The Essential Goethe

Princeton University Press

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

German writer, statesman and one of the most virtuous pioneers of the Sturm und Drang literary movement, whose influence not just on the literary landscape cannot be done justice enough. Apart from what he is mainly known for, i.e. his lyric and epic poetry, is oeuvre encompasses a myriad of forms, metres, styles, literary criticism, treatises on anatomy and nature.

A true renaissance man who created timeless works that have never not been relevant.

The Essential Goethe is meant to be exactly what the telling title suggests, i.e. to be your go-to one-stop volume collection of the most significant of Goethe's writings ever published in English.

While it would demand quite a bit of work to strip works like Faust or Iphigenia in Tauris from its immense richness and while it pains me a bit to see how some of the original meaning conveyed in their Germanic original form falls prey to the English translation, the Goethe scholars have done a commendable job to distil the main works from Princeton’s authorative twelve-volume and accomplished the feat to enable English readers easy and comprehensive access to the body of work of one of the greats – a playwright, novelist, autobiographer.

Do not be deterred by the heft of the tome – what I have always liked about Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s work is that the reader’s interaction and interpretation of the works plays a role in the alchemical equation that cannot be overstated and all-around renaissance man.

The Essential Goethe is a rich anthology that is comprised of a curated selection of poems, dramas (Faust Part I, Egmont, Iphigenia in Tauris, Torquato Tasso), the complete novel Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship, a highly readable selection from the travelogue Italian Journey and selected essays on art, philosophy, science and literature that show Goethe from a range of different angles in different contexts.

All of the aforementioned rests on a sound introduction to Goethe’s life and works along with a chronology of Goethe’s life and times and a note on the texts and translations.

A cornerstone without which any halfway serious library would be incomplete.

Eames – Beautiful Details

Ammo Books

One might question that need for frivolous ornamentation and luxury furniture, that is until you have planted yourself in an original Eames lounge chair, which was originally created in 1956 – a pleasure I’ve recently had in Helsinki.

With its initial molded plywood and fibreglass designs, Eames has established itself as a premium brand that is comfortable, reduced to the necessities to provide ultimate ergonomic comfort and the fact that their emissions are eye candy is the cherry on top.

Eames – Beautiful Details is an ode in book form to the brand that does not stop with merely depicting the furniture but digs deeper by illustrating graphical concepts, images and essays that shed light on the underpinning ideas and inspirations that inform the production of what you will eventually sit on and the ethos of the brand that the Eames family has created.

An ethos that seems refreshingly devoid of pathos and pretence, which is further substantiated by the family documents and photos that are part of this book.

The creator themselves are involved and contribute essays that give an idea not only of the inner workings but also the poetry that informs their approach. What makes the book a must-have for aficionados as well as those only marginally interested in the brand is that it beautifully outlines all the other realms outside the confines of furniture design Eames is active in, e.g. toy design, architecture, exhibitions, films, graphical design, et cetera.

What pervades every facet of Eames’ work is that the husband-wife duo that started what has become an influential empire, created a trademark fluidity and seamlessness that is omnipresent in whatever form their output takes, with innovation always on the forefront of their minds.

Given the status of Eames and the attention to “beautiful details” they are known for, it is not further wondrous that the tome is housed in an opulent slipcover with a beautifully designed graphic pattern – a patterns derived from their lesser known “toy” designs aimed at children, which gives the affair an additional layer of playfulness and humour and signifies family Eames’ joyful spirit that makes this book a fulminant feast for their eyes.

An in-depth, multi-disciplinary essential source of inspiration for anyone remotely interested in the discipline of design and a manifest to the fact that problem-solving and practicality does not have to go at the expense of experimentation and creativity.

Hunter S. Thompson: Gonzo

Ammo Books

Let’s start off with one of Hunter S. Thompson’s rhetorical questions:

“So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived, or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?"

If you are interested in a bit more than what is readily available via mainstream channels about Hunter S. Thompson and apart from Johnny Depp’s caricature portrayal of him, this is your accessible resource resource. Immensely readable, filled with funny anecdotes provided by his many admirers and Weggefaehrten that have worked and travelled with him detailing the times, trials and shenanigans of this self-confessed and proud drug addict, that has carved his own lane and propagated what has become known as the phenomenon of “gonzo journalism”.

While not exactly zero-ing in on every detail of his life and not pretending to be a full-blown biography, this bright, graphical journey which at times invokes the impression that it is deliberately kept in the vein of a loosely arranged scrapbook, cements the impression that most would have had of the man – a maverick that lead a wild life, which is illustrated via the gallery of personal photos that shed light on his prowess away from the public persona in the spotlight.

