website of all time

audible: The Yeah Yeah Yeah's

If you're feeling just about ready to bolster your summer music playlist, pick up a copy of The YYY's new album It's Blitz! (even though I don't think it's legally available yet).



They went with a little bit of a dreamy feel from what I could tell, switching some guitar riffs with synthesizers here and there, creating an all around pleasant and G-rated sound the whole family would love. Here's one of my favorites:


Hysteric - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

credit: hypem
a/v rating: pretty grood—i mean great. great and good.
factoid: "take 18th to get to—" "yeah yeah yeah."

visible: Fashion vs. Style Part I

A wise fashion demi-god by the initials of YSL once said: "Fashions fade, style is eternal."

That's not to say discard fashion and trendiness altogether there Mr. I-read-between-the-lines. One interpretation is: in order to be considered as someone with any kind of sartorial sense, you need to incorporate pieces of fashion that mate well with your pre-existing personal style. Too much trendiness gets you labeled a cookie-cutter hipster, and rightfully so. On the other hand, you can never be 0% trendy—since you would effectively need to invent a substitute for clothing altogether—but too little trendiness could render your image either stale or just plain ridiculous. For those of us who are concerned with our daily encounters and first impressions, striking a balance is only a satisfying mini-victory in this ongoing competition known as life.

audible: Grizzly Bear x Girl Talk

This track is far from 'typical listening material' for me. But when I was patrolling the damp and stale suburbia I currently inhabit armed only with an ipod in my pocket, an imaginary cigarette in my right hand, and a swagger in my step, it just seemed right. So I present it to you:

Knife - Grizzly Bear [Girl Talk Remix]



you can figure out who the artists are today, i'm sick of doing all of your work.

credit: hypem
a/v rating: why even bother?
factoid: Girl Talk was a fictitious band in the show Full House

visible: Cary Grant

Caught somewhere between vertigo and splitting headache, I have spent the last few days in bed recovering from one of those super bugs that produce most of the symptoms related to any kind of sickness known to man. So after a solid 60 hours of no-nonsense sleeping (none of that pesky eating or personal hygiene stuff got in the way), I was up for a movie. I chose Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch A Thief.

I was saddened.

The movie was great, don't get me wrong. Cary Grant's character solved the mystery, got off scott-free, played Grace Kelly's character like an instrument... But it saddened me that if I—or anyone in my age category—attempted to mimic his sartorial elegance in North America, we would be socially castrated. Some examples of his style:




I guess growing up isn't all that bad, if it means I can pull off a Cary Grant-inspired look. I might have to move to Nice or Cannes to maximize quality of said look.

credit: carygrant.net aaaaand whoever told me to watch the movie.
a/v rating: 3 silk scarves and one shawl-collared tuxedo.
*new segment* random factoid: Cary Grant's real name is Archibald Leach.

visible: Robert Geller

Snooping around a Jonathan + Olivia store in Vancouver, I came across a pimp Robert Geller shawl-collar zip-up blazer that was around 8 million dollars (can't find a picture), and it stole my heart.

RG's love affair with off-bias lines and unusual button alignments compliments the Edward Scissorhands-esque feel to much this fall's line-up at the NY Fashion Week. This is my favorite of the bunch.



I had to assplode his head due to hat-douchebaggery. Got carried away a little.

credit: olivia newton john
a/v rating: 9/10

visible: Tom Ford Sunglasses

A little bit of horn-rimmed, a lot of wayfarer.
Just the right amount of awesome.



credit: me
a/v rating: worth it? yes. maybe.

visible: Push Pull

k I'm back. Tough crowd out there in the job market. Luckily I have fantastic connections and a marvelous last name in the canadian men's clothing industry. I am in talks with an Italian brand to perhaps rep the line in Canada, with say in production (fit/style) called Push Pull, or Push n' Pull, or Push and Pull, or something like that, and I have no idea what it looks like. Will keep you posted. In the meantime, I am going to find a giraffe and punch it in the throat.



credit: randy
a/v rating: 2012

mental: my thoughts in a frying pan on high

I've reached this fork in the road, so why does it cut like a knife? (stole that from Jemaine)... But seriously.

