15 minute LORN mix on the Brainfeeder website from Mary Anne Hobbs show on BBC Radio 1.

DOWNLOAD MIX HERE

I read in the papers on the weekend that Microsoft were teaming up with Family Guy to create a one-off “Almost Live Comedy Show” special to promote the new Windows 7. It’s now Tuesday and I’ve just read on Variety that the deal is off over ‘content concerns’; content that included typical “Family Guy”-style jokes, including riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest.

“We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of ‘Family Guy,’ but after reviewing an early version of the variety show, it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand,” said a Microsoft spokeswoman.

Umm.. just what exactly were they expecting in the first place??

and Om’Mas Keith for their ghettotech-meets-space-invaders piece of genius that is ‘wind it up’. I’m about 3 months behind the times – apparently it was released on 20th July this year on hyperdub, but nonetheless, i found it and now I love!

in other Mark Pritchard news, seems he’ll be a regular feature at the lovely Lorna Clarkson’s new sunday afternoon shindig in sydney – b-side @ the beresford.  sounds like my perfect sunday afternoon – a bunch of talented music peeps dusting off those weird and wonderful records that don’t get an airing at the discos they usually play about town. here’s hoping they’ve got one scheduled when I visit Sydney later this year!

b-sides @ the Beresford

and for those who won’t be enjoying the oz summer like me, console yourself with other mark pritchard tunes/mixes, most under his harmonic 313 guise, on my new favorite music blog – rcrd lbl.

so Frieze was lovely! in between keeping tally of men in corduroy trousers and chanel bags (27 and 7, respectively) we actually did look at some great art.

the standout populist artist was the German photographer (oh, i how i have a soft spot for thee germans!) Andreas Gursky. his photos are massive and appeal to my inner OCDish love of repetition in real life. London’s White Cube gallery had a massive print of the Kuwait Stock Exchange. it’s all black, white and red and quite fabulous to look at.

Gursky - Kuwait Stock Exchange

and then, lesser known (to me, at least) were the drawings of Marcel Dzama. I personally tend to like illustrations and photos over any other kind of art, and Dzama’s drawings are brilliant – sweet but sinister characters, otherworldly scenes and all with a cheeky sense of humor. there were a bunch of his editions available at the Timothy Taylor Gallery stall, and I want!

Marcel Dzama

Marcel Dzama

Marcel Dzama

One Saturday morning a few weeks ago there was an unexpected knock on the door of the GF… two minutes later Katie walked into the kitchen with this box of Lola’s cupcakes. Our gorgeous friend Jordana from Melbourne had organised a delivery for our birthdays… how cool is that!

We’ve been loyal to the Primrose Bakery cupcakes since moving to London, but these were outstanding and a serious contender to our local cupcake baker loyalty. They were pretty to look at, we had a variety of flavours  – chocolate on chocolate, lemon, carrot, strawberry cream and so on.. too good!

On another food note, a few weeks later I had friends over for b’day celebrations and we enjoyed pizza from Marine Ices (the ‘Roundhouse for about 9 quid is the GF favorite) and Lanson champagne… except for the torrential downpour of rain the night couldn’t have been more lovely!