The addition of related unedited excerpts from the man himself from his service days in the Air Forces via stints in the Caribbean and Vegas (including Rum Diary and Big Sur chapters) to the 1972 campaign trail and anthologised letters paint a comprehensive of Hunter’s world, along with photos in mesmerizing quality all printed on high-quality uncoated paper and excellent graphic design with vibrating colour schemes.

Needless to say that the at times gossipy tone adds to the entertainment, especially the melange and equal measures of admiration and fear of the man, which can be extracted in between the lines.

An authentic,  sweeping portrait of a showman, self-promoter, con and show man, father, friend, boss, neighbour, son, husband, and all around entertaining  nuisance that shows the reader a bit more of his personality than the crazy, drug-addled gun-loving side of him and evokes a smile here and then – it manages to create a bit of intimacy.

Gonzo offers more than a glimpse of Hunter’s personal truths and is an homage to a man that was ahead of his times. 

The book gives insight on an exemplary life with the most prominent voices coming from his friends and family not shying away from the ugly aspects, not just for die-hard Gonzo enthusiasts.

Open Frame: Room 40

Carriageworks

Sydney, Australia

June 28-29, 2018

2018 saw the third place  Carriageworks bringing back the biannual Room 40: Open Frame Festival, centred around curated offerings rooted in experimental, avant-garde and electronic boundary pushing music and, more interestingly, noise.

Two evenings brought established senior artists alongside young, emerging talents to the fore, with a dedicated focus on transcendence, intense sounds and purposefully aimed at expanding the minds of the audience:

A premiere came in the form of French electronic music composer Eliane Radigue, performing her 24th composition, Occam XXIV, which was commissioned by Carriageworks and performed by Australian composer and musician Cat Hope: Unfolding at a glacial pace, Éliane Radigue’s astral sound that is usually generated from synthesizers has been transformed into a collection of solo pieces with no scores and only verbal instructions. An intimate relationship and a foundation of trust between Radigue and the performing artist is a prerequisite to achieve what Radigue has ever so eloquently declared to be the virtuosity of absolute control.

Most prominently known for his four-volume album The Disintegration Loops, Avant-garde composer William Basinski premiered a piece specifically for the mini-Festival channelling his sound artistry with tape loops.

A Schmuckstueck in many aspects was the incarnation of plush toy enthusiast and iconoclast Charlemagne Palestine, who has been active since the 1960s, and who indulged in his usual manner in the maximal minimalism he has become known for. His intuitive and highly personal approach along with him interacting with his instrument instead of imposing structure on them, underlined his idiosyncratic, non-analytical, involving and boundless approach.

I have always had a weak spot for the emissions of Coil and it was fantastic to experience the last living member of the gang, i.e. Drew McDowall, perform. McDowall created a tapestry of music from the album Time Machines: Fantastic, deep mood-altering, spine-tingling soundscapes resting on a foundation that rest on both psychotropic and esoteric pillars, referencing occult tradition and imagery.

Chinese-born, Berlin-based Pan Daijing showcased after an overly indulgent introduction on the Friday night her industrial music which is heavily influenced by the 1980s, Chinese minority and Tibetan music, field recordings in temples and ritual practice. I guess one could interpret her theatrical approach as a composer and performer as “raw” and “cathartic” and I quite enjoy her focus on sound and expression rather than music and the fact that she manages to infuse noise with a sense of calm, however, the extensive self-indulgent monologue at the beginning proved to be a bit of threshold to get over.

Sydney-based artist Gail Priest delivered a well nuanced, introspective and cerebral performance using atmospheres of quietness, sculpted sound wave and field recordings, along with her processed voice and noise drones to diminish the distance between what seems diametrically opposite.

Another fantastic festival of experimental music in a venue that could not be better fitted.

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Photo by T

Swimming and How to Layer Up in Style

If you swim more regularly, you will be aware that the materials your gear is constructed with can greatly improve not only comfort but also your performance and of course the longevity of your swimwear.

As far as fabrics are concerned, nylon is by far the most common for obvious reasons, it being light and having the ability to dry quickly.

Cotton disqualifies itself for obvious reasons.

Lycra is often found as a component with the most prominent benefit being its elasticity.

Both materials have in common that they do not particularly well hold colour and that they must be treated to become immune to the effects of chlorine, which is usually added to pools in a bid to ward off bacteria.

Polyester proves to be chlorine and fade resistant, which is a major advantage as most swimwear quickly deteriorates due its harsh nature, and is often thrown in the mix, not unlike a fabric called Polybutylene Terephthalate, which is favoured for its ability to enhance aerodynamic performance due to it sitting snug on the body – the old equation that bulkier material slows you down holds true due to drag.

It also minimizes friction, which is an important advantage if you are a regular swimmer.

Needless to say that it depends on your personal preference, i.e. if you would like something functional or a fashion accessory to show off with.

