collating some of our favorite brands, items, and sounds from this past month we give you colectivo index 004. this time we introduce a new german menswear brand making some noise around the internets as well as in the wardrobes of dudes in the know. we introduce you to the sounds of an upcoming south-londoner making waves across most music blogs. we show you some of our favorite items from a top swedish brand’s spring/summer collection. and coincidentally we end up featuring three different things with roots in Japan, which is definitely one of those countries whose culture and design intrigues us immensely. we hope you enjoy our selections!

New on the colectivo’s radar is lifestyle influenced brand, A kind of Guise. Who’s behind the brand you ask? its core group consists of a collective of five people coming from various backgrounds such as design, music and art. You can find a more in depth interview with AKOG’s co-founder Yasar Ceviker via the189 (one of our favorite blogs at the minute). The Munich based brand started out as a small student project that is now focused on sourcing premium unique materials for their distinctly designed menswear line. Here are some of the offerings from the S/S 2012 line as well as a fun but great looking video to commemorate the collection. source: a kind of guise

Looking for a way to carry your keys while keeping them tidy? Japanese garment makers Phigvel Makers Co. have you covered. The key holder is a fine piece crafted from rugged oiled horsehide off-cuts from their in house boot collection. The leather will soften and wear in no time giving you a lovely patina color. Additionally, for those that require further guidance, the leather is embossed at the four corners with the words: ignition, office, door, and home. Make sure to check out Phigvel Makers Co.’s other items for they seem to make a great emphasis on functional items that apply to everyday life and look great at doing so. $59 available here. source: hickoree’s hard goods

Despite the plentiful supply of note taking apps for our smart-phones, it’s just nice to break out a pen and pad sometimes. Field Notes brand is definitely the weapon of choice for some of our colectivo associates. Here we share with you a great video with the brand’s co-founder Aaron Draplin, discussing his collection of vintage farmers notebooks that has served as an inspiration for his carefully curated label of simple, yet stylish pads. It’s truly fascinating and inspiring to hear him describe the details of the notebooks and the excitement that the whole process of collecting, documenting, and showcasing them evokes in him. $9.99 and up available here. source: free / man brand journal

Swedish brand, Acne, has been on our radar for sometime now. More so after one of our very own colectivo members outfitted himself in Acne suiting for his big day—wedding. Baller, yes! But that’s how we roll sometimes. Here are some great looks from the Spring/Summer 2012 line. Acne pieces are by no means “price conscious” but the quality and fit remain once the price-tag pain subsides. While Acne is perhaps not everyday jawnz, their items are certainly standout pieces that can be combined with other bits in ones wardrobe for great effect. available at various prices here. source: fucknfilthy

Providing audible pleasure this month for the colectivo, is Jessie Ware‘s latest single ‘110%’. The single comes from Ware’s forthcoming debut album titled Devotion on London’s PMR records. Staying “in-house” so to speak, her latest singles ‘110%’ and its predecessor ‘Running’ have been produced by PMR artist and Bristol’s very own Julio Bashmore, one of the individuals at the forefront of the bass musics charge. The single remains true to that lush Ware sound while providing a throwback garage/ two-step feel that will take you deep into the summer vibes. buy Jessie Ware – Running on 12″ for £8.99 here. source: get some uk

On a bit of a nostalgic tip, we’d like to share with you a very visually delightful interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice Adventures in Wonderland as seen through the eyes of japanese art icon Yayoi Kusama. Considered by many to be one of Japan’s most revered contemporary artists, Kusama’s view on the children’s classic is quite hallucinogenic. Regardless of the trip-inducing visuals, this is probably a nice book to have in your bookcase as a source of artistic inspiration for the young ones. $23.10 available here. source: brain pickings

