Track of the Week: Julio Bashmore

This week's track is another I discovered courtesy of the Southport Weekender I attended earlier this month. Absolutely loved it at the time but had no idea what the track was.

Now usually I use the app Shazam as a useful tool to help me ID tracks quickly when I'm out or in the car to save the embarrassment of me trying to hum or attempt to beat box them to other people.

Unfortunately at the time nothing came up for this track so I recorded a sound clip in my boyfriend's phone.  Bless him for later managing to find out what this badboy was! I absolutely love how many layers there are to this track but yet it still has a raw edge to it - with a great melody, deep bass and groove... each time I listen to it I think I hear a new sound and like something different about it.

This gem comes from Julio Bashmore (a name I've mentioned many a time before) and is the first release on his new label, Broadwalk Records, out on 2nd July. For those of you interested, the title 'Au Seve' means 'The Sap'...

I'm predicting this is going to be one of this summer's big tracks and hoping to hear it when I'm in Ibiza in two weeks!

Enjoy!



Lindsey

There's no such thing as a size 9...

One of life's most annoying clothes shopping dilemmas as a woman... one size is too small, the next size is too big...

I was unfortunately in that position today when I found the most amazing dress in Karen Millen. I'd won a £100 voucher recently in an in-store competition and wanted to put it to good use when I discovered clothing perfection. The 60's metallic shift dress...

When I saw this dress I instantly fell in love, I knew this would be a classic dress that would be a keeper for years to come. The fabric, cut and quality are all incredible - this dress is made to enhance all the best features of a women - nipped in waist, legs and bust! But I fell foul of the age old dilemma, a size 10 was slightly too big which rendered the dress ill fitting and not worthy of the £175 price tag, whilst the size 8 looked absolutely fabulous but was the sort of dress I could barely go out for cocktails in let alone sit down and eat a meal.

After strutting around the changing room for 5 minutes whilst barely breathing I realised I'd actually been holding my breath and forcing finishing school posture for the duration. Sadly I had to kiss goodbye to this beautiful piece for the curse that is being between sizes.

Asda announced back in 2009 that they were the first retailer to produce jeans in mid-sizes 11, 13 and 15 solving the problem to one of the most difficult clothes shopping missions for women. Although being the 21st century I'm still stumped as to why there's no such thing as a size 9 across all shops and items, the fact that the fashion industry still produces clothes on a 2-size scale seems deeply old fashioned!

Have you experienced the same problem?

Lindsey

Track of the Week - Isaac Christopher

I'm so excited to share this Track of the Week... stumbled across it yesterday thanks to following a chain of tweets, I love it when you find a gem like this!

This track comes from Isaac Christopher, the latest signing to Kerri Chandler's label Madhouse Records - a stamp of quality I'd like to think. If that isn't enough, he's been getting massive support from Numbers producer and latest Radio 1 In New DJ's We Trust signing, Mosca.

The Shake That EP is out on May 28th exclusively on Traxsource, and my favourite is the title track, the original mix... If you liked NY Stomp - The NY House Track, you'll love this one.

Its bouncy, bass heavy and its got that catchy vocal loop that any regular readers will know that I can't get enough of in a track!

Introducing Shake That...

Would love to know what you think of this one?

Lindsey

Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick 01

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I'm a bit boring when it comes to lipsticks and that I'm definitely more of a gloss girl. I've been meaning to brave a classic red lip for a while but hadn't found one that I felt suited me until I discovered the Kate Moss Lipstick for Rimmel.

I decided to try the lipstick in shade 01 which is a creamy rich red and there are six other shades to choose from including shocking pink and nude. It glides on really easily - the arm and lip swatch above are with one regular application however you can definitely build up the colour by applying layers to get a really bold colour like in the advert at the top.

The lipstick is scented with a cherry flavour which some people may not like but I don't actually mind it and comes in a classic packaging which makes the product feel great quality for the price - only £3.99 in Boots.

The lipstick was really long lasting and I found it did act as a kind of stain on my lips although maybe this is because of the deep red - I would need to try another colour to confirm if every colour had this effect.

Overall I really like the feel of this lipstick as well as the tone of red. I'm currently enjoying wearing it with a clear gloss over the top - I'm on a night out in the picture below wearing it with Neal's Yeard Remedies lip gloss in Natural (review coming soon!)

