Inspiration is a rare commodity.

About a month ago, I first stumbled upon the blog of Akiko Matsuura. It consumed the best part of my day.

Akika is in no less than THREE good bands. All of which you should know about.

THE BIG PINK is the name you are most likely to have heard already. It’s been making the rounds on the blogs for a while.Their MySpace looks like a ‘best of’ of my desktop screensavers.

See the pic above, or, for example: these Kenneth Anger screenshots.

This is my favourite THE BIG PINK track: ‘Velvet’.

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The Big Pink is playing (a.o.) at Glastonbury, T in the Park and Pukkelpop. I’ll be the one at the Pukkelpop gig looking all intense and understanding in the front row. Akiko will be the girl on drums.

Next up on Miss Matsuura’s list:  PRE

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They’ve been described as “Ren and Stimpy, playing Black Flag.” Which is close enough. Their Debut album has just been released. It’s called “Hope Freaks” and has been produced by Steve Albini (he of Shellac, and producer of Pixies, Nirvana, Will Oldham, etc.)

This is Akiko with Nathan (The Gossip) and Cassetteplaya at the “Hope Freaks” release party, which was also the release party for a little thing called “Music For Men”, the New Gossip album.  Akiko and Nathan are BFF’s.

Kate Moross and Jack Penate at that very same party. Love Jack’s Michael Jackson shirt. He and Akiko are also BFF’s.

Proof:

Here they are making sushi together.

Back to The Gossip. They are by all standards a huge fucking global phenomenon right now. They are also very nice people.

Proof:

Here’s The Gossip picking Akiko up in a cab to cheer her up when she had the blues:

Here they are giving free hugs in their hotel room:

And here they are ordering every kind of food & booze you like from room service at 4 AM.

Hands up who wants to be friends with The Gossip, toooooooo!

Last band on the list: COMANECHI

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With songs like “My pussy” and choruses like “Don’t touch me, I am disgusting”, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll hear this on your local radio. You can, however see them live soon, as they are supporting the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Europe.

This is the studio of Nova, who are designing Akiko’s stage outfit.

Quote: “She measured my height and everything, check out how midget I am! the tallest one is Jamie Raynolds from Klaxons on the top! 6.6ft.”

Follow Akiko on her blog: “Exceedingly Good Keex“. In between hanging out with her friends and playing in three ‘bands to watch’; Akiko also does things like:

posing for Richard Kern.

Getting fake tattoos from Farris Badwan (The Horrors)

and Much Much More.

Fun, but not always safe to look at.

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I don’t know why everyone is bitching about the new Gossip album. It’s pretty much like every other Gossip album: solid effort with three unforgettable tracks and lots of OK stuff that’s going to sound awesome live. This is their new video for “Heavy Cross”.

“Miranda Kerr, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Daisy Lowe, Catherine McNeil, Lily Cole, Eniko Mihalik, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Gracie C, Marloes Horst, Ana Beatriz Barros and Georgina Stojilkovic naked for Terry Richardson.”

(Via Pedestrian TV)

There’s topless pictures and there’s ‘Terry Topless’ pictures. Thank you Pirelli for choosing the latter for your 2010 calendar.

Here’s a good soundtrack to the thoughts you’re having:

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L-Vis 1990 “Come Together”

A bit more subtle:

If this won’t get you excited, nothing will… This is what it’s like to be on the back of a moped with Fafi, scooting through Paris in the summertime. Pic by Leah from MOB (as seen in rear view mirror).

Tongue action on the Klaxons’ blog: Klaxon/Klaxoff. (Where ARE you guys?)

Triple tongue action with Jeremy Scott for Adidas Originals.

Vintage designer prOn with 70′s & 80′s & 90′s Coke cans.

Leather action with the Nike AM 1 Premium Chien-Ming Wang (Europeans: he’s a Yankees player). The Nike baseball high tops are still my favourite sneakers of all time. Look at those stitches! No word on a European release date.

(via Freshness)

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Ageing hipster prOn:  the Pixies Minotaur box set, curated by Vaughan Oliver, who did all of the Pixies’ cover art.

Come on pilgrim, you know you want this..

More great cover art:

Moderat cover. WHAM! Moderat is a collabo between Apparat and Modeselektor. Good stuff.

Let’s end with some tunes:

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Animal Collective: Summertime Clothes (official video) feat. FLEX crew.

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Awesome Color: Eyes of Light.

Just a reminder: I’m posting vids like these all the time on our TUMBLR site.

Peace outtie!

I know for a fact that’s Rick Rubin she’s talking to…

And do you know what they were talking about?

Beth Ditto, lovely creature and voice of a braver & newer world opened up Alexander McQueen’s store in L.A.

Everything looks good on her.

Remember J-Lo in that Versace dress? getthafuckouttahere!

Beth to Rick (referring to her butterfly McQueen dress):  “You should get one of these, you need one of these!”

Rick to Beth: “I know, I know. I’ve already got one!

Thank you Miss Delinlee Delovely (one time)

Thank you Miss Delinlee Delovely (two times)

… for posting these pics and talking about this iconic moment in Rock/Pop/Fashion (it’s all the same) history.

Man, this is by far my favourite mixtape of the year (only the Rakkas live @ fabric are a serious contender). It’s a collabo between DJ giants Catchdubs & Ayres, of ‘The Rub‘ fame. It’s been sitting in my iPod for a few days, but I figured it would be the perfect soundtrack to setting fire to your desk this friday. WOOSH!

Tracklist after the jump. (Opening number is one of my all-time favourites: Gary Numan “M.E.”)

Gary Numan – M.E.
Depeche Mode – Policy of Truth
Squeeze – Take Me I’m Yours
Partial Arts – Trauermusic (Alter Ego Mix)
Kaos – My Reputation
The Cardigans – Love Fool (Catchdubs Bongo Edit)
The Gossip – Standing in the Way of Control (Soulwax Remix)
Speaker Junk – Foxy Lady
Adam Kesher – Modern Times (908 Remix)
Wolf & Cub – Thousand Cuts (Phones Remix)
Metric – Handshakes
Tones On Tail – Go
The Kills – Love Is a Deserter (Cavemen Mix)
Pixies – Alec Eiffel
Devo – Mongoloid
The Clash – Jail Guitar Doors
The Presets – Are You The One (Van She Tech NYC Rush Mix)
!!! – All My Heroes Are Weirdos
Snowden – Kill The Power
Maximum Joy – Stretch (99 Records Version)
Pyschonauts – Hot Blood
Harry Knuckles – Blisster
Intriga – Nostalgia Dance Orchestra
INXS – Original Sin
Psychedelic Furs – Love My Way
Hot Chip – Colours (Fred Falke Remix)
Robert Lippok & Barbara Morgenstern – Please Wake Me For Meals