Haru is a new Japanese furniture design company spearheaded by Mikiya Kobayashi and an offshoot of Nagoya based brand Karimoku. taking inspiration from the origins of the sun and the way it radiates its energy to people, the brands’ pieces are simple, modern, and minimal. there’s also a high deegree of environmental friendliness at the brand with attempts to revitalize regional forests and maintain a low impact in such areas. check out their product catalogue here. source: mikiya kobayashi

it’s no secret that we love all kinds of music at colectivo futuro, given the diversity of our crew and collaborators we are always striving to share what we like to call “goodmusics” from across the board. whether it’s the latest UK bass dance-floor burner, the crooning of an in-the-making folk and soul star, or the latest crossover between underground electronic music and future pop; we believe any kind of music has a time and place. to quote Dr. John, one of the artists behind one of our favorite albums so far this year: “because music is broadening, and the more music you listen to, the more you have to draw from.” (Clash Magazine, June 2012). without further ado, here’s our favorite 5 albums so far this year (click on covers to purchase)

michael kiwanuka – home again [polydor]

The long anticipated release of ‘Home Again’ by Michael Kiwanuka, winner of the BBCs sound of 2012, absolutely eclipsed our expectations. This is his first full-length release under Polydor Records, after his first EP release back in April 2011. This is an album full of gems from an artist full of talent, who’s been drawing comparisons to classic north American soul artists, such as Otis Redding & Bill Withers. From its opening song to its closing number Kiwanuka submerges us in a world full of sweet and vintage 70’s soulful country and folk. Remarkable singles include mid-tempo, groovy cuts such as ‘Tell Me a Tale’, sweet country ballads like ‘Rest’ and ‘Bones’, and some great folk numbers such as ‘Home Again’ and ‘Always Waiting’. An album worth listening from top to bottom that doesn’t aim to introduce new sounds or trends, but one that reminds us how nice and sweet it is to go back to our roots and enjoy the passing of time. (by arash fattahi)

john talabot - ƒin [permanent vacation]

Is John Talabot the product of hype? some people might argue that, but the artist who began his career as D.A.R.Y.L., has been making a name for himself with EPs and remixes on Permanent Vacation, Young Turks, and his own imprint Hivern Discs.  the record kicks off with ‘Depak Ine‘, which sets a proper precedent for what is an enjoyable listen from start to finish. ‘Fin’ which translates to ‘the end’ is described by Talabot himself as the end of a cycle of sorts, with the goal of creating a complete listening experience without resorting to big club cuts. this is a record full of haunting melodies and hidden grooves, that owes as much to Chicago House as it does to the psychedelic concoctions of Animal Collective. some of the absolute highlights here are both collaborations with Pional titled ‘Destiny’ and ‘So Will Be Now’, 80s sounding and aptly titled ‘When The Past Was Present’, and tension driven ‘El Oeste’. this album certainly makes John Talabot one to watch for the future! (by miguel colmenares)

dr. john – locked down [nonesuch]

On Locked Down, the legendary Dr. John releases a brilliant new album with ten strong cuts, excellently produced by Dan Auerbach of grammy-winning retro-rockers, The Black Keys. Mixing Nigerian afrobeat, dub effects, and the guitar of the aforementioned Mr. Auerbach into his gumbo pot of New Orleans R&B and funk, jazz, rock & roll, gospel and so on, Dr. John is back in full force with arguably some of his best recordings since his sides with the Meters and Allen Toussaint. Simultaneously an exercise in retro techniques, yet clearly very modern, it’s so refreshing to see an American legend making an album this good, so late in their career. And who wouldn’t want to hear this live? Locked Down, right album, right time. (by oli brunetti)

bonobo – black sands remixed [ninja tune]

standout remix albums are hard to come by; yet bonobo’s outstanding ‘Black Sands’ LP, released back in 2010, makes an impressive comeback in the form of a well curated selection of renditions thoroughly embedded in the current state of affairs of the UK bass scene. from start to finish this is a more than enjoyable listen that takes the listener through moments of introspection with cuts such as ‘All In Forms’ remixed by NYC based Mike Slott and ‘Stay The Same’ re-imagined by Mark Pritchard; while also adding slices of heavy dance-floor manipulation with the upbeat reenactments of ‘Eyesdown’ by both Floating Points and Machinedrum. the greatness of this record is perhaps the fact that it’s a must for DJs in the know and headphone listeners alike, leaving no room for it to be left behind. (by miguel colmenares)

dva – pretty ugly [hyperdub]

