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The Story of Looking

Mark Cousins

Allen & Unwin

We are drowning in images and the accessibility and affordability of smartphones with ever improving cameras has massively changed both our approach to taking photos and our behaviour in them.

In this book The Story of Looking Mark Cousins examines across the realms of history, art, film, photography, science and technology how our view at things has (d)evolved from the cradle to the grave, illustrating his viewpoints with examples along the way.

Cousins’ reference points are eclectic, thematically often freely associated and resemble a tour de force through history, following his own stream of consciousness with juxtapositions galore that should prove to be thought-provoking for anyone remotely interesting in art and media.

What Mark Cousins achieves with his tome is that it makes one take a step back and reassess the act of looking, something that in itself is usually just taken for granted and not usually being assessed as compared to the respective object being inspected. A direly needed impulse in a turbulent and narcissistic age where the selfie has effectively replaced the self-portrait and both the banality and number of images produced to see ourselves in the world and shared via social media is ever increasing.

Centred around the span of a lifetime of an individual, The Story of Looking is many things depending on what you take away from it. On a deeper level and with its focus on detail, I found it triggering questions about perceptions and attitudes at large as the power of images continues to shape associations and thought processes.

A thought-provoking and engagingly written book that highlights in a deep yet playful way that the world we live in has become much more finely grained and how much the brain is ever updating the visual field, no matter how differently we look at things.

Water of Life – Kavalan Port Cask and Distiller’s Reserve Rum Cask

Where do I start with Kavalan to give the uninitiated a faint idea of what they have been missing out on?

Based in Yuanshan, Taiwan, Kavalan has firmly established itself on the firmament of top distilleries that consistently surprises and surpasses expectations with their continuous release of quality drops.

The Port Cask expression, part of their flawless Solist series, is another example for their excellence that emerges from the pot stills in Eastern Asia: Upon approach, the fabulously spicy yet sugary and citrussy aromas are captivating as they are punctured by highlights of cherries and other dried, dark stone fruits. One can tell from the get-go, that this cask strength variant has a lot of character, which unveils itself in a layered manner.

What materializes on the top of the roof is a very defined melange of oakiness that is complimented by summer berries and vanilla-forward malty undertones that rest on a foundation of milk chocolate. I specifically like the textured mouthfeel, which is defined by a nuttiness on one end of the spectrum, and red fruity berries at the other end.

As the ABV of 58.6% suggests, the Port Cask Strength packs a punch, however, it is so well calibrated that the high alcohol content is dangerously subdued and with the elongated, resounding finish culminating in a crescendo of citrus fruits, leather and zesty lemon. A powerful, rich single malt with an incredible flavour profile that will have you reaching for another dram in no time.

Now, as if Kavalan’s Solist expressions are not enough, things are taken to yet another level with Kavalan’s Distillery Exclusive Rum Cask, which – as the name suggests – is due to its rarity difficult to get a hold of with only 400-450 small bottles being bottled.

Not unlike with other Kavalan expressions, the information provided is granular and gives the opportunity to not only arrive at the cask number but also details as to when exactly it was bottled. Transparent as can be.

Compared to the aforementioned Port Cask, the Rum Cask is more subtle and, dare I say, velvety smooth with honey, vanilla and notes of pear, mango and caramel reeling you in through the nostrils. Again, despite the relatively high alcohol content, it is attenuated to the extent where it is devoid of the sting you’d get from expressions from less sophisticated distillers.

Not surprising for a Rum Cask, what materializes on the palate with a creamy mouthfeel is sweet, with sugary notes derived from the molasses and lovely balanced flavours very much reminiscent of peppery rum and oaky spice.

The finish ties in with what one would expect from a rum – not terribly long, but sweet with nice tart notes and sugary with raisiny highlights.

Summa summarum - two fantastic expressions hitting high notes on the claviature of completely different flavour profiles with the common denominator being a consistently well-calibrated, complex and simply delicious level.

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Images from company website

June: Black Lives Matter

Thanks for checking in on this month's Search/Play/Repeat where I listen to albums I've never heard before and then make a playlist of some of my favorite tracks from those albums. Sometimes I'm just playing catch up on an artist's discography, and sometimes I discover something completely new. The end result I hope being that both you and I find something new. Last month I decided to forgo sharing a playlist due to the lack of Black representation in the playlist. This month's playlist is made up entirely of Black artists of all genres, old and new. Let's get to it!

