I just realized that two of my favorites songs this time of year are all about seeing and not seeing.

The first, "Blind", is by Hercules and Love Affairs, a Brooklyn band that was found by an exe-boyfriend of a good friend of mine. Andy Butler (I adore that name, despite what the Guardian says about it <"Andy's releasing the whole thing under the name Hercules and Love Affair, which is a much more exciting name than Andy Butler Who You Might Know As A Disco DJ From New York Plus An Assorted Cast Of Extras Including Antony Hegarty From Antony And The Johnsons.">) just made one of the first surprises of dancemusic in 2008. "Blind" is a sad dance track. And it's so beautiful.



The Second, "Made in the Dark", is by Hot Chip, and as beautiful as it is sad, it also reminds me that the world began in the dark, just like the fucking-stupid-earth-hour-today. The album ("Made in the Dark") is a little gem too.

Cabinet of Scents

Can you imagine what "was inspired by the spices and woods that passed through the trade route, linking India to Egypt" and that a "prized Indian ebony is added to resinous guaiac hardwood at the base, while a healthy dose of spice comprises the opening."? My favorite scent by Comme des Garcons Series 3: Incense.

According to the New Yorker's review of two new books, "a taste or a smell can pass you by, unremarked or nearly so, in large part because you don’t have a word for it; then you see the thing and grasp the meaning of a word at the same time, and both your palate and your vocabulary have expanded". John Lanchester says that "to understand perfume, science is a good place to start, since it’s with the nineteenth-century discovery of synthetic fragrances that modern perfumes began." But his enthusiasm lies in the human experience and language, and it's fun to read more scent's descriptions that evoke the "beast prowling the streets, a strange molecule with the feel of a light, volatile top note and the power and tenacity of the most powerful drydown materials." (about Viktor & Rolf's Antidote). I wonder what the new scent by Margiela smells like (due Fall 2009) , especially after Women's Wear Daily reports that "Given Martin Margiela's conceptual bent, one could imagine him putting out a perfume without any scent — or even an empty bottle".

Therapy Cabinet

The New York Times explores today the interesting subject of design and therapy in its "Home and garden" section. What do therapists think about when they decorate an office? what do patients feel about their therapist's clinics? and above all, what if the chairs could talk and tell us what they think about both...

The article fails to talk about Freud and his office, but thanks to Robert Longo's The Freud Drawings, we can have a look at the place where psychoanalysis was first sitted.

Trends Cabinet

Gridskipper, my favorite travel guide blog, reports about a new trend called Tecktonik: A dance craze among French teenagers roving through the capital and engaging in public danceoffs. It all started with a teen named Jey-Jey who films himself dancing in the garage. You can tell the rest of teh story: YouTube page, millions of viewers, and the beginning of hysteria. Now they come in teams and websites full of DIY videos, battles between teams, lifestyle agenda and - as usual in our little commercial village - a registered trademark. Available everywhere: a wide range of official products, including clothing, CDs, and energy drinks.

Fashion Cabinet

Tony Ventresca from filmnoirbuff writes about the “Updated American” suit and jacket silhouette. Ventresca gives a comprehensive and insightful view on men's fashion and the history of the American suit, and uses a lot of exmaples and source material when writing about his subject. So dress up and read. It's good.