DVA, aka Scratcha, finally dropped his Pretty Ugly album, an inevitable favorite here at colectivo futuro. For us, this is an album that has definitely lived up to its hype. DVA continues to develop his unique style that has to date encapsulated elements of grime, house, funky, broken beat, rnb and so on to a full album, containing various quality vocal performances from the likes of Fatima, Cornelia, A.L., Natalie Maddix, Muhsinah, Zaki Ibrahim and the multi-talented Vikter Duplaix. Some have criticized its variety, or ‘lack of focus’. But to quibble over a consistently engaging and original album packed with so many heavy dancefloor tracks sitting next to deep electronic soul jams, seems a little trite. (by oli brunetti)

other standouts so far this year include the left of centre soul & funk of awE naturalE by THEESatisfaction, the Madlib produced Seeds by Georgia Anne Muldrow, the sudden tranquility of Orcas by Orcas aka Benoît Pioulard & Rafael Anton Irisarri, and the hauntedness of Iradelphic by Clark

London based Oscar Bolton Green is the subject for this edition of the colectivo futurist feature. using a very simple and graphic approach led by icons and faceless characters, Oscar has done a variety of work for a host of clients including Rolling Stone, GE Energy, Edizioni Corraini, and Fetrinelli to name a few. While sporting a portfolio mainly focused on made-for-print illustrations, Oscar also delves into the realm of animation and sound design, which is something he insists he’d like to explore more of in the future. for the time being enjoy our interview with Oscar below, alongside some of our favorite pieces from his work.

OSCAR BOLTON GREEN (Illustrator, London)

website | blog

* how did you get started with illustration? when did you realize you wanted to become an illustrator full time? 

From an early age I have spent most of my time drawing. When I was a child my bedroom walls were covered in drawings I had done. Then when I was a teenager graffiti became a huge part of my life. Then at art college I was introduced to illustration and graphic design.

* where do you normally get your inspiration from?

Inspiration comes from all kinds of things but ultimately it’s all about observation.

* your illustrations often feature sort of warped, caricatured characters. for lack of a better word, they are almost “elmer fuddian”. what can you tell us about them and why they feature so often on your pieces?

The simplicity of my characters stem from the graphic way I work. They have a quietness, which gives them a versatility but also gives them a humorous potential. As a child I read a lot of Asterix so I think thats where the big noses come from.

* if you could soundtrack your work, what would you choose?  

I think the sound effects in my ‘Alphabet Animation’ – a project I did at college – really captures the mood of my drawings. It’s a mixture of edited voice and audio samples, which I recorded with a friend of mine. It’s a process I really enjoyed doing, so I’ve been thinking about doing another version at some point.

* what is your favorite thing about living in London?

For me the best thing about London is the beautiful parks – perfect for football, relaxation and watching funny dogs.

* what are you currently working on? are there any projects in particular you would like to get your hands on in the future?

At the moment I’m working on some big drawings, alongside commercial projects. I regularly do album of the month for Rolling Stone. Another children’s book for Corraini is in the pipeline also. But yeah, of course there are lots of things I dream about doing – like a public mural, animated visuals for a live music event, designs for products, a London Underground poster.

No stranger to change, from a teenager with his own pirate station to national radio at the BBC, the career of veteran radio and club DJ, Gilles Peterson, recently took a major turn. Only a couple of weeks ago, Gilles left BBC Radio 1, home to his award-winning Worldwide show for the last 14 years, to start a new chapter at BBC Radio 6. Although  many listeners were left saddened at the news of his departure, the new show kicked off with a bang, with Peterson clearly excited about the new, longer format, which now broadcasts for three hours on Saturdays and during broad daylight!

Over the last decade or so, Worldwide has documented many exciting currents of music. Music that often slipped between typical genre terms, ‘joining-the-dots’ between overly-defined styles – jazz, hip hop, soul, electronic music and so on; providing historical context, delving regularly into his deep record collection and highlighting important reissues, while unearthing gems from round the globe. Gilles ended his tenure at Radio 1 with an excellent series of retrospectives, charting the show’s journey through time and various styles of music – while simultaneously giving a reminder of the number of acts the show was responsible for giving important exposure to at an early stage, such as The Roots, M.I.A., Moodymann, The Cinematic Orchestra and many more.

