Film

Format & Phill ‘UK vs Philly’ + Mr Armtone SS25 mixes

A very special pair of exclusive mixes on Solid Steel this week (isn’t there every week?) or should that be three mixes?

First up we have DJ Format AND Phill Most Chill, hot off the release of their new album, ‘The Foremost’, they’ve put together a 30 minute mix each, representing their home turfs of the UK and Philadelphia respectively and in Matt’s own words:
“Instead of doing yet another promo mix that incorporates a song or two from our new album, I thought it would be fun for me & Phill to each do a 30 minute mix of Hip Hop from our respective areas. I’m from Southampton, and since that’s not a very big place I thought it would be more fitting to play some of my favourite old UK Hip Hop records. Philadelphia always had a healthy Hip Hop scene that boasted famous artists such as DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince, Cash Money & Marvelous and Steady B just to name a few. Phill wanted to showcase some of the more obscure/random Rap records from Philly that he loves.”

You can hear and buy the album HERE and HERE – I know this is the third post about it in as many weeks but it really is great.

Next up is Solid Steel’s Russian agent, Mr Armtone, back with the follow up to his ‘Time Machine’ video mix from last year (how does he do it?). Firmly club-based in style and with a very high standard of visuals and on-screen blends (no YouTube rips here) he brings a 80 minute AV set to add to the quality collection we’re slowly building on our Vimeo page.

Mr. Armtone – Time Machine II from Solid Steel on Vimeo.

Posted in Film, Mixes/Solid Steel, Solid Steel. | 1 Comment |

DJ Format & Phill Most Chill LP – ‘The Foremost’

I was lucky enough to hear this in full the other night and it is stunning. Straight up Hip Hop, the way you like(d) it but far from an old school nostalgia-fest. One producer, one MC and only one track featuring guests – it’s 10 tracks of no nonsense beats, rhymes and the odd scratch. Fast and funky as fuck with a Mr Krum sleeve to boot – another addition to the ever-growing list of great albums released this year. Out 28th October 2013 on Project Blue Book on Vinyl, CD and Download. Check out the video sampler below.

Posted in Design, Film, Music. | No Comments |

New version of Keloid short by BLR_VFX

Those of you with a good memory might recall that I posted a short film nearly 2 years ago called ‘Keloid’ by the BLR_VFX studio – some of whom worked on District 9 and Elysium. BLR stands for Big Lazy Robot – check the out here. In the last 3 days they’ve updated it and all I can say is ‘wow!’ No one does mecha better, make a full length feature like this and I’m there.

Posted in Film, Robots. | No Comments |

(Mr) Chop ‘Illuminate’ LP


I’ve not even heard the whole album yet but I know I’m going to love it. As the description says: “Studio wizard Chop pulls out all of the analogue stops on the Motorik highway to Cybotron by way of a Tangerine Dream on his debut album for Now-Again. Album out NOW; download a free track at the link!”

Buy: Chop ‘Illuminate’ on iTunes
Download: Chop ‘Building Blocks’
Video By: MR.IMD
Chop website: here

 

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Elysium

I saw ‘Elysium’ earlier today and loved it. The design, acting and pace were all spot on, the cgi was incredible and, despite some seriously implausible technological aspects, it was excellent, easily my favourite film so far this year.

Comparisons with director Neill Blomkamp‘s earlier ‘District 9‘ were obvious but it definitely isn’t a retread as some reviewers have called it. The overall design is fantastic, especially the weathered, beaten up older tech on the ground and we were spoiled with both that and Syd Mead‘s shiny new designs for the rich living above the earth.

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Aborted Micronauts cartoon pitch illustrations

How cool is this? An animated version of the Micronauts toy and comic franchise that looks pitched somewhere between Transformers Animated and Tron: Uprising.

These are concept drawings, posted by Dave Johnson aka @Devilpig666 via his Twitter account after reaching 10k followers.

The pitch ultimately failed and it looks like it won’t be made because Hasbro bought the rights but he revealed that they would have got original Micronauts comic artist Michael Golden in to do some designs too.

Regardless, it’s just nice to see this modern day re-imagining of an old classic although this does look like it would be a bit less brutal than the old comics.

Posted in Art, Design, Film. | No Comments |

Jack Kirby concept drawings from ‘Argo’ up for sale

From the Heritage Auctions sale site where these two original Jack Kirby pieces are due to be auctioned this weekend:

“Jack Kirby Lord of Light/Argo “Pavilions of Joy” Illustration Original Art (1978). This incredible Jack Kirby illustration, loaded with the kind of style only “King” Kirby could provide, has a very interesting story connected with it. Originally conceived as production pieces for a proposed film, based on a Roger Zelazny Science Fiction novel, the commissioned art was stored away when producer Barry Geller lost his funding. It was later picked up by the CIA for use in a daring covert rescue mission of six Americans held in Iran. A fake film production company was created, with offices set up in Hollywood, and permission to film scenes in Iran was obtained, all as a ruse to spirit the Americans out. The Ben Affleck film, Argo, is based on these true events, and this piece of art played a pivotal role in that astounding and successful mission.
The art is in ink on paper, with an approximate image area of 22.25″ x 17″, matted to an overall size of 26″ x 20″. The art is in Excellent condition, and even without the fascinating story behind it, this is Classic Kirby as you love him.

Incidentally, this piece and the other “Lord of Light” piece we’re offering have spent the last 20 years in the collection of star artist and DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee.”

* post script: in the end these two pieces sold for $16, 730 and $23,900!

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