MAG: THE XX CHRISTMAS LIVE LOUNGE

The xx paid a visit to BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge yesterday morning. I missed it live but it's been talked about enough to catch at some point. They performed their second track off the new album "Chained", which was as expected nothing short of brilliant. But then they played the most unpredictable of Mystery Covers, choosing the seasonal classic "Last Christmas" by Wham! The video is up at the top, what do you think? You can watch the full set here and also download the cover audio for free here.

BLOG: MONKEY MAJIK ENGLISH BEST

Monkey Majik. They've been around for 12 years and have been one of my favourite bands for a similar length of time. The group are based in Japan, enjoying success in the industry over there with lyrics bouncing back and forth between Japanese and English; they're formed of the Plant brothers from Canada, Maynard and Blaise, plus two Japanese members on rhythm, DICK and tax. I introduce them now as they've just released a collection album "ENGLISH BEST" this month, packed with their hit tunes over the years, each re-recorded in English only, therefore making it more approachable for music fans worldwide. And a fan you should be, because their sound is wicked.

For the first 5 years, they were one of the standout indie musicians coming out of Japan, for which they were rewarded with a mainstream record deal to release their first major album "thank you" in 2006. And now, five original LPs later, they're still making music together, drifting in and out of rock, jazz and folk elements to produce a genuinely cool, chill-out pop sound.

The guys live and work in Sendai, north-east Japan, where of course that disastrous earthquake and tsunami hit in March 2011, which destroyed their homes, studio and neighbourhood. It's clear that it was a pivotal point in their careers as artists, the event's detrimental effects shaking them to the core. They spent months volunteering to clear the rubble and to this day, the band are ambassadors for change and rebuilding in the area, giving their music more value and meaning than ever before. I've never met them but they seem like such wonderful guys and their songs are a joy to listen to. This new album is the best way to recommend them to you.

Monkey Majik "ENGLISH BEST" (2012)

DIARY: GRENSON GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS

From my special friend and colleague, I'm blessed to receive this wonderful gift. A good pair of brogues has been on my wishlist for a long time and I can hardly contain my delight. I got him that nice bit of ceramics for his birthday last month, but he's completely outdone our gift-giving with this beautiful pair of Grensons. I wore them out yesterday and damn they looked good...

Thanks Edward.

MAG: CORINTHIANS WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONS 2012

From: Chelsea FC

Yeah, nice one Rafa. Doesn't really deserve a posting to be honest.

DIARY: FAREWELL AND HUNGOVER

This was lunch yesterday. Went out to a good local Taiwanese restaurant with my mum, having missed the last day of term thanks to a fat ass hangover.

All because of the night before, in which the JFC coaches and I had a wicked evening out. The occasion - saying goodbye to another member of the team, as he flies out to Hong Kong for his next footballing venture tonight I believe, after six years doing what he does best with the children at JFC. The evening was also to celebrate Christmas together I suppose, and what a celebration it was too. Beer and chips at Belgo in Camden, followed by a nice Italian dinner next door at La Porchetta, before embarking on a couple of bars and ultimately Jalouse in central London. That's kind of all I remember, just a good night out with good company.

And in the same spirit, I wanted to enjoy the delicious dim sum delicacies at Leong's Legends, but my stomach was not having it. Next time, huh.

MAG: BEN HOWARD LIVE LOUNGE SPECIAL

Something fortunate always seems to happen whenever I turn on Radio 1, and for sure it was fortunate that I tuned into this exceptional Live Lounge session. Ben Howard performed five glorious arrangements, the first artist to play in the newly developed Live Lounge studio. He covers one of my year's favourite tracks, the awesome "Figure 8" by Ellie Goulding, as well as tracks from his debut album and most recent EP. The full 30 minute set is available for a limited time over on the Radio 1 website, which I definitely think is worth treating yourself to.

BLOG: SIGUR ROS "LEANING TOWARDS SOLACE"

The final instalment of Sigur Rós' Valtari Mystery Films series was unveiled this week, film #16 directed by Floria Sigismondi. Starring some famous names in John Hawkes and Elle Fanning, the short film features tracks "Dauðalogn" and "Varúð", portrayed through a beautifully shot story of a ballet-dancing girl and her troubled father. The cinematography is just wonderful and it's such an engaging piece of video. I've watched it a few times now but I find it intensely gripping every time. It just might be the best of the series. The ending, by he way, is bizarre; fittingly climactic with the music's final crescendo.

