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Watch Spotlight: Frederique Constant Highlife Chronograph Automatic

Known for making affordable luxury and providing you with value for money with its slim-like watches, Frederique Constant is known for producing quality watches that will capture your attention from the get-go. In particular, one of their fantastic watches include the Highlife Chronograph Automatic which features an impressive movement and a beautiful timeless design. So, let’s look at why this watch is the ideal choice for any watch aficionado.

This watch comes in three designs. The first and probably the most sensible choice features a classic black dial with a globe pattern embossed in the center. The piece comes in a 41mm stainless steel case and bracelet, presenting a clean and stylish appearance. Following on, we have a white dial piece also with an embossed globe pattern in the center. Unlike the black dial model, this piece has a stainless steel and rose gold dial & bracelet. This is a truly magnificent selection for those looking for a more distinctive look. Last but certainly not least design-wise, we have a white dial with a blue outer layer contrasting harmoniously with the smooth bezel of the watch. For an authentic look, the strap is made of calf leather with a crocodile pattern.

Ticking on, the watch carries the FC-391 movement which is an automatic movement with 26 jewels and a respectable power reserve of 60 hours. It also boasts an impressive 28’800 alternations per hour, providing excellent precision for a mid-budget luxury watch.

If you’re still not decided on this watch, or simply want to look in other directions before deciding, you’re in luck. There are many worthwhile alternatives to this watch. However, this will all depend on your budget and whether you care about the brand name and overall style of the watch. In the pricier range, you could opt for the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona but you will spend at least ten times more and will have to most likely opt for a pre-owned piece. On the other hand, you could opt for a Zenith Chronomaster which in the pre-owned market ranges from £5,000 to £9,000. Other brands like Tissot also offer the PRX Chronograph which is cheaper and is just as stylish as the Highlife Chronograph.

Truthfully, the Frederique Constant is a brand that will always pop up in the mid-budget luxury watch market, particularly considering the quality they provide for the money spent. This includes the Highlife Chronograph Automatic, a piece that oozes elegance and ageless appeal that can be held in your watch collection for decades to come. With a starting price of £2,995, I’d certainly consider this watch for my collection.

Uncovering Casual Chic: Jorts Style Tips and Tricks

Summertime is synonymous with casual, laid-back fashion, and one of the most versatile and comfortable wardrobe staples is jorts. Jean shorts, or jorts, are perfect for creating a casual chic look that’s both stylish and relaxed. But how can you take your jorts game to the next level and truly master the art of casual chic? In this blog post, we’ll share some style tips and tricks to help you elevate your jorts look and make a statement this summer.

Style Tips

The key to achieving a casual chic look with jorts is to start with the right foundation. There’s a wide range of mens jorts available in various styles, lengths, and washes. When choosing your jorts, consider factors like fit and wash, and select a pair that complements your personal style and body type. Remember that jorts should be comfortable and flattering, so don’t be afraid to try on multiple pairs to find the perfect fit.

Balance Proportions

Achieving a casual chic look with jorts is all about balancing proportions. If you’re wearing a slim-fit pair of jorts, consider pairing them with a looser, more relaxed top, like an oversized shirt or a breezy linen button-down. Conversely, if you’re rocking a pair of baggy jorts, opt for a more fitted top to create a balanced and stylish silhouette.

Experiment with Colour and Washes

While classic blue denim jorts are always in style, don’t be afraid to experiment with different colours and washes. Lighter washes can give your outfit a fresh, summery vibe, while darker washes can create a more polished and sophisticated look. Additionally, consider trying jorts in colours like white, black, or even bold hues to make a statement and stand out from the crowd.

Play with Patterns and Textures

Adding patterns and textures to your jorts ensemble is an easy way to elevate your casual chic look. Try pairing your jorts with a patterned shirt, like a floral button-down or a striped tee, to add visual interest and depth to your outfit. Alternatively, layer a textured shirt or jacket over a plain tee for a more subtle and sophisticated approach.

Choose the Right Shoes

The shoes you wear with your jorts can make or break your casual chic look. For a laid-back vibe, opt for casual footwear like trainers, espadrilles, or sandals. If you want to dress up your jorts a bit, try pairing them with loafers or desert boots for a more polished and refined appearance. Try to mix and match and do your research to find the best boots or footwear that suits your personality.

Accessorise Wisely

Accessories can instantly elevate your jorts outfit and help you achieve a casual chic look. Consider adding elements like a stylish belt, a statement watch, or a cool pair of sunglasses to your ensemble. These accessories can tie your look together and make it feel more cohesive and intentional.

Layer Up for Transitional Weather

While jorts are perfect for warm summer days, they can also be worn during transitional weather by adding a few strategic layers. For cooler evenings or cloudy days, pair your jorts with a lightweight jacket, like a denim or bomber jacket, or a cosy cardigan. This will keep you comfortable and stylish, no matter the weather. Or, if you’re a fan of simpler looks, there’s nothing wrong with a flowy black jumpsuit paired with unique looking boots from Shoetime and a bold, festive red lip color.