So it is without much further ado that we give you a very special interview with the man himself, making this the first interview edition of colectivo digs! You can listen to Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6 Music every Saturday from 3-6pm London time (10am – 1pm EST) - bbc.co.uk/6music or you can alternatively catch up via listen again

5 minutes with…

GILLES PETERSON (BBC Radio / Brownswood / LDN)

bbc radio 6 | worldwide | lost tape connection | twitter: @gillespeterson 

* You’ve had one of the longest running shows at Radio 1; what were your proudest achievements during your time there?

Wow. So many good times. Achievement wise, probably winning a Sony Gold Award but managing to play artists like Amy Winehouse and Jay Electronica at Demo Stage was good. Being able to share a studio with John Peel is the thing I cherish the most…

* In your mind, how will the new show differ from that on Radio 1, apart from the obvious difference of doing it in daylight?

The new show just gives me the opportunity to stretch out even more – to really push the musical boundaries even further. I feel that the audience is very proactive and that interaction is very exciting for me - daytime is brilliant – I’m really enjoying that!

* Do you think the new timeslot will allow for your music to reach a different group of listeners? And if so, will you program the music with that in mind?

I suppose there are things to take into consideration here – yes the nerds are still listening but I can really feel that there are many people who don’t really know what I do and are just super open to hearing great music – that is so fresh to me. I think the new time slot will really allow me to break music. I’m hoping to find the right balance between new and old and obvious and random!

* It sounded like you really enjoyed the first show? What are you most excited about regards the change?

I just want to get into a relaxed place with the show where I can really feel like I’m in my front room with a bunch of mates flicking through music – everyone’s dream basically!

* Are there artists new or old that you’d like really like to focus on more, since the switch to BBC Radio 6 Music?

Not really, I’m just hoping that the music doesn’t ever dry up! The best thing about living in the UK for me is that it’s a constant fountain of music and art and youth culture and fashion. It’s still on the top of the charts globally for me. There’s a constant source of fine stuff as long as you search for it!

* Of all your shows at Radio 1, have you got a favourite?

The last show was a lot of fun getting all my old producers in but otherwise I really enjoyed doing shows with Roy Ayers and Questlove and my interview with Theo Parrish on the same show as a Maida Vale session with Meshell Ndegeocello – that was a classic show!

* You had so many amazing live sessions. There must be too many to choose from, but if you could, what would you say was your most memorable?

The last one between Tigran Hamasyan and LV was pretty special – a good collaboration always works for me. Dwele with Roy Hargrove was good too…

* Will you continue to commission live sessions for the new show, and if so, is there anyone you’d really like to feature that you can tell us about?

We will still be doing bits and also using the live lounge area. I’m hoping to get Eska in in a couple of weeks’ time before her show at the QEH – she’s the most amazing unsung British singer out there. That will be a good one to start with…

* And finally, what is your favourite thing about living in London?

Leaving for a few days and then coming back…

we normally reserve this space to feature magnificent artwork from a single record label, but we recently came across the works of designer & creative director leif podhajsky and our minds were immediately blown! we could have done a full on feature with his collages, illustrations, and screen-prints. instead, we chose to focus only on the work he’s created for artists and record labels over the past few years. perhaps coincidentally, his creations have been gracing the covers of some of our recent favorites, which without a doubt solidifies the theory that sounds and visuals must go hand in hand to form a complete package.

now living in London, Leif has made a name for himself with covers that exude psychedelic and other-worldly elements for artists such as Likke Li, Tame Impala, Shabazz Palaces, and most recently Young Magic; all of which might seem very diverse at first, but if you take a closer listen you’ll undoubtedly find similar sonic palettes in their works. exploring themes such as nature, interconnectedness, and the unknown.

Leif’s work has been exhibited in various cities across the globe, including Melbourne and Berlin. most recently he’s been hard at work developing his own clothing line, which includes foulards and sweaters so far. to top it all off, he curates a mean blog called visual melt, which we definitely recommend you follow by clicking here. if that wasn’t enough, he also records badass mixtapes full of experimental and “out there” musics, which you can listen to here.