The New York Times’ T Magazine often comissions artists to create their own version of the iconic T that is the magazine’s logo. There’s a great collection of the work over at the T Magazine blog featuring some of the standouts. Interesting to see so many fresh takes on the same theme, they should make a coffee table book out of these if they haven’t already. My personal favorite is that first ceramic one; the negative space is so perfect. Unfortunately, whoever did the type layout decided that neon green in the title would somehow work with the vibe. Clearly it didn’t.

Link

I found a number of cool sites as I explored the Cargo network this last weekend. One such site was the portfolio of Chad Hagen. I love how each of his projects unfolds as a series; within every section there are a number of interesting images tied together by similar visual stylings. I enjoyed clicking through the slideshows and determining my favorites of each, some of which are above.

His beautifully designed illustrations look like they could be out of an instruction manual for some amazing (albeit nonexistent) product or device. As his title “Nonsense Infographics” indicates, there is actually no “information” being conveyed per se — but when the graphics look this good, I don’t really care.

I heard Washed Out on the Gorilla vs Bear blog awhile back and have been hunting down tracks ever since. He has the same draw that Panda Bear, Lone, and Bullion had to my ear when I first hear them. I think this song is soo good and different that it might be a new way to figure out if I can be friends with a person solely based on just playing them this song and their reaction, I kid I kid i’d never set up that kind of system to find new friends, who does such a thing.

Lusine and Cassette’s Wont Listen’s remix of Christine both came out today, i’ve been waiting for this Lusine song to come out so I could share it with you all. Cirrus builds like a growing smokey fire, very thick and quickly spreads out over the spectrum of sound while Cool Your Shoes reminds of alumni Ghostly electronic indie rockers Midwest Product with its fast pace synths and movie soundtrack breakdowns.

Michna and I have been djing weekly at Brooklyn Bowl in New York which is a beautiful venue, most of the music I play is stuff that is popular in the mainstream world but once in a while Michna or I get to throw in something we really love, last week I heard Michna play this Hot Chip remix of Gorillaz which sounded soo good on their system, the song picks up nicely and switches thru all different kinds of genres.

Washed Out – Feel It All Around

[audio:feelit.mp3]

Lusine – Cirrus

[audio:cirrus.mp3]

Christine – Cool Your Shoes (Cassettes Won’t Listen Remix)

[audio:coolshoesrmx2.mp3]

Gorillaz – Kids With Guns (Hot Chip Remix)

[audio:kidgun.mp3]

The September issue of the ISO50 newsletter is up. Get them while they’re hot! To have the newsletter conveniently delivered straight to your inbox, sign up here.

The latest playlist is live, just click the cover above to load or click “play” in the Player (top of middle column — RSS readers must visit site). Listen in as Jakub waves goodbye to summer with this gauzy collection of slow burners. Enjoy.

ISO50 Playlist 5 – Compiled by Aarnio

Track Listing:
Casino Versus Japan – It’s Very Sunny
Bullion – Caroline, No
Ducktails – Landrunner
Atlas Sound – Walkabout
THE DRUMS – Submarine
The xx – Shelter
Washed Out – Feel It All Around
Dam Funk – Sunset
Fleetwood Mac – Dreams (Mingus Rude edit)
Gold Panda – Quitters Raga
Fever Ray – Triangle Walks
Kings Of Convenience – Mrs Cold
The Radio Dept. – David
The Canyons – Apples and Pears
Bibio – Fire Ant
Burial & Four Tet – Wolf Cub
Manuel Tur – Stay Feat. Larissa Kapp
Adelaide – Bombardiers
Sorcerer – Distort Yourself
Lindsey Buckingham – Trouble
STL – Silent State
Broker/Dealer – To Hear the Fires
Coma – Sum

Cargo is a terrific web publishing platform built with creatives in mind. Like many content management systems (Squarespace, Indexhibit, Joomla etc), Cargo provides a backend that allows you to quickly publish and maintain a website without ever opening Dreamweaver. What distinguishes Cargo is a focus on simple and effective design. Consistent in all Cargo templates is a layout that is clear and simple; allowing the work to speak for itself without a complicated interface getting in the way.