It's a series, initially set out as an experiment where independent artists were each commissioned to interpret the music however they liked, that has now been confirmed to be released digitally and on DVD in the new year. This weekend, they've even been screening at all kinds of places across the globe, after previously being presented at London's BFI Film Festival in October. It's been a unique movement for the stunning album that came out 7 months ago, one that's been inspiring to follow with some fascinating outcomes by the various filmmakers, and it's a digital purchase that I'll happily be making come February 5th.

DIARY: SLEEP PLEASE

Friday saw my latest university design project come to an end after a gruelling few weeks. We're pretty pleased with the outcome and I feel very proud. But it also means I've not slept in like a week and bedtime cannot come sooner. There's just one more week of class before the winter holiday, during which other work will get a better chance to fill my hours.

This morning, we held our annual Christmas Festival at JFC, which involves some fun games for the children, straying slightly from our usual high-intensity training, followed by some good matches of course. We had a laugh, they went home with Haribo in their hands, and now I have an evening to rest and do almost nothing. Not before updating this Blog though, clearly...

(The photograph is from my family home's front window. Mum having some fun.)

BLOG: M83 MUSIC VIDEO TRILOGY

Completing the trilogy of films directed by Fleur and Manu, for M83's exceptionally good album "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming", comes the video for "Wait".

"The end point of this great visual collaboration that has been ongoing with M83 throughout 2012. We felt it was important to re-connect with a meaningful subject that would have an echo in today's world. The promise of a new cycle, seen through the kid's eyes."

Said to be an album written and recorded with cinema soundtrack potential in mind, the sounds that Anthony Gonzales' band create really take you on a rich journey of emotional sensations, and it's truly one of my favourite and most recommended albums of 2011. 2012 has just about seen the visualisation and coming-to-life of the music in a fascinating manner. The first two videos of the three, "Midnight City" and "Reunion" are also viewable below.

DIARY: APARTAMENTO MAGAZINE ISSUE 10

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Apartamento magazine issue 10 is on sale now. Consequently it's in my hands now too. There's something about the way in which the publication is put together, its unique approach to presenting words and photographs that is really attractive for the reader; it celebrates individuality and provides an insight into very personal accounts of home living that is strangely relatable. I feel that there's so much love and care that goes into the topic and thus into the magazine, that it actually appears care-free, in a wonderful way of course. A much recommended quarterly indeed.

BLOG: FLYING LOTUS VIDEO BY DAVID LEWANDOWSKI

Made to the track "Tiny Tortures" from Flying Lotus' latest album "Until The Quiet Comes", David Lewandowski has directed this beautiful visual for the ambient yet somewhat climactic song. Featuring Elijah Wood, the animation of the objects forming his bionic arm is so smooth and engaging, a wonderful flowing motion that I could watch over and over. And so I have.

MAG: PHASES BY FERREOL BABIN

From: Ferréol Babin

French designer, Ferréol Babin, has made this intriguing mood lamp that can adjust between the optimum lighting for both concentration and downtime. It has a stunning presence too, made with aluminium and steel, fitted with an eco light bulb.

DIARY: WILLIAM MORRIS LONDON RETRO PURCHASE

After some months of deliberation, I've chosen this pair by William Morris London as my new optical frames. Made with a subtle tortoise acetate frame, I really like the rounded shape and it fits wonderfully. Not too expensive either, these spectacles are part of the Retro collection.

Admittedly they're not quite as different as the Burberry Black Label ones I already wear, so it's become more of a replacement than an alternative, which wasn't the initial plan, so perhaps I may indulge myself with another pair... That would be bad of me, but I do fancy the idea of a more exotic and less safe option. Hmm.

BLOG: HISTORY OF NINTENDO BY ANTHONY VELOSO

This is a lovely bit of moving image. Executed with some neat graphics and animation by Anthony Veloso of Quentin Dron's illustrations, the duo showcase Nintendo's brilliant archive of playful wonders that have shaped so many of our childhoods and have probably formed the foundation of our video game industry as we know it today. With the Wii U arriving just around the corner, it's the perfect time to look over the great (and sometimes not so great) consoles that Nintendo have brought us. I know I spent countless hours on my Super Nintendo, Gameboy Color and Gamecube...