Have you tried the Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick range?

Lindsey

Weekend Hot Mix: Louie Vega Hard Times 1993

I'm going back to the old school with this one to celebrate the relaunch of legendary Leeds night Hard Times which kicks off back at the Warehouse with David Morales on 3rd June.


Hard Times has shared two sets, the first from Todd Terry at the Music Factory in 1994 and this absolute belter from  Masters at Work genius Louie Vega who played in Mirfield (a tiny area of Leeds) in 1993!


Ok so I was only 9 at the time but I can still appreciate this set that's dusted with some true classics. I can only imagine being there on the night!

Enjoy and have a good weekend! (Be patient as it takes a few minutes to load)





Lindsey

Track of the Week - Tanzlife

Well what can I say? Southport Weekender 48 was absolutely incredible... from start to finish 2 days and 3 nights of the best house, soul and live music surrounded by the nicest friendliest clubbers I've ever met. Plus the sun shined in Minehead all weekend!

Highlights of the weekend from me were sets from Julio Bashmore and Andre Lodeman in the Beat Bar on Friday night. Especially hearing Andre Lodeman play his mix of Liquideep - Feel It which was earmarked for a track of the week recently but never got posted due to illness/being busy/laziness. You can't imagine how great this sounds on a loud soundsystem!



However, set of the weekend had to be from Rainer Truby who smashed it in the Beat Bar on Saturday night. The DJ was introduced to me and my boyfriend at the Suncebeat Festival last summer (Southport Weekender's sister festival in Croatia) by some music loving friends but we missed out on seeing him.
So glad we made sure to catch him this time round as his balance of deep house, melodic instrumentals and catchy vocals made for a perfect set. The crowd loved him and there was clearly a lot of fans in the room judging by the reaction when he dropped his latest tune, Horse with No Name.

Without a doubt my favourite track played by Rainer and from the whole weekend, and my Track of the Week is Tanzlife - Heart Attack. I challenge you to keep still to this one!



Would love to know what you think of these tracks?

Lindsey

Weekend Hot Mix - Road to Southport

For those of you that love soulful house, you'll know that this weekend is the one unmissable event of the year, the Southport Weekender.

For those of you that have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, I'm referring to what can only be described as an institution, celebrating its 25th year this year. Weekender number 48 kicks off tomorrow, although no longer held in Southport (since Pontins went bust), the event will see 6,500 people descend on Minehead all sharing one thing in common; a passion for the finest quality soul and house music.

With a line up that includes legends that are Frankie Knuckles, Kerri Chandler, Derrick Carter and Dave Morales to newer talents Julio Bashmore and Andre Lodeman and featuring live vocals from Patrice Rushen, Jil Scott and Kenny Bobien... there truly is something on offer for everyone.

Still not convinced? Here's a two hour mix that my lovely mate Danny Kwang put together in the build up to the weekender... free to download as usual...



Would love to know what you think of the mix?

Lindsey

Vidal Sassoon

Today the beauty industry is in mourning, as Vidal Sassoon, the British born hair stylist that revolutionised the hair industry died at the age of 84.

Most well known for his angular and geometric lines and for creating the bob haircut in the 1960's, he is also credited with freeing women from the shackles of back combed, hairsprayed, over-coiffed styles of the 50's with his so called "wash and wear" looks that became so important as women began to enter the world of work.

After my hairdresser of 8 years went on maternity leave last year and a couple of bad cuts, I walked into Vidal Sassoon Leeds salon, purely on the basis of it being a well known brand - and not wanting 3 hair cuts like I'd get in Toni and Guy.

I opted for a cut with a stylist at the cheaper end of the spectrum at £53 and was converted as soon as I'd had the consultation.

I really bought into the philosophy of how they cut hair and how differently they viewed styling to hairdressers I'd used previously. My stylist Lee explained that they never dried hair using a round brush to pull it straight, kept use of straighteners to a minimum and wanted to create haircuts that worked with the natural movement of the hair meaning that they require as little effort as possible for women to recreate at home.

Having only learned more detail about Vidal Sassoon since the news of his death broke in the last 24 hours, I'm amazed that his overarching principles of hair cutting and styling still ring true right throughout the business. 

If it was refreshing for me to hear this in the 21st century, it's easy to understand how Vidal Sassoon changed the industry and became such an iconic and inspirational figure.

Lindsey