I saw one of those eHarmony TV spots today and thought to myself: you know, it's probably a good thing for these poor bastards to create profiles on these dating sites. Even if you're ultimately just like 99% of the people who get the cold shoulder from Cyberspace Cupid (let's face it, those who have all of the qualities we are looking for are not likely on the internet perusing dating sites for the right 1" by 1" picture to jump out of the screen and grab them by the heartstrings; they're out having fun with their successful, smart and otherwise remarkable friends in the real world), you've taken the time to lay out to yourself everything what you want in a mate, and what qualities best describe you.

the only real eHarmony

The act of organizing one's thoughts alone would theoretically improve your chances of putting yourself in a situation that would bring you together with those who are like minded and probably most suitable for you.

I suppose it would apply to my career searching too, right?

False. I've created countless profiles on Monster, LinkedIn, Workopolis, CFN, personal resumes... but I am still quite clueless as to what I'd be best suited for right now. That's why I'm thinking that I'm going about it the wrong way and my eHarmony shpeel was all for naught.

I've got to tap into that ancient well of knowledge and confidence I once relied on, pull the knickers out from the crack of my ass, and stop being "such a pussy".

1. Pick a place to live and make it "permanent" by artificially cutting out the option of living in a different place 3-6 months from now.
2. Depending on the location (ie: tokyo, italy, toronto, montreal and vancouver vastly differ in terms of what I would want out of life) pick/make up a career and gung ho the shit out of it.
3. $$$ Profit $$$

I just need to decide on a place to live.

Back to our regularly programmed... programs?

audible: Bitch, I Love You.

Here's a little romantic ditty from Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears to commemorate this most sacred of days:

Bitch, I Love You.



Bitch, Happy Valentines Day.

credit: hypem
a/v rating: valentines day sucks

audible: Faded Paper Figures

Right-click and save the shit out of this link ---> Logos. And now, unplug your laptop from any kind of audio enhancer and blast that song on your crappy little speakers and you'll still like it (yes, even you).




Faded Paper Figures is a band hailing from Lee Harvey Oswald's former marine station of Irvine, California. Commonly compared to Postal Service, but it's a little less techmo (read: techno + emo), and a little more alive.

Anyway, I hopped on google in an effort to legitimize my new word "techmo," but to my dismay (and soon to yours as well) my ears were mauled by these dudes: http://www.techmomusic.com/. I apologize for any damage I have caused.

credit: hypem
a/v rating: bad. in a 80's kind of way.

audible: Royksopp's Back!

Well, I just got back from MTL.

It was a trip inspired by friends, executed by lack of employment and supported by music and far-fetched (despite the guilty pleasure in taking them seriously) theories on 2012 and the coinciding end of the Mayan long count calendar.

I wish I had this track, by one of my favorite artists of all time: the Norwegian duo we all now know by the name of Röyksopp. It's their newest single (I think it's also their first ever single) called 'Happy Up Here,' probably representing our tendency to be unsatisfied with reality and seek escapism through the use of illicit substances. But on that note, who's not to say that the reality you are experiencing now is not in fact the only reality, but a single universe in a multiverse only accessed by means of escapism such as dreams and mind-altering techniques?

oh yeah, this is a fashion/music blog. I forgot.

Röyksopp is amazing. You should check out The Understanding CD too.



credit: mrbk, daniel pinchbeck
a/v rating: i dunno eighty whatever don't care

visible: Lacoste + Rubik's Cube

Lacoste is not a label I freely promote, or even like to associate myself with. However, I (may) have heard about the Fall/Winter '09-'10 collection and they are (apparently) clearly having a little fun with the brand new Red Label this time around, with one of my all time favorite pastime--Rubik's cube--inspired random exploding triangular patterns design (or so I hear from a third party, not my own two eyes).

So basically:

+

=

very un-Lacoste, but that's a good thing.

Also, I may (or may not) also be seeing neon highlights on zippers and hardware again and again for fall. I'm still not sure if I'm with or against neon. I've always wanted to punch neon in the face for being so intrusive in my personal space and eyeballs.

credit: randy
a/v rating: an oscar for my lawsuit-dodging skills

audible: Anonanimal

Let's bring it down a notch from that hooligan electronical devil music. A Chicagoan by the name of Andrew Bird (real name?) helped calm me down after a long battle with cable TV this evening with his song Anonanimal. Not too sure what his other stuff sounds like, but he's from Chicago, and anybody from Chicago is clearly the second coming, so I'm all in. Right-click and DL that hyperlink meow!


credit: hypemachine
a/v rating: oh that's naice

visible: My Cafeina Boots

I like my boots.