Kicking off the playlist is the iconic, Jimi Hendrix. I've ultimately refrained from listening to much of Hendrix throughout my life mostly because... well... I've been hearing him my whole life. You hear the same four or five songs enough times and you start to feel like you've heard it all. Not that "Purple Haze" and "Hey Joe" aren't classics, it's just another case of overexposure leading to disinterest. Much like Bohemian Rhapsody's press-junket souring my love for Queen. I decided it was finally time to give the man his due and dig further into his discography since Are You Experienced is the only album of his I've heard. As it turns out, Axis: Bold as Love is a magnificent record! I found the stronger R&B and Jazz-Fusion direction more gratifying than AYE's Psych-Rock. Another "classic" I finally checked out a big one within the Punk community -- Bad Brains. Bad Brains' self-titled album has been an easy one to avoid all these years. I hadn't really heard much aside from "Pay to Cum" and "Banned in D.C."  Reports of HR's hate and homophobia has been so prevalent and was a huge turn-off. The band's influence on the Afro-Punk movement is undeniable, but damn if that album doesn't feel tarnished.

Fortunately, they weren't the only all-Black Punk band from the 70s and 80s. Before Bad Brains, there was Pure Hell. Up until recently, I had never heard of the self-proclaimed "first Black Punk band in the world." Pure Hell is another band, like Death, that was lost among Punk's historical roots. Let's be real, that's not an accident. They only released a single before calling it quits in 1978, despite having a full album recorded. It eventually came out... in 2005. I decided to jump to the other side of the early punk-spectrum with Ska group, The Selecter. For the longest time, I used to think The Selecter and The Specials were the same band. Like, I thought it was one of those situations where The Specials lost members so they just changed their name. It didn't help that their history was so intertwined. Another Ska band I finally checked out was Fishbone. The only time I ever saw Less Than Jake, they were supported by Fishbone and it was one of the most fun times I've had at a show. It's taken me way too long to finally check them out. From my understanding, they genre-jump a bit, so I'm curious to check out more.

My favorite discovery this month is The 1865 (which, ironically, I discovered on Juneteenth). A fairly new band with music that borders between Punk and Post-Punk and lyrics sung from the perspective of a post-Emancipation America in 1865. It's a history lesson and amazing music rolled into one. I highly suggest checking out their album, Don't Tread on We. Probably the best punk album I missed from 2019. Another newcomer to the scene I checked out is Meet Me @ the Altar. Fast-paced Pop-Punk like a cross between older-Paramore and Heartsounds. I was happy to see them get added to the Riot Fest bill for next year (assuming it still happens. ::GULP::)!

It wasn't all Punk all month. Run the Jewels released an "album of the year" contender. I swear it's just coincidence that the song I put on the playlist samples Gang of Four. I'm a huge fan of K-OS' Atlantis, but I never got far into his discography.  I dug into his back catalog to check out Joyful Rebellion as well as the new EP he just released in May. I threw a little Soul into the mix with Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones. Both were modern day classic Soul revivalists that passed away in 2017 and 2016 respectively.

That's going to close out June's playlist. Thanks for listening. I hope you found something new to your liking and I encourage you to search, play, and repeat. In the meantime, continue to fight for and lift Black voices. It makes a difference. Minneapolis is dismantling its police force. Racist monuments are toppling. However, many murderous officers still haven't been held accountable. Keep up the pressure.

Hot Stuff - Marysol

The realm of hot sauces is plastered with novelty brands that sacrifice flavour for the sake of hear. While the destruction of tastebuds might be an end in itself for some and can be fun to explore at times, if there is no flavour experience, the appeal wears off quickly. Then there are ones that deliver the heat yet in a manner that makes the condiment an attraction and integral part of any meal it contributes to.

Both South Korea and Mexico have a long-standing history of spiciness in their respective cuisines and the fact that Marysol’s founders head from those countries, piqued my interest in exploring what they have concocted after joining forces.

Devoid of preservatives, nasty additives, emulsifiers and based on a foundation of chillies from New South Wales and Queensland, vinegar from West of Byron and sea salt from the Great Australian Bite, Marysol currently channels its alchemy in three variations.

Marysol’s key Hot Sauce is their medium heat red habanero expression: Deeply red in colour, it has a wonderfully chunky texture enhanced by the still visible chili pieces and meanders between the coordinates of vinegar, cumin and chili robustly yet in a well-calibrated manner. With the heat hitting quickly and not building up, it is an ideal accompaniment to savoury dishes, e.g. eggs, burgers and smoked salmon.

My favourite of the day-to-day Marysol line-up is their Verde variant, which is a blend of Australian hot green chillies, white wine vinegar and spices. Compared to the red habanero one, this one is more on the citrussy and zesty end of the spectrum and adds a bit of bite, which I love my seafood to be enhanced with.

Now, no hot sauce brand would be complete without an extreme expression and in Marysol’s case, the extract of various Australia extreme chillies is channelled into The Phantom, to deliver an extra kick.

Extreme heat hot sauces can be tricky as that not only tend to sting upon entry but then dangerously build up, which is exactly the case here as the hotness reverberates on the way down the throat to the stomach.

