BNTL

Jura

@nick1lewis1 — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:33:44 +0000

I was fortunate enough to be taken to a far flung place recently. Described by George Orwell as the most difficult place in the World to get to, the location for where he would write 1984. I imagined the West Coast of Scotland to be brutally wild, miserably wet, dreary and if entirely honest a little bit more akin to Game of Thrones. What would unfold would be a trip full of surprises in one of the most stunning places you’re ever likely to find. Seas as clear and as blue as the Caribbean albeit colder. Shores with talc white sand, Paps rich in colour with Viking standing stones adding to the mysticism of the place.

Invited by Jura Whisky, the first stop ahead of the Island was to Whyte Mackay’s head office in Glasgow to meet Richard Paterson master blender. A character who wanted to sort the whisky drinkers from the “Pussies” as he gave us a brief history of the famed Scotch, sorting the malts from the blends, providing pretty much everything you’d need to know in 30 odd minutes on Whisky. A character to say the least, with a nose insured to similar value as Beck’s right foot in his pomp. Jura whisky is for someone who doesn’t really count themselves as a Scotch drinker is particularly palatable. I normally drink Irish Whiskies finding them smoother and less harsh but newly educated and a fair few drams later can appreciate more than a drop. It’s pretty impressive the level of care and attention put into booze. They source the best barrels from Bourbon makers in the States and also Sherry amongst others from southern Europe. Whisky draws out the flavours in the woods and when knowing what you’re looking for become very flavoursome and palatable.

Having been brought up to speed in the boardroom, we ventured west to Islay by plane and then by ferry to Jura to drink drams on the dock and enjoy a lodge which can be rented for a meer two grand a night. It’s a pretty special journey from London to an Island once on the verge of ruin as its population fled. First to the New World then probably to Glasgow in search of more prosperous times and lest isolated punishable climes. The distillery shut and was left with a half built roof for a number of years until the land owners of Jura got together to save the distillery and inject some life back into the Island. In 1963 they re-open and began distilling Whisky in large, beautifully golden copper stills. You couldn’t find a more difficult and inconvenient location to make and distribute booze from but a special place nonetheless which adds to the experience.

Albeit an arduous place to get to, its Paps usher you on and the natural beauty of the place makes it worth while. The seas surrounded the place were as flat as an iced over lake, but looming about 45 minutes boat journey is on appearance a tame vortex if there ever was one. When the sea gets rough this vortex has sunken a few ships and quite mesmerising on a flat and sunny day. Truly amazing Island, with some of the most hospitable people you could come across. If you fancy a trip, why not head out for the Whisky Festival in a couple of weeks.

Thanks to Jura for inviting us out to their lodge and experience the place.

Follow Jura Whisky on Twitter HERE

Jela – Wil Robson-Scott

@ollie_danger — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:59:11 +0000

Probably one of my favourite films from Wil Robson-Scott. Meet Jela…

This film follows Jela, brought up in the heart of the East End of London in a Turkish and English family. He talks about his memories of growing up in the 80s and 90s and his time on the streets and on football terraces.

Jela from Will Robson-Scott on Vimeo.

KTZ SS 13 MENSWEAR

@Petra_Bender — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:44:22 +0000

KTZ SS 13 MENSWEAR from KTZ on Vimeo.

MARAWA THE AMAZING´S / HOOP FIGHTER II

@Petra_Bender — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:44:16 +0000

Soul Provider Volume 3

@misterlego — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:04:51 +0000

Tonight make sure your at Soul Provider tonight. Pump the lead up mix tape in the office today.

DJ BASIS – Soul Provider Volume 3 (2013) by Dj Basis on Mixcloud

adidas by Stella McCartney – SS13

@SabinaRosander — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:47:43 +0000

Stream – CX KIDTRONIK feat. Lady Miss Kier & Ladybug Mecca ‘LADY’S KRAK P.S.A.’

@SabinaRosander — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:30:04 +0000

I love CX KIDTRONIK. This is sick!

INSIGHT: ODESSA + IMPEY

@TIMZEDBNTL — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:38:02 +0000

The second installemt of the TIMZED AND CHUMS interview series.

#2 - The trapped out sub bass soldiers – Odessa + Impey

Tommy Impey

O-Dessa

Where are you living these days?

T: A small town in the South East called Hemel Hempstead.

R: At the moment I am residing in Brighton on the south coast of England.

Describe the music you play right now? Has it changed much over the past year or so?

T: The best way to describe the material I’m playing would be a mix of Hip Hop & Grime, from one end of the spectrum to the other. I’d say it’s changed quite a bit over the last year as I’m playing a lot more of my own material than I used to.

R: Our sets vary on the place we are playing, but I’d say we like to cover all tempo’s. I don’t restrict my selection to music type. If I’m feeling a tune I’ll run it.

Name a couple tracks that you’ve been regularly play in your set’s this year?

T: ‘Bleepz’ by Myself & O-Dessa

R: ‘Saturday’ by RudeKid

What was the first tune of the last set you played?

T: A few gins in at this point.. an Ironsoul tune maybe?

R: Yeah either Ironsoul or S-X. I was faded..

What you got going on right now?

T: Just building up a solid artillery of tunes at the minute, got a few exciting things happening here and there but you’ll just have to wait and see.

R: As Tommy mentioned, we’ve been working on music together for a while now so just getting material together. Aside from production we been getting the bookings in as well, got a European tour planned for summer hang tight Richard our Flemish Don.

Aside from music, what is essential to a good party?

T: Bombay & Good people

R: Good crowd, weighty system, weed and drinks.

What was the best party you’ve ever been to, and why?

T: O-Dessa & Myself recently went out to play in Ghent, Belgium which was live. Mad nice people, beautiful architecture, live crowd, steak dinner. Couldn’t ask for more really.

R: Yeah shout out the Belgium gang, they looked after us good! For me probably the Palace party when they launched the collaboration they did with Umbro. That shit got tidal.

Drink of choice?

T: Bombay Sapphire & Rubicon Mango

R: AMEN

One percy party selection:

T: Hmm, would have to be Jill Scott – Golden..

R: I’ve got too many percy’s but for the moment Tweet ft. Puff and The Hoodfellaz – Call me Bad Boy Remix. Hang tight AC on this one.

Facebook Event Page

Locals Do It Better – FRIDAY

@ollie_danger — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:15:20 +0000

Locals Do It Better is one of the finest new nights coming out of South London. It’s not too late to jump on the ride with their third instalment taking place this Friday. Holdtight my homiest of homegirls Zezi…

7 Days With – Andy Of Never Second

@misterlego — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:11:02 +0000

The latest person to take hold of the BNTL 7 days With feature is, Andy Freshney co-owner of new uk brand Never Second. Check out his past 7 days below.

Friday : This morning the new Never Second 5 panel camp caps arrived. This meant we needed to sort out product shots in the studio for press, websites, blogs etc.

Saturday: After a hectic couple of weeks of moving offices and launching the brand I decided to take a couple of hours break and just relax with a few books and mags and no computer!

Sunday: Today I headed down to Southbank to give my support, https://www.facebook.com/SaveSouthbank

Monday: Caught up with Matt, the Never Second designer, to discuss some ideas for next season and to see some previews of the next collection.

Tuesday: Today we started to decorate the new office and I thought these Adam Neate decks that he hand painted for Clown Skateboards back in 2004/5 looked great on our staircase.

Wednesday: Caught up with Jamal Peace today who is editing our video look book, he showed me the first edit so he could get some feedback and discuss some ideas.

Thursday: UK Hip-Hop legend Daddy Skitz popped by the office today for a catch up and to check out the new clothing.