I've had them for two weeks. Uncanny resemblance to the Ferragamos I posted a couple weeks ago. Good looking boot, compliments galore, but too bad they hurt like shit after a long day. Also, in terms of any boot-like properties such as keeping my feet warm and dry, i give them ten raisins and a frost bite out of 100.

credit: Town Shoes
a/v rating: kind of like an Audi: good looking but terrible reliability.

visible: Moddish

The other day I was called a word I had never been called before in my life: "Moddish". I'm not 100% sure on the spelling, there could be one 'd', but after a quick google search I came to the conclusion that the person who said it was referring to the 60's-Beatles-preppy/Mod Squad look (as opposed to the popular rocker look).

Sweet.

Se here is my outfit for that day:



Boots: Cafeina
Shirt: Eton
Jacket: Juicy
Tie: Pure
Jeans: True Religion
Hat: Shandon Castle
Belt: Frank Daniel

credit: Tim
a/v rating: sexy bitch

visible: Marithé et François Girbaud

This whole summer theme is stuck in my head. So why fight it? Here are a couple of runway summer looks from Marithé et François Girbaud, that if cherry-picked properly, have potential to not come across as douchebaggeriffic on the street:




I think finally this summer the flood pants will be acceptable. I'm not talking capris or clam diggers here, but purposefully hemming one's pants in a way that looks like you have a blind tailor.

All this summer talk is making me antsy.
Enter: Countdown to Summer Clock!!

credit: randy, mhaddy
a/v rating: omg omg omg only 137 days left until summer

visible: Mezlan Nubuck Dockasins

I need these.

Notice the slim silhouette and lack of overzealous soul? That's what makes any shoe look expensive.

Dock shoes such as these are great for adding a punch to your look. Shoes are grossly overlooked by guys, and even with a half decent pair of shoes your chances of picking up that night increases by 182%. It's a fact.

credit: Mezlan
a/v rating: I'm size 11. Kthx.

audible: Covers/Remixes Part III: Greatest Covers

My (extremely well paid) freelance journalist mla has provided the crowd with her fab five of covers, and they go like this:

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends (Beatles)

Oasis - I Am the Walrus (Beatles)

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (leonard cohen)

Gary Jules - Mad World (tears for fears)

Muse - Feeling Good (written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd)

each cover may be better than the original, except for oasis' rendition of walrus, but not to any fault of their own. they're covering the beatles.

credit: thank you mla
a/v rating: i'm still waiting for a cover of Patio Lanterns by Kim Mitchell (props for the OPP ball cap Kim)

visible: Opening Ceremony

After the heat-wave we had yesterday here in T.O. in which the mercury soared to a searing +3 degrees Celcius, it got me thinking ahead (apparently at least 6 more weeks) to the coming warm spring and summer months. It also got me yearning for the day I can once again wear my burlap desert boots from Opening Ceremony:

The moment I slip my right big toe into that sexy shoe-shaped representation of the 'good life', I just might cry, for as I know at that moment, after all these long arduous months of dry skin and wet feet, the life-giving warmth of the sun will once again begin to frequently bathe my skin and replenish my soul with faith in happiness and love.

I need a tan.

credit: Gravity Pope in Vancouver
a/v rating: great and super

audible: Coeur de Pirate

Welcome to February. Glorious, glorious February.

Breaking news just in from the man who sends me breaking news bulletins: Comme des Enfants (Le Matos Andy Carmichael Remix) - Coeur de Pirate.

Who knew, the indie-rock mecca known as Montreal *can* produce some good electro, and Le Matos is proof. Throw in Coeur de Pirate (franco-Feist) and you have the dark and edgy mélange linked above.

