A New Record

Due a record player for Xmas from the old dear, so I've started picking up the odd vinyl. Just so happens Durham market has just got a new record stall in the form of the excellent Record Shed, so searching that and the other long established stall has proved quite fruitful. Here's some recent picks ups pop pickers...

Mad Shirt

Everyone has a mad shirt in their wardrobe be it floral design, a loud madras or luminous pink. Or in my case all three. However this Aertex effort takes them to the next level, teaming up with the nutty boys to create this piece of merchandise for their 2010 tour. I was first aware of the shirt a few years ago when blogging about music / designer collabs but only sourced it of late after stumbling across one on the bay of despair.

Aertex has a rich heritage spanning all the way back to 1888, and historical highlights included kitting out the Desert Rats during the war and creating England's 1970 World Cup kit. And ten years into their third century it was working with Madness to create an instant cult classic - a trim fitting, button down gingham complete with Mad M. Mad not Mad.

One Step Beyond

Madness' debut album One Step Beyond was arguably their best, and definitely their most iconic. It was released 35 years ago next month and still has that heavy heavy monster sound throughout. Hey you! Don't watch that, watch this...