Lande Hekt Unveils New Song ‘Pottery Class’

Lande Hekt has returned with a new single called ‘Pottery Class’. Check it out below.

“‘Pottery Class’ is a song written when my partner had lived away from me for almost a year, trying to navigate the difficult landscape of a housing crisis [which was] stopping us from getting somewhere to live together,” Hekt explained in a statement. “[It captures] feelings of displacement and uncertainty while I left my home to try and find us a place to live together. Going without a stable place to live is almost an adventure when you’re young, but as you get a bit older, it becomes more of a sad position to find yourself in.”

Hekt’s most recent album was 2022’s House Without a View. Revisit our Artist Spotlight interview with Lande Hekt.

Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden and William Tyler Team Up for New Song ‘Darkness, Darkness’

Kieran Hebden, better known as Four Tet, and guitar virtuoso William Tyler have joined forces for the new song ‘Darkness, Darkness’. It arrives as the latest installment of the ongoing singles series from Psychic Hotline, the label founded by Sylvan Esso. The 12-inch, featuring a B-side called ‘No Services’, comes out June 30. Check out ‘Darkness, Darkness’ below.

The Psychic Hotline singles series has previously featured Joe Rainey’s ‘Once the Reaper’, Hand Habits’ ‘Greatest Weapon’, Ethan Gruska and Bon Iver’s ‘So Unimportant’, Flock of Dimes’ ‘Pure Love’, Bartees Strange, Ohmme, and Eric Slick’s ‘Province’, Anjimile’s ‘Ever New’, and more.

Spoon Announce New EP ‘Memory Dust’, Release New Song ‘Sugar Babies’

Spoon have announced a new EP called Memory Dust, which features three songs that began during the sessions for the band’s 2022 album Lucifer on the Sofa. It’s due to arrive on June 13 via Matador. To accompany the news, Spoon have shared the new song ‘Sugar Babies’. Check it out below, alongside their upcoming tour dates with the Black Keys and Weezer.

In addition to ‘Sugar Babies’, Memory Dust includes another original, ‘Silver Girl’, as well as a cover of Bo Diddley’s ‘She’s Fine, She’s Mine’.

Memory Dust EP Cover Artwork:

Memory Dust EP Tracklist:

1. Sugar Babies
2. She’s Fine, She’s Mine
3. Silver Girl

Spoon 2023 Tour Dates:

May 27 New Braufels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater
Jun 14 Bergen, Norway – Bergenfest
Jun 15 Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller Music Hall
Jun 16 Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset %
Jun 18 Paris, France – Zenith de Paris %
Jun 19 Paris, France – Zenith de Paris %
Jun 20 London, England – Islington Assembly Hall
Jun 21 London, England – The O2 %
Jun 22 Manchester, England – AO Arena %
Jun 24 Glasgow, Scotland – OVO Hydro %
Jun 27 Cologne, Germany – Palladium Cologne %
Jun 28 Hamburg, Germany – Stadtpark-Open-Air-Bühne %
Jun 30 Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
Jul 1 Ewijk, Netherlands – Down the Rabbit Hole
Jul 2 Arras, France – Main Square Festival
Jul 4 Nimes, France – Festival de Nimes
Jul 6 Oeiras, Portugal – NOS Alive
Jul 7 Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival
Jul 20 Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre !^
Aug 22 Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater !^
Aug 24 Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre !^
Aug 27 Magna, UT – The Great Saltair – Outdoor Pavilion !^
Aug 28 Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre !^
Aug 30 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre !^
Sep 1 Las Vegas, NV – Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood !^
Sep 2 Irvine, CA – Fivepoint Amphitheatre !^
Sep 3 San Diego, CA – Sycuan Stage at Gallagher Square Petco Park !^
Sep 13 Washington, DC – The Atlantis
Sep 14 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Sep 16 Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond

% with the Black Keys
! with Weezer
^ with White Reaper

Brigid Mae Power Unveils New Single ‘Waterford Song’

Brigid Mae Power has released a new track, ‘Waterford Song’, which is lifted from her upcoming LP Dream From the Deep Well. Listen to it below.

“’The Waterford Song’ is my meditation on the place where my family have lived for over 1,000 years,” the musician explained in a statement. “I played at a festival there on this huge country estate and all of the trees there had been planted by my grandfather. It was an experience that allowed me new perspectives.”

Dream From the Deep Well is set to arrive on June 30 via Fire Records. Previously, Brigid Mae Power previewed the album with the title track.

Girl Ray Release New Song ‘Up’

Girl Ray have delivered another single from their upcoming third album, Prestige. It’s called ‘Up’, and it follows previous offerings ‘Everybody’s Saying That’ and ‘Hold Tight’. Check it out below.

