All posts by TrendEngel

Industry Standard – