The North Face re-launch Covent Garden store

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North Face Cover

Starting in 1966 from humble beginnings, The North Face has transformed into one of the biggest outdoor brands in the world. As well as firmly establishing themselves as a recognisable brand all over The world, The North Face continue to make sure their focus on quality has gone from strength to strength and adapted to our ever changing environment.

 

Technology and innovation have always been important to The North Face having sent explorers out on some of the toughest and most challenging expeditions but also maintaining a brand which appeals to every person as well as athletes The North Face encourage anyone with a love for The Outdoors to Never Stop ExploringTM.

Alberto Orlandi©

Alberto Orlandi©

 

 

This week The North Face re-launch their Covent Garden flagship store and as well as showcasing their brand new make-over, the brand have celebrated by working alongside Street Artist, Charles Uzzell Edwards to produce The World’s Largest Base Camp Duffel. The Duffel is to be sold at an Art Gallery with all of the profits going to The British Exploring Society.

 

Alberto Orlandi©

Alberto Orlandi©

 

This store gets you excited to get your outdoor gear on with a wide variation on colours, styles and options and reminding you that their gear isn’t just for the ski slopes. With winter not even here yet it’s the perfect opportunity for you to get down to the still and try on all of their amazing stock. You can never have too many parkas, especially with our climate. The great thing about most of the clothing on offer here is that they are so functional and layered, that you can adjust the clothing to suit your needs. As well as that, technologies such asGORE-TEX®, Hyvent® andFlashDry™used within the jackets ensure durability for all conditions.

As part of their AW14 collection, The North Face have introduced their new Summit Series which uses a new FuseForm technology which sets out to deliver ultimate function, style and protection. Pieces are constructed from one single piece of fabric with less threads and fewer seams to make it lighter, stronger and more durable.

 

Thermoball
Thermoball technologies are engineered with lightweight layering to insulate but also pack down. Practical and with a warmth equivalent to 600 goose down this pushes the levels of insulation to new limits.

Alberto Orlandi©

Alberto Orlandi©

 

The North Face continue to be a brand which show passion to Outdoor exploration by staying on top of latest innovations and keeping the environment in mind when producing new products. Each of their garments are made with care and extensive research and this shows in their great quality.

Gone Girl {Film Review}

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This particular movie was built on the marketing that you had to see this movie (or read the book) to understand why you had to go see it yourself. The trailers were reminiscent to when Alfred Hitchcock gave away little to nothing about the plot, only snippets here and there. Our curiosity only grew and grew from movie posters designed as ‘Missing Person’ posters and word of mouth. David Fincher had our curiosity and now has our attention. That is the power Fincher has used to full use and the film itself doesn’t disappoint.

 

The movie is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn (who also wrote the screenplay). The story revolves around Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck), who one morning on his wedding anniversary finds his wife Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) missing. The police investigate the crime scene, finding no evidence to suspect a kidnapping. Eventually, everyone starts pointing fingers at

gone_girl_ver2_xlgNick, from police, neighbours and even talk show hosts. Though as the story progresses, we cut back to diary entries from Amy herself. Giving two completely different perspectives and asking ourselves; who is telling the truth?

 

This movie is the definition of edge-on-your-seat. Fincher is the master of mystery/thriller filmmaking (as evidenced in Se7en, The Game and Zodiac). His eye to detail is so immaculate, with the production design to the bleak but beautiful cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth. Every clue is never left unnoticed. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is discomforting but also hypnotic (as Fincher said when giving direction for the score “Think about the really terrible music you hear in massage parlors. The way that it artificially tries to make you feel like everything’s OK. And then imagine that sound starting to curdle and unravel.“). That direction to the music is certainly what is felt through-out the entire duration of the movie. The more we find out Nick and Amy’s marriage, the more we realise it is not what we perceived from the start. This movie satarises the media, forcing us to rethink how we look at the stories that are laid in front of us. Even when answers are not met or answered, we’re so eager to accuse anyone to have some sort of resolution (just like Robert Graysmith in Zodiac). Even when one talk show host (played by Missi Pyle) flat out accuses Nick to not only be Amy’s killer but also accuses him to have a incestuous relationship with his sister.