Cargo evolved out of the system that runs the SpaceCollective community. We found it remarkably successful and efficient in creating visual content on the web, placing a strong emphasis on design, layout, image quality and typography. Our goal is to dramatically increase the accessibility and exposure of creative individuals on the Internet, while aspiring to build a networked context that will contribute to the culture as a whole.– Cargo Collective.

Noteworthy Features
– Free hosting with the ability to set up a custom URL. This is awesome. I have also played around with Squarespace, but their hosting costs are a little frightening — especially if you are also paying URL registration on top of that.

– Multiple template designs to build off. Each one starts with a great layout and it’s really easy to apply your own brand. Simple manipulations of color, font, and header images etc quickly distinguish your site from the skeleton template.

– Follow feature, similar to Tumblr or Twitter — allows you to keep tabs on your favorite Cargo pages.

– Developer forum. I had a small issue which I posted to the forum — received a response within 3 hours. Not bad!

– Slideshow and Fullscreen features for viewing images. This is exceptionally easy to incorporate (just a matter of clicking the buttons) and is a really great feature. Works flawlessly and adds an extra touch of unique functionality.

My Experience

I spent the last few days migrating my portfolio to the Cargo system. I had done a lot of the preparation work a while ago, when I put a portfolio up on Behance, so I didn’t have to spend too long sourcing my images and writing description paragraphs. I was thrilled to be moving to a more personalized portfolio space — as much as I love Behance, sometimes it can feel a little too much like a design Myspace.

The set up process was quick, easy, and remarkably enjoyable. All in all I would say it took about 6-8 hours from start to finish. Most of this time was spent designing the look and feel after the content was uploaded. Once I got familiar with the CSS at work, it was just a matter of figuring out exactly how I wanted to look — altering fonts sizes, small layout tweaks, and making sure everything worked properly. I only hit one or two speed bumps, all easily solved by a quick Google search.

I think it’s important to note that I am not a “web guy” by any stretch of the imagination — if I can handle it, this is a good sign for anyone intimidated by the words “CSS” or “target blank”. Having a basic understanding of CSS/HTML helps, especially if you are planning on tweaking the template significantly, but it is not completely necessary. Even with my limited knowledge, I was able to make the adjustments necessary to create a site I am happy with. As mentioned, the important part of a site like this is the work, and I didn’t really feel like I needed to brand the site too extensively.

As of now, Cargo is in the pre-release stage. I am really excited to see how this system evolves as more and more people get involved. I would highly recommend it to anyone debating which CMS to choose. If you would like to apply for an account, use the contact address on the website.

Favorite Cargo Sites
but does it float
superfamous studios (aka Folkert Gorter)
The Office of Feltron
Avant
Jory Dayne

Lo-fi rock is coming strong recently, how long will it hold its place as the spotlight in the young hearts of vinyl loving rockers? well with acts like these i’m hoping forever. My true and very fresh caring for music like this is definitely Ducktails, met him twice this weekend and he was such a nice guy he reminded me of people in the U.P. in Michigan like the U.S. backwoods version of UK’s Bibio but maybe spends alil more time in the garage playing with pedals. I didn’t get to see him perform as Ducktails but he does a good amount of the music in Real Estate who I saw perform at Insound’s 10 yr. anniversary at Brooklyn Bowl with The Drums. Landrunner is very loopy just the way I like it, so honest and uncorrupted by much that is going on right now in indie rock.

Beach Fossils Daydream gets me thinking about how much simpler live could be, the gentle hooky guitar work meets guys that seem to have have it easy. I picture it being made by guys that don’t have many problems and their youth summers we’re or still are filled with trips to cabins, a ton a waterskiing or tubing, and just relaxing in the tall grass by some sand dunes. It’s a nice visual to have when you live on a cement island, makes me want to plan vacations better.