Again, despite things being heated, Marysol manages to pepper in nuances, which in this case are reminiscent of Mango tropical fruits, black peppercorns and an excellent lingering smoky long aftertaste.

Aesthetically, Marysol’s triumvirate is housed in one of the better looking and pleasingly shaped glasses, which are adorned with artfully created labels paying homage to the founders’ Asian and North American heritage and make the experience a feast not only for the palate but also for the eye.

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images from company website

Water of Life - Smokehead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

For anyone following our Water of Life series, the fact that I harbour a weak spot for anything that is distilled on the Hebridean island Islay should not come as a surprise as I love the iodine coastal flavours, amplified by the idiosyncratic local peat that ignites the bonfires the flames of which caress the top of your mouth.

Enjoying Islay whiskies is more often than not perceived to be a stage that the unexperienced palate has to work up to, via detours through the glens of the Speyside, Highlands and other territory that proffers more accessible drops.

Be it as it may and no matter where your starting point or malt preference is, the journey through the world of whisky is ever evolving and Smokehead is an example par excellence for new products constantly being added to the fold.

There are eight distilleries on Islay and chances are that once you fall prey to the beautifully pungent assault that their flavourful emissions exert on you, you will be at least vaguely familiar with their individual characteristics.

Every time a new drop from Islay emerges, especially one whose origin is not disclosed, one cannot help but be intrigued as to its origin.

Smokehead is being bottled by Ian Macleod distillers, who are responsible for an array of great whiskies, who own the unpeated Glengoyne distillery and the Speyside sleeper in Tamdhu.

I will focus on Smokehead’s three core variations, the first core one of which should be one that can be tracked down relatively easy from your local liquor dealer ship.

Bottled at 43%, the glowing tan coloured hits the nostrils with wafts of wet woody smoke, that is accentuated by caramelly, seaweedy toffee notes. Given the telling name, there are no big surprises here.

What materializes on the palate is far from complex, however, there is an interesting build-up: Resting on a solid foundation of peat, coffee notes and burnt ham flavours are punctuated by citrussy and spicy peppery highlights.

Adding a few droplets of water, brings chocolatey flavours out, which seamlessly transition into a mellow finish.

Given the affordable pricing and contemporary black and gold packaging adorned with the trademark smoking skull, this entry level Smokehead seems to be aimed at a younger audience, capitalizing on renewed interest in whisky. It offers a very approachable, perfectly drinkable drop that offers a simple enjoyment reminiscent one of a less defined and edgy very young Ardbeg – an entry point for the uninitiated, before a step is taken towards the more complex and domineering whiskies Islay has to offer.

Things get interesting with Smokehead’s Sherry Bomb expression as the nose is not only greeted by the salty campfire on the beach, one would expect, but also by vanilla-ry, orangey, darky fruity and minerally notes, that rest of a field of tobacco. Not surprisingly, giving it a bit of air and room to breathe, there smells reminiscent of a rich Bordeaux. Clean, fresh and mouth wateringly delicious.

What the aroma promised, materializes on the palate: The most subtle sweetness heralds a welcome onslaught of peaty, oaky smoke that is framed again by vanilla and orangey notes with lots of dry sherry.

An elongated smoky, finish bounces between fruity flavours via barbecued meaty flavours to sweet chocolate, with the Sherry bits sometimes reminding me of cherry lollies – which works great as the resulting total is a melange that is much greater than the sum of individual ingredients suggests.

Bottled at 48% ABV and still at the young end of the spectrum, the Sherry Bomb Smokehead is a fully flavoured and well-calibrated step up and a fun one with a modern take on the tested and tried take on Sherry that will definitely enter my rotation.

Ready to take things up a notch of three?

Here you go: Smokehead High Voltage

Now we are talking. 

As we all know and as it has been reinforced by Acca Dacca and Electric Six, per definitionem “high voltage” means an electronic potential large enough to inflict harm on living organisms, and in this case, it of course refers to the higher alcohol content.

However, high ABV is not the only trick in the bag of this expression and the aroma of gun smoke, burnt earth, vanilla, cashew nuts and spicy pepper hints at the complexity that will unfold on the palate.

Once it hits the roof of the mouth and the first wave of peaty sensations subsides, nice nuances of barley, brown sugar, iodine, brine, toffee and sweet bonfire-y peat.

The elongated well-calibrated finish meanders deliciously between sea saltiness, paprika and tobacco and as the smoke lingers, it makes one lust for another dram.

While Smokehead standard version is a good value-for-money everyday sipper, the High Voltage is definitely the gem of the Smokehead line-up and plays in another league.

Word around the campfire has that there is a limited “extra black” 18-Year-Old Smokehead variant, which after the HV experience has made it on my list to track down.

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images from company website