 

Ben Affleck is continuing to mature as an actor. Fincher cast him the part as Nick Dunne because Affleck himself has been through hell in the eyes of the media and public. You can certainly see the weight that has been brought down on his shoulders. The supporting cast members were equally terrific, especially the surprise performance from Tyler Perry (probably given the most hilarious line in the entire movie, and one that summarises the Dunne’s; “You two are the most fucked up people I’ve ever met and I deal with fucked up people for a living.“) Though the stand-out performance has to be Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne. She is unbelievably outstanding and one I would vote to get a Best Actress nomination. As mentioned earlier, talking more about her role would reveal a lot of the twists. Suffice to say, it is a performance everyone will be talking about the rest of the year (especially the ending may make couples feel uncomfortable or at least awkward).

 

Overall; David Fincher delivers an intense, no holds barred thriller. It is expertly crafted from everyone in the production. Stellar performances and award-worthy performance from Rosamund Pike. Easily one of the best movies of this year and highly recommended.

4 out of 5

Allusondrugs New Single ‘I Should Have Gone To Uni’

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Following airplay from Radio 1, Xfm, Kerrang and play listings across the UK, Europe and America, an appearance at Reading & Leeds Festival this summer and a September UK headline run that was immediately followed by an October tour with Marmozets & Lonely The Brave, West Yorkshire’s Allusondrugs hammer home the release of their self-titled EP with a brand new track and video.

‘I Should Have Gone To Uni’ is a stomping, retro-fuelled grunge single inspired by the anxiety of growing up and moving on that will be airing on Kerrang! Radio, Kerrang! Television and with the Kerrang! website as part of their new Fresh Blood feature. The track is available as a free download from SoundCloud.

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Never ones to shy away from a spot of hard work, the band recorded and mixed the single themselves – as well as producing, filming and editing the video too – entirely under their own steam in just two days on a break between their hectic touring schedule… a touring schedule that sees the band hit the road again in December, continuing an unwavering march on the UK live circuit, this time with another headline tour taking along Lyger, Forever Cult and Prom for the journey too.

“This song was written about 3 years ago while i was at a particularly low point” explains guitarist and songwriter Damo Hughes “I was watching all the people I used to know starting up families, moving towards higher education and going on to do great things while I wasn’t really doing anything with my life. It’s basically about being depressed and feeling like you’ve done all the wrong things and don’t really have a place in the world. Musically I think the song is fairly upbeat though, I’ve always really liked the juxtaposition of dark, depressing lyrics over optimistic sounding music.”

The five self-confessed fuzz-junkies from Castleford, West Yorkshire formed in the autumn of 2012 and their unique sound and DIY approach to releasing music (online as-and-when they like, sometimes before it’s even finished… streaming practices live on the web… hosting debauched release parties), coupled with growing praise for their explosive live shows, has seen them building a rabidly loyal following locally and beyond.

 

Allusondrug’s remaining live shows for 2014:

OCTOBER 2014 (w/ Lonely The Brave & Marmozets)
THURSDAY 9 SOUTHAMPTON TALKING HEADS
FRIDAY 10 LONDON SCALA *SOLD OUT*
SATURDAY 11 NOTTINGHAM ROCK CITY BASEMENT *SOLD OUT*
MONDAY 13 SHEFFIELD CORPORATION
TUESDAY 14 NEWCASTLE O2 ACADEMY 2
WEDNESDAY 15 BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY 3 *SOLD OUT*
THURSDAY 16 NORWICH OPEN

NOVEMBER 2014 (headline tour w/ Lyger + Forever Cult + Prom)
TUESDAY 25 MANCHESTER SOUND CONTROL
WEDNESDAY 26 GLASGOW 13th NOTE
SATURDAY 29 LEEDS THE WARDBROBE
SUNDAY 30 STOKE THE UNDERGROUND

DECEMBER 2014 (headline tour cont.)
MONDAY 01 NORWISH EPIC STUDIOS
WEDNESDAY 03 LONDON BLACK HEART
THURSDAY 04 TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM
FRIDAY 05 CARDIFF CLWB IFOR BACH

Allusondrugs are:
Jason Moules (Vocals)
Drey Pavlovic (Guitar)
Damo Hughes (Guitar/Vocals/Effects)
Jemal Malki (Bass)
Connor Fisher-Atack (Drums)

 

 

My Daddy is a Soldier Calendar

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Our hearts nearly melted at Frost when this landed in our inbox. My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures supports the children (Little Troopers) of British Soldiers, both full time and those serving with the Reserves. They aim to build a community where the children and parent at home can support each other, share their experiences and coping mechanisms for long tours.  The charity has also developed unique resources such as the Separation pack; which includes monthly charts that the children use to count down until Mummy or Daddy is home again.

 

We love all of the photos but some of the highlights are:
  • March features little Joshua Hannon, aged 3 celebrating his Dad’s return home from Afghanistan
  • April shows Declan Jones 7 years old, and his Dad Sergeant Mike Jones on parade.
  • June features Reilly James Crowston with his Dad Craftman Michael Crowston.  Reilly was just nine days old and luckily Dad was at home for the birth because he was in special care for five days.
  • The back cover which has 27 shortlisted pictures showing army families from across the globe.

mydaddyisasoldier

This year the Little Troopers calendar will be A4 and include a useful family planner.  The calendars are just £9.99 and can be ordered from the Charity’s website www.mydaddyisasoldieradventures.org. All profits from the calendar will go towards the charity’s work and will help even more Little Troopers next year.

 

 

 

Sky Planters: Hang Your Plants Upside Down | Cool Interior Ideas

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We were bowled over when we saw these amazing planter that let your plants hang upside down. They look bloody awesome. Unique and stylish. Just like the ancient hanging gardens of Babylon, the Sky Planters let your favourite foliage hang from the heavens; they’re safe, stylish and save space on the sill.

Utilising a revolutionary reservoir system to save water, coupled with a sturdy installation kit (included), these upside-down-pots are an intriguing talking point for any nearby nurserymen or horticulturalists who happen by.

The Sky Planters

Choose from three sizes, and transfer your existing pot plants to the Sky Planters with a minimum of fuss. Perfect for home, work or anyone looking for a new perspective on their favourite flowers. 

 

The Sky Planters cost from £14.99 at Firebox.com

 

 

Christmas Gift List For The Woman In Your Life

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The woman in your life can be hard to buy for so we have tried to include a few different suggestions. All are top quality and were fun to review.

christmasgiftsforgirlfriend

100% Natural Australian Jojoba From The Jojoba Company. This is a brilliant multi-tasking product and the bottle is gorgeous. Something of a miracle product, it can be used on skin, nails, hair, lips and hands. They also don’t test on animals and it contains no nasty chemicals. There is already a waiting list so hurry up and get it. £12.99 for 30ml and £19.99 for 85ml from hollandandbarrett.com

English Rose Cosmetics Rose Bath Oil. “Lay back and think of England” it says and what a brilliant idea. This smells amazing, so amazing that I sniffed it for about five minutes when I should have been writing this review. English Rose Cosmetics are a particular favourite of Frost. This bath oil is brilliant, it has sunflower oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil and rose absolute. Buy it for your love and run her the bath too. Oh, and a glass of wine won’t hurt either. Available from www.english-rose-cosmetics.com

The Wild Geese Premium Rum. Check out the bottle! It is amazing! And the diamante covered skull. Sure the skull is a little scary but it is also really cool. If your other half is Irish she can even call herself ‘Wild Geese’. If not, she can just enjoy this intense, bright gold rum with notes of light vanilla, mango and banana whilst oohing at the super cool diamante skull. The Wild Geese Premium Rum £36.99 from selfridges.com

forsaken

Forsaken Perfume From True Blood. Already popular in the US, HBO have brought their Forsaken Perfume to the UK. A tie-in from their popular TV show. This is a one-of-a-kind luxury fragrance. It has an addictive blend of light and dark notes. Pulpy fruits are paired with crisp pear notes and Jasmine. It also has dark muskiness of amber and patchouli. It smells amazing, is especially perfect if she is also a fan of the hit TV show about vampires. £28.99 for 50ml from Tesco.com

Earthzest Organics Beauty Products. Feed Your Face Cleanser smells amazing and really works £25, Toner For Well-Balanced Skin is effective and refreshing, £20, and Flower Power Moisturising Balm, £24, is their best-selling product and is divine. These wonder products have no water, preservatives, synthetics, artificial colours or perfumes. They are just 100% pure concentrated organic goodness. Instead of being full of chemicals these wonder products bring it back to basic. They are so pure they are suitable for everyone, even those with sensitive skin. They are not tested on animals and are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. Because they contain no water a little really goes a long way. They last a long time and make an excellent present. http://www.earthzest.co.uk

 

 

Super Mario Bros, The Original Motion Picture – Movie Review

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Regarded by many to be an all-time cult iconic movie, Super Mario Bros receives its high definition Blu-ray and DVD release on Monday 3rd November thanks to Second Sight.

Originally released in 1993 Super Mario Bros was later nominated for two Saturn Awards (one for Best Costume, the other for Best Make-up). But there are other reasons why this movie has received cult status and why, no matter your age you should purchase this film. Firstly, Super Mario Bros remains the only live action adaptation of a Nintendo video game; a company which celebrated its 125th anniversary this year. Super Mario Bros the game is their iconic title; the very fact that it made it to the big screen demonstrates just how loved these character are. Secondly, it remains one of the last movies where you can see legendary actors such as the late Bob Hoskins alongside John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper all in one film.

If you haven’t seen the film, the story revolves around Brooklyn plumbers Mario and Luigi and how they discover a parallel world populated by the intelligent descendants of dinosaurs. It seems they weren’t destroyed by a meteor millions of years ago, but hurled in to a new dimension and now under leadership of the evil King Koopa have plans to take over the world. These two unlikely yet plucky heroes must battle ‘Goomba’ guards, free the beautiful Princess Daisy and save mankind in what has to be said was an all-out adventure of its time.

Just like the dinosaurs it also has to be said that Super Mario Bros represents a time that land soon forgot. Before the advances of green screen and endless CGI effects (of which this film still has loads) the emphasis was on characterisation, story telling, costly sets and building unique fan bases. Computer Games especially those which involve plumbers, dinosaurs and pipes do not fit into motion picture territory easily. I take my hat off to the script writers who had to juggle the complex nature of the game and weave it into something convincing and understandable for its audience. It’s no wonder that the film differentiates so much from the game and why many of the actors would talk about the endless challenges involved as well as just how much time they had to dedicate to making this film.

The end result though is something that shows its merit and is worth watching both for the nostalgia value but also because it is great fun, there are moments of excitement, there are loveable characters, and frequent nods to the game and the company that inspired it.

Being brought up to date means both discs are filled with loads of bonus features including:

  • ‘This Ain’t No Video Game’ – Brand new 60 minute documentary featuring new interviews with: Co-directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, Producer Roland Joffe, Actors John Leguizamo and Richard Edson, Writer Parker Bennett, Production Designer David Snyder, Art Director Walter Martishius, FX Artists Paul Elliot, Vincent Guastini and Rob Burman, Visual FX Designer Chris Woods, Editor Mark Goldblatt and Creature Designer Patrick Tatopoulos. Archive interviews with Bob Hoskins and Producer Jake Eberts
  • Making Of
  • Original Electronic Press Kit
  • Behind-the-scenes/Storyboard Galleries
  • And of course English subtitles for hard of hearing

Super Mario Bros receives its high definition Blu-ray and DVD release on Monday 3rd November from most retail stockists, pre-order your copy now and check out the trailer below.