Tallahassee’s Holiday Shores comes to me by Brooklyn’s Twosyllable Records, the label that also put out New Villager’s 7 inch vinyl earlier this year that I love. Holiday Shores has a bit more pep in its step compared to the other songs but still in same vein, alot of catchy vocals and the drumming in a few of their songs accompanied by keys has some real unique parts that make me keep coming back and listening.

Tom Croose our semi resident DJ here on the ISO50 blog turned me onto Real Estate, he told me he loved the “guitar noodling” and the lyrics “Budweiser Sprite, Do you feel alright?”, to me its laid back feel makes me want to bust out the Yo La Tengo’s Summer Sun LP but i’m too busy chillin’ in my kids pool filled with hose water that is being warmed by the sun and I have grass blades stuck all over me that i’m trying to pick off, so lets just keep the Real Estate CD in.

Ducktails – Landrunner

[audio:landrunner.mp3]

Beach Fossils – Daydream

[audio:fossils.mp3]

Holiday Shores – Edge Of Our Lives

[audio:edgelive.mp3]

Real Estate – Suburban Beverage

[audio:beverage.mp3]

Just a quick reminder that tonight I’ll be playing in Austin at The Parish Room. This will be an all ages show (my first in a while), you can get presale tickets here.

On a side note, looking forward to making it through my first successful set with the new SSD running things.

Time to head out to the airport, see you tonight…

If I could ask for more of something right now in the music industry it would be another song like Think Twice by The Detroit Experiment, i’m not talking about another Carl Craig group to come out which is already happening and its called TRIBE or a Mark E edit of this song which is great by the way but just another band that can sound as good as this song does.

The most off the wall song that i’ve heard this summer has to be this song by Siriusmo which was played to me by someone that only listens to post rock/noise in his bedroom saying its like nothing else and described it over the phone as bangin’ like Audion, trendy like the Ed Banger stuff but with a unique angle, children vocals and some kind of cartoonish caribbean intro, very addicted in a good/weird way like pickled turnips.

Went to a bar a few weeks ago and you know right when I walked in with friends it was all girls which is never a bad thing but I realized I had no chance after awhile because it was a ladies night and pretty much no boys allowed. No biggie I just hung out and noticed the DJ was killin’ it right when this song came on, the cowbell is pretty much yelling at you to get on the dancefloor and the guitar is saying find a spot deep in the crowd and sweat it out, not bad if you love cowbells, I mean loooooooove cowbells.

Correct me if i’m wrong but is Loefah a legend in the dubstep world? I love his style of how he times his releases on the sounds and it always being very striped down, sometimes I feel like i’m left hanging but the low end makes up for that.

The Detroit Experiment – Think Twice

[audio:thinktwice.mp3]

Siriusmo – High Together

[audio:htogether.mp3]

In Flagranti – Business Acumen

[audio:acumen.mp3]

Loefah – System

[audio:loefah.mp3]

It’s been a hectic past month, I feel like I’ve been all over the place and I’m really looking forward to getting some time at home to focus. I head out to Austin tomorrow to play The Parish Room for the final show in this recent set and then I’ll have a few weeks until Seattle to get work done.

Luckily, during this time I’ve been able to get the new Tycho 12″ wrapped up and I finally got the test pressing in (shown above). The 12″ will feature a new single — “Coastal Brake” — along with 3 remixes by Lusine, Hatchback, and Manual. It feels good to finally have all the artwork and music done for this one, the final step is ok’ing this test copy. I also did my first offset print job in a while (click for some images) as part of this project, the posters will be included with the record. Looking back, this single has been about as much work as it was to put together my last album, funny how that works.

After I get back from Austin it will be time to really focus in on finishing up this new album. For some reason whenever I go out of town, when I return my house looks like a bomb went off. I guess things just get out of hand and disorganized when I’m rushing to get packed up. I hate returning to the mess because it’s really stressful to try to work in a disorganized environment. So I finally got some free time over the past few days and reorganized the place and got the studio back in order. Hopefully now when I return it will be a smooth transition back into work.