“Written at the beginning of my current relationship, ‘Up’ deals with all the emotions of a fledgling romance: adoration, self-doubt, and everything in between!” guitarist and lead singer Poppy Hankin explained in a statement. ‘Musically we wanted to pay homage to the sparseness of Queen’s ‘Cool Cat’, and the groove of Bowie’s ‘Fame’.”

Prestige is set for release on August 4 via Moshi Moshi.

Mega Bog Shares Video for New Song ‘All and Everything’

Ahead of the release of her new album End of Everything this Friday, May 19, Mega Bog has shared one more single from it called ‘All and Everything’. It follows previous entries ‘Cactus People’‘The Clown’, and ‘Love Is’. Check out a video for the track, filmed by Erin Birgy, Big Thief’s James Krivchenia, and Daniel McIntyre, below.

Speaking about the single, Birdy said in a statement: “The song ‘All and Everything’ was written immediately after Caity and I stole away to the cemetery to experience our first break in a very long sadness, marching around the dusk and climbing cement burial boxes while basting Franco Battiato and Vangelis at the beginning of our own epic poem together.”

ANOHNI Announces New Album, Shares New Single ‘It Must Change’

ANOHNI has announced a new album, My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, under the moniker ANOHNI and the Johnsons. The follow-up to 2016’s HOPELESSNESS is due out July 7 via Rough Trade and Secretly Canadian. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the lead single ‘It Must Change’, which is accompanied by a music video directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard and starring activist Munroe Bergdorf. Check it out below, and scroll down for the LP’s cover art (featuring a portrait of legendary activist Marsha P. Johnson taken by Alvin Baltrop in the 1970s) and tracklist.

“Munroe Bergdorf has done so much service for British society,” ANOHNI commented in a statement. “She always impresses me with her articulate grace. Munroe’s dignity and ethical courage are a guiding light.”

Discussing My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, she said: “I’ve been thinking a lot about Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On,” she said of My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross. That was a really important touchstone in my mind. Some of these songs respond from the present day to global and environmental concerns first voiced in popular music over 50 years ago.”

“Many of the recordings on this record — like ‘It Must Change’ and ‘Can’t’ — capture the first and only time I have sung those songs through,” ANOHNI added. “There’s a magic when you suddenly place words you have been thinking about for a long time into melody. A neural system awakens. It isn’t personal and yet is so personal. Things connect and come alive.”

To record My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, ANOHNI worked with producer Jimmy Hogarth (Amy Winehouse, Duffy, Tina Turner), who brought in a studio band that included Leo Abrahams, Chris Vatalaro, Sam Dixon, and string arranger Rob Moose.

“I want the record to be useful. I learned with HOPELESSNESS that I can provide a soundtrack that might fortify people in their work, in their activism, in their dreaming and decision-making,” ANOHNI concluded. “I can sing of an awareness that makes others feel less alone, people for whom the frank articulation of these frightening times is not a source of discomfort but a cause for identification and relief. I want the work to be useful, to help others move with dignity and resilience through these conversations we are now facing.”

My Back Was A Bridge for You to Cross Cover Artwork:

My Back Was A Bridge for You to Cross Tracklist:

1. It Must Change
2. Go Ahead
3. Sliver Of Ice
4. Can’t
5. Scapegoat
6. It’s My Fault
7. Rest
8. There Wasn’t Enough
9. Why Am I Alive Now?
10. You Be Free

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Announce New Album, Share Video for New Single ‘Gila Monster’

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have announced a new double album that’s set to arrive on June 16. It bears the title PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation. Lead single ‘Gila Monster’ is out today, alongside an accompanying video directed by SPOD. Check it out below.

“I wanted to shoot Lord of the Rings 4 but also make a video game, so I mixed both mediums and came up with this majestic journey for truth and power in a cursed world,” SPOD said of the ‘Gila Monster’ visual. “I mixed 3D animation, modeling & live footage in a 3D video game program to create this marvelous voyage of man & beast. Friend or foe?”

The new album is described as the band’s second full-length excursion into thrash, following 2019’s Infest The Rats’ Nest. “When we made Rats’ Nest, it felt experimental,” frontman Stu Mackenzie explained in a press release. “Like, ‘Here’s this music that some of us grew up on but we’d never had the guts or confidence to really play before, so let’s give it a go and see what happens’. And when we made that album we were like, ‘Fuck, why did it take us so long to do this?’ It’s just so much fun to play that music, and those songs work so well when we play them live. So we always had it in our minds to make another metal record.”

“We worked on it the same way we started our Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms And Lava album last year,” Mackenzie added. “We wrote a song a day, and we came into the practice space with no riffs, no tunes, no ideas, and started from scratch. And we jammed, and recorded everything, and pieced the songs together from that. I’d sketched out the story the songs would tell, and I’d portioned it out into seven song titles, with a short paragraph of what would happen in the song. I guess we kind of made the record backwards.”

PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation Cover Artwork:

PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation Tracklist:

1. Motor Spirit
2. Supercell
3. Converge
4. Witchcraft
5. Gila Monster
6. Dragon
7. Flamethrower