Online Lonely-ness

Update: Just had word that this site will in fact now be a web site for the overall Lonely Hearts brand. Still launching on March 1...

Those lovely, not-so-lonely people at Lonely Hearts are planning an online store for their range of lingerie Lonely - to be launched on March 1. In this day and age when women tend to know their size and shape shopping for underwear on the internet seems like a smart option. The online store will only sell Lonely by Lonely Hearts.

Image:

Photographer: Karen Inderbitzen-Waller
Styling: Karen Inderbitzen-Waller
Model: Corrina @ August Models
Make-up: Margo Regan
Hair: Matt Bens @ Stephen Marr

DEDICATION TO GREAT HAIR

CLEARLY I'M INTO LIGHTER LOCKS AT THE MOMENT

August's next top model #4 - Stevie

When Rachael met Stevie prior to this shoot she learnt that Stevie thinks outside the square, loves animals and is a passionate horsewoman. We also think she's a natural New Zealand beauty...

Photography: Stephen Tilley

Fashion: Rachael Churchward

Hair & make-up: Stefan Knight

Dress by Lonely Hearts, necklace by Wunderkammer

Happy With Larry - Five great Larry Levan remixes

Lately we've reactivated a long-held obsession with the work of the great Larry Levan, the DJ at the helm of one of the world's great clubs Paradise Garage, and found it to be the perfect musical accompaniment to the sublime summer days currently engulfing Auckland. Levan was so influential and so unique in his production and remixing skills that his music continues to excite and influence many of today's electronic producers: Chromeo, Hercules & Love Affair and Junior Boys among others. The recent remix of Hercules & Love Affair's Blind by Levan contemporary Frankie Knuckles is so resonant of the sound of the time it could well be time for a revival. Here's five of our favourite Larry Levan remixes:

1. Walking On Sunshine (Larry Levan mix) - Rockers Revenge

This tune, produced by the legendary Arthur Baker (above) and written by Eddy Grant was a clear cut crossover tune between the Paradise Garage and the breakbeat/electro explosion of the time. Levan's version features his trademark congas, rolling bass and a swell treatment of singer Donnie Galvin's uplifting vocal.

2. Tearin It Up (Larry Levan Garage House Vocal mix) - Chaka Khan

Beginning with a pastiche of electro bass and choppy garage gat, Tearin It Up soon falls deeply into the super diva soul machinations of the great Chaka Khan who presents, in one song, the full range of her sassy, sublime and undeniably powerful voice. Divas all over the world (and in Aotearoa the likes of Annie Crummer and Betty Ann Monga) would have considered this a template. Levan moves the whole shebang along at a rate of knots making this a huge dancefloor hit. Fierce in the truest sense...

3. Is It All Over My Face (Female Vocal) - Loose Joints

This tune is one of the club's all time greats. Loose Joints was ostensibly Arthur Baker and Steve d'Aquisto but also featured rhythmic input from the Ingram Brothers and Levan himself. Vocalist Melvina Woods wrote the words: "Is it all over my face, you've got me luv dancing" which was appropriated years later by Strictly Rhythm outfit Underground Solution and Jasmine. The tune has been remixed many times but is most perfectly remixed in this version by Levan.

4. At Midnight (Larry Levan Remix) - T-Connection

This tune had been a big late seventies disco hit for T-Connection but Levan adds something special with his rolling garage affectation that starts with a percussion jam, erupts into the tune's legendary horns, disco guitar and strings and ends with a section that simply goes boi-yoi-ying. Activate your boogie shoes!

5. Stand On The Word (unreleased Larry Levan mix) - Celestial Choir

Recorded at the First Baptist Church, Crown Heights, New York in 1982, this exemplary mix of a gospel tune by Levan lay largely hidden for many years until recently rereleased and re-invented with a quality pressing. Somehow this perfectly represents the celebratory ethic of Larry Levan as well as any tune.

Burberry to stream show in 3D

In keeping with the explosion of interest in all things 3D, set off by James Cameron's phenomenal Avatar, fashion industry giant Burberry have announced that their upcoming London Fashion Week show will be streamed live in 3D to venues in New York, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo and Los Angeles. Whilst this is of little comfort to Antipodean Burberry fans it does initiate the concept of a global live show, multiple events around the globe seeing the show at the same time. Interesting to see that one of the world's oldest fashion houses (est. 1856) is the first to implement the technology - in partnership with Sky Television. The good news for local fans is that the same show which takes place at 4pm GMT, Feb 23 at the Chelsea College of Art will also be streamed in 2D at live.burberry.com.

Paradise Brothers Return

On Monday Bristol's favourite sons Massive Attack will release their fifth album Heligoland. Since 1991's Blue Lines announced the arrival of trip-hop, and to a greater degree downbeat, Massive Attack have consistently delivered music to soothe, groove and move their ever-increasing raft of fans - although it can be a while between albums. Whilst Blue Lines is considered by many to be one of the greatest, or at least most influential albums of all time, the albums to follow that masterpiece; Protection and Mezzanine were simply considered great albums. 2003's The 100th Window suggested the band were on a natural slope toward er, maturity... so the fact that Heligoland is arriving on Monday with an advance guard bass flutter of approval from the global hacks that have been lucky enough to hear it, suggests a return to form.

The first single from the album features the utterly unique voice of Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Starr fame. Entitled Paradise Circus, it's a sultry tune that falls sweetly into Protection territory. Sandoval in her stoned and husky drawl sounds like she has climbed inside the song and is having a wee lie down, and as usual there's oodles of space between the bass. Fittingly, for a band who featured an erotic dancer's routine to accompany Be Thankful For What You've Got the new single is accompanied by a video which is even more likely to NOT get played on mainstream TV. Directed by Toby Dye it's a video classic that is inter cut with an interview with Georgina Spelving, star of The Devil In Miss Jones - one of the seventies most famous skin flicks. A contemporary Georgina talks to camera about the film over excerpts from the film itself, and it's perfect meld of music and image. It won't be seen on TV too often so here it is at Massive Attack's blog - and they recommend it is for over 18s only.

Roll on Monday.

Girls Will Be Girls

Our guest on the weekend, 3 year-old Kingston, is living proof that three is the age when many girls begin what may become a lifelong affair with the things that girls tend to love; lipstick, handbags, clothes and yes, shoes. So after a bit of a lipstick session in front of the big mirror it was off for a tromp around the house in some of Rachael's favourite heels which ended here on the couch. Kingston wears balloon heels by Bernhard. Rachael wears snakeskin heels by Georgina Goodman.