 

 

The Best of Tech | Christmas Gift Guide

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For those who you truly love giving the gift of great sound, music or even just a retro Mad Men style telephone is going to make you truly popular indeed. We have been blasting music and making calls galore. Our neighbours probably hate us, or they were dancing away as much as we were. Time will tell. Either way: here is out best of tech.

thebestoftech

Stellé Audio Pillar

£249 / Available from Apple stores and selfridges.com

stellespeakerandcase stelleaudiopillar

The Stellé Audio Pillar was a lot of fun to test. It was very easy to use, had amazing sound and could even be used wirelessly. You can even take calls on it. We have fallen completely in love with it. Just AMAZING. The Stellé Audio Pillar is for those who refuse to compromise style, boasting high-quality sound and fashion a  subwoofer connecting to any Bluetooth enabled device in a 50ft range. With a built-in microphone, users can enjoy handsfree calls and 15 hours of continuous play. The Pillar is currently available in four colours; Hi Gloss White, Brushed Aluminium, Matte Black and Pewter.

Stelle Audio Brushed Aluminium Audio Pillar Bluetooth Speakers

 

Stellé Audio Couture Pillar Carriers in Leather and Suede

£99 / Available from Stelleaudio.com

Stellé Audio Couture DwellStudio Pillar

Great for carrying around this amazing speaker. Effortlessly stylish. Available in four styles, black and white python, black and midnight blue cross hatch and Pantone’s new Colour of the Year, radiant orchid, these bags have been designed to securely transport the elegant Audio Pillar.

Libratone Loop 

£399 / Johnlewis.com and on Apple Online

speakerreview libratoneloop

The sound on this unique and beautiful speaker is amazing. It is also wireless and has a lot of connectivity options. Some of us found it hard initially to connect it wirelessly and some of us also had technology that was too advanced. It is still brilliant, has amazing sound and is perfect for people who are not as inept technically as some of us are.

Create the perfect Christmas soundtrack with the Libratone Loop. It’s not only a powerful sound source, equipped with Libratone’s signature FullRoom™ technology and numerous connectivity options including DLNA, PlayDirect™ and Apple’s Airplay, it also really stands out, whether mounted on the wall or free standing thanks to its svelte cylindrical design. The Loop comes in three colours – pepper black, salt grey and raspberry red.

 

View Quest ColourGen Retro Radio

￡59.99 / Available from viewquest.co.uk

viewquestretro viewquest

We love this radio. Retro is very much in at the moment. That doesn’t mean there is any compromise on sound or quality however. It has the best of both worlds. The much-loved Retro radio is now available in a smaller and more compact form. Offering both DAB and Bluetooth functionality this radio is sure to put a smile on the face of any loved one. 

 

View Quest Emma Bridgewater Black Toast radio 

Available from Apple for ￡129 

emmebridgewater

There is also this unique one from Emma Bridgewater: With an in-vogue vintage look, the Emma Bridgewater Black Toast Retro radio features all the latest technology and functionality for unbeaten audio quality.

pureevoke evokepureradio

Pure Evoke D2 Digital Radio

Also retro and very cute. Is small and portable along with great sound. Has Bluetooth which enables wireless music streaming both inside and outside the home. Is ideal for small spaces. Equipped with kitchen timers and alarm function. Additional features include an aux input for iPod/iPhone and the option to purchase a chargePAK for portability.

Pure Evoke D2 Portable DAB/FM Radio is available here.

leitzspeaker letizportablebluetoothspeaker

 Leitz Complete Professional Bluetooth Stereo Speaker £134.91 Via Amazon.co.uk

This stereo speaker is absolutely gorgeous. Just slick and glamorous. It allows you to listen to music anytime, anywhere via wireless Bluetooth technology. The sound is crystal clear and the adjustable base and treble give perfect sound From Amazon.

retrotelephone

GPO Classic Rotary Telephone

We are completely obsessed with this phone. The fact we have been watching Mad Men has not helped. It is just so freakin’ cool. This is a wonderful blend of modern tech and retro inspired design that runs through the GPO brand. Sometimes when you can have just about anything, stylish and retro is best. It even has the proper traditional rotary dial up. Each of the products is stocked in GPO’s online store but also NotontheHighStreet.com, Tesco.com, Amazon.co.uk and Very.co.uk so plenty of choice.

GPO 746 Rotary in red is available here.

 

What is your favourite?