A swimwear manufacturer that meets my criteria is the Australian free-spirited label Smithers, as they have managed to strike the balance between stylish swimwear made from quality materials that is also functional.

The Smithers Foundations collection which has slowly infiltrated my wardrobe is currently comprised of six designs across classic briefs and trunks, which show love to detail with a firm focus on providing snug and colourful comfort for the summer:

Not too loose not too tight, quick-dry and with their pattern game on point, making a subtle style statement on minimal real estate – after all swimwear should be fun, comfortable and not merely look the part but perform at a high level as well.

Some of the criteria also goes for underwear and socks: After all, it is the first garment you put on in the morning and the last one that is taken off.

Sure, who does not like a good bargain and that 10-pack of socks and underpants at your local discounter might be the economic way to go, however, you get what you pay for.

See, fibers matter.

You can feel it.

No matter if you are in the office, operate in the great outdoors or working construction – a cut that is both comfortable and functional is essential.

Undergarments being flattering is a welcome bonus that your significant other will surely thank you for.

Manrags covers those bases particularly well for me:

No matter if I go for a run or run a meeting, they are very comfortable by being stretchy yet sturdy and do not leave those ugly marks on your waist at the end of a long straining day.

Even after numerous washes, their happy medium trunks keep their elasticity and stay where they are supposed to be.

I am usually not into silk materials but Manrags feel silky without feeling too delicate, which is due to them using 100% Egyptian cotton, growing on the fertile banks of the Nile river, which is considered the king of all cottons as it is stronger, lighter, more breathable and absorbent.

It is not for nothing that Egyptian cotton is also commonly used for bed sheets and the fact that those cotton fibers are more suitable for solid and resistant colours is an added bonus – something that the colourful Manrags designs take full advantage of.

If you are a collector nerd or enjoy your assortment undergarments being enriched on a regular basis, Manrags offers the opportunity to become part of their own club:

You simply pick your essentials of choice, e.g. socks or underwear or both, determine the frequency of your subscription and curated pairs of socks and / or socks will find their way into your drawer on a regular basis.

Sorted in style and comfort.

For more High Adventures in the Great Outdoors, read T's Part 2: Protein.

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Photos by T

Hearing protection

EarPeace

Music.

Enjoyment.

Loud amps in your face.

Regular exposure to loud noises might have catastrophic consequences if hearing is not protected proactively.

With hearing being a complex system, there are a myriad of complications that can arise from constantly turning the amps to 11, preventable permanent hearing damage being only one of them, i.e. hair cell damage resulting in them no longer being able to carry sounds to the nerve cells.

We all would have experienced the warning signs indicating damage, e.g. the ringing noise persisting long after a live concert.

Others would have experienced tinnitus, which is about four times as likely to occur amongst musicians as with other demographics.

The crux is that once your hearing is gone, there is no real remedy.

Protection is essential in any loud environment, no matter if you are on or in front of the stage.

The first and easiest step to protect your hearing is to get a cheap pair of those foam earplugs.

They are omnipresent and can be easily procured at hardware stores and pharmacies.

While they are better than nothing and do the job of reducing the volume, they also come with the disadvantage of reducing higher frequencies and subsequently produce muffled or muddied sound.

More sophisticated materials, e.g. silicone, in plugs manage to reduce all frequencies equally, which helps to still get an accurate impression of what is going on.

It took me a bit of experimentation with loads of trial and error along with brushes with tinnitus, before I found a high fidelity reusable hearing protection that does not break the bank and yields great results:

EarPeace’s protection system fits the job.

They manufacture hearing protection that makes music still sound good and feels comfortably to wear.

My preferred variant, i.e. the HD triplets, come with three plugs each, three attenuators, i.e. sound redactors - which come in black for maximum sound protection (19 dB sound reduction), red for high sound protection (14 dB sound reduction) or flesh-coloured to provide medium protection (17 DB), and a handy little milled aluminum case with a keyring link that makes it easy to keep them around whenever needed.

What I like about the hypoallergenic silicone EarPeace sets is that they are designed to fit snugly in your ear and virtually disappear, while they are fairly easy to maintain and clean.

The dual-flange system comes with a pull tab for easy removal / insertion and the material even allows for them to be washed in warm soap water without impacting their quality.

While EarPeace might not be as well-fitting as custom made ones, once you get used to them, they are borderline unnoticeable plus they come at a much more reasonable price tag.

They do an amazing job at dialing down the volume while maintaining nuances, which is essential for musicians and the option to have three levels of sound protection to fit the occasion along with a spare plug is a nice touch.

Summa summarum:

A highly competent, discreet and comfortable system with a solid presentation made of high-quality materials offered at a reasonable price, which democratize professional grade hearing protection.

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Photos by T