Coeur de Pirate

protip: file2hd.com to download the songs off myspace pages.

credit: mrbk (do you want a job?)

a/v rating: très cool

audible: Covers/Remixes Part II: Little Bit

i just need to get this off my chest: Lykke Li - Little Bit (Autoerotique remix).

it's most likely the greatest electronic song of all time.
and she's hot.



credit: mrbk again
a/v rating: you're welcome

visible: a/v's new look

just performing some tomfoolery with the look and feel of the site. feedback me so i can make it better for you. i plan on evolving this thing until it makes me billions of dollars, and i promise to cut you a portion if you help me get there.

also, i'm considering changing the name of the blog to 'club a/v'. is it more chic? 'audible/visible' is kind of like a runny nose that you can't blow out and you get snot on your lips and it tastes good but you can't tell that to anyone because they'd think you're weird. you know?

visible: Cold Method

well, i did it.

i just ordered my first line ever on my own, and it was from the fall '09-'10 Cold Method collection, which hails from amsterdam. the mantra of the brand is simple: make men discreetly well dressed, for a good price. it's clean but intricate, and a hell of a good price. most of it is made in turkey. seeing as anything made outside of china/india is pretty much a selling feature nowadays... bonus.







the boss gave me full authority to purchase for next fall, and 93 pieces later we had a colour story, packages and some pretty decent european clothing hitting the shelves of blazerformen come fall thanks to yours truly. i think it will take some clever marketing/genius merchandising to pull off this line in the store as it is now, but i have faith. and i have a good friend that will help me get the word out. right mrbk? right?

credit: me!!
a/v rating: finally a line that fits me at bfm

audible: Covers/Remixes Part I: Baker's Dozen

we've all heard our parents playing Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street in the car on the way to see the grandparents decades ago, we just didn't pay attention to it. probably because we had no idea it would be revived THIRTY ONE YEARS LATER as a super-remix by a little known DJ from Toronto: STA (apparently pronounced "stay"). if this song was some kind of ear currency, then i just hit the jackpot.

you might have noticed the "Part I" up there in the title. i've decided to do a couple of features on covers and/or remixes that you should add to your playlist... and possibly a couple you should add to your annoying roommate's playlist. i may have also contracted a freelancer to dig up some tracks that i might have otherwise overlooked, so expect a garden variety.

credit: mrbk, mla
a/v rating: DESERVES CAPITAL LETTERS

audible: Calvin Harris' New Single

holy sh...it's amazing what speakers can do.

listen to calvin harris. but especially listen to his latest contraption "I'm Not alone." and make sure it's on a good sound system or set of headphones. i want to be an astronaut now. or a psychonaut.

credit: mrbk all the way.
a/v rating: come to canada please

audible: Van She

Another australian dream rock band to tantalize my inner ear receptors with pleasant vibrations is Van She. although i had originally been exposed to Van She through remixes (ie: changes and ice cream), they do have a solid dreamy pseudo-electro rock feel that makes you want to take a tantric sex class.



credit: mrbk probably
a/v rating: apple juice don't stain

visible: Handscape

have you ever needed a miniature 3d landscape so you can explain to that guy you met at the cafe exactly how little red riding hood escaped the big bad wolf through the woods on her dune buggy? well, fret no more. enter: Handscape.





don't forget the part when lrrh's grandmother pulls out the 2 22's in her shoes, hops in her caddy and heads over to the wolf's family's house.

credit: itsnotloveimjustdrunk
rating: feminine brass knuckles, probably more irreversible damage

visible: Michael Kors FW '09-'10

I got a sneak peak at Michael Kors' next fall/winter lineup for men at their showroom yesterday and came out with mixed feelings. couldn't snap any pictures for fear of 'the book' being thrown, but there was nothing really groundbreaking in the first place to want to smuggle photos out. the 80's influence (patchwork, safety-orange highlights, lumberjack plaid, etc) in the MK "1981" collection is a little late on the uptake imho, but the creative use of neoprene for some classic outerwear pieces was refreshing. i should have put my name on that neoprene hoodie. i still have time. chicken nuggets. apes.

let me close this groundbreaking post with a picture of a penguin:



credit: blazer
a/v rating: blank stare into space

audible: Portishead

Although not new, i recently came across UK's Portishead's 2008 release, Third, and some of it melted my ears in a really good way. In particular, Machine Gun and The Rip destroyed my brain, not only because the music itself is eerie and contagious and almost sinful, but it's portishead. the same portishead that ushered me into trip-hop/ninja music 15 years ago. remember this?

credit: pitchfork
a/v rating: where's the 6th star button on iTunes?

visible: Tokyo Street Style / RTZ

I dug deep in my closet today to uncover an oldie from my Tokyo days from a Japanese brand called Reats TAILOR ZAZOUS or click here for more details/pictures. Although it does cut off circulation to anything below my nipples, it's compliment city whenever i wear it. french placket, exaggerated button down contrast collar and cuffs, trim fit... mmm... it cost me approx ¥12000 for the shirt, and ¥30000 for a jacket (not shown). pennies to some, life savings to others.




As the nostalgea flowed when I went searching for RTZ online, i came across Style Arena in Tokyo, which will be a good gauge to see the fads us north-americans are going to be ogling over in three-to-five years from now. Take a look at the Tokyo Street Style section and you can practically taste the future:




credits: tony kihara
a/v rating: toit! RTZ is hiring... hrmmm...

audible: M83

The dream pop band M83 (beware of music) out of France, struck a chord with me recently with their song Graveyard Girl, and brought me back to Japan somehow. More precisely, it made me think of the bright lights of shinjuku's aoyama doori passing me by as i sat in the back seat of a taxi on my way home from one of my many vivid nights out...



until i watched the video. then all i could think of was how much i hate jocks.

credit: peripheral torrenting
a/v rating: dreamy. A+++ will listen again.

audible & visible: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac

This French Nobleman has been on the fashion scene for decades, but you could never tell the way his website is designed. i feel like my eyeballs have been shot with a lego gun from the future that turns your brain into interlocking plastic blocks. i could spend hours on that site.

A sample of his more contemporary fashion pieces below, but he is more of an artist that likes to use clothes as a canvas at times. i feel like he is just taking a piss out of the stuck up high-gloss fashion industry. i love it.




site design by xxs. that one is for you mrbk.

credit: randall
a/v rating: *giggles*

visible: Ferragamo Suede Boots

Salvatore Ferragamo (beware of music) has been known to be the grand daddy of modern designer footwear. he was a prodigy, employing a team of 6 cobblers at age 14 in his hometown, Naples, Florida (just kidding, Italy) back in the early 1900's. His M.O. was hand-made, classic style all the way, using only the best materials in such a way that would provide ultimate comfort and support. The man went to school for chemistry and anatomy in order to maximize his knowledge in materials and the ways of feet for god's sake. I found this gem while surfing the SF site, but realized that someone screwed up somewhere when they didn't include it on the online store.
price: unknown (but speculating in $900 range).




Click here for a super interesting bio of Salvatore.

credit: google
a/v rating: timeless, want a pair (size 11 please).

audible: bag raiders

Sydney's bag raiders are making headway in my books as of late. producing clean pop/electronica tracks and remixing somewhat obscure songs is hard to do properly, but they are pulling it off. also their website and myspace remind me of my childhood when i would wear those cheap cardboard 3d glasses to make real life more 3d.



credit: mrbk
a/v rating: trying to throttle the playcount

visible: Loro Piana

you know you are rich when 58 baby goats lost their warm underbelly fur to make you your totally unpretentious harbour jacket.



I love the exaggerated Persian lamb's fur collar. it's the art-deco meets old english boy's club. sometimes i wish i talked with an accent and smoked a pipe.




Loro Piana.

credit: yohan
a/v rating: the tags say "made in heaven"

audible: if you seek amy

are you friggin' kidding me. are you.

The "Princess of Pop" told me to: "if you seek amy". brilliant if you ask me. soccer mom's of the world will unite against the wrath of britney and her sexual innuendos invading their little girl's thoughts, but it's too late. your daughter is probably already outside smoking up with the guy who's about to if you seek a her.



credit: myia (thank you?)
a/v rating: good for her

audible: the dodos

Hailing from San Fran, the indie-folk, psych-folk, baroque-pop band the dodos combine raw drum lines and folk feel to excite your feet and tickle your brain. " One of the best albums of 2008" - like everyone



credit: ladybabe
a/v rating: get it.

welcome to audible/visible

happy inauguration! let's get down to business.

This blog's all about the fusion of music and style, hence the title "audible/visible". I'm going to post new/slightly used music and fashion tidbits with minimal commentary. I only have a fuzzy idea of a/v's ultimate purpose, but hopefully it will help guide my passion for fashion and music towards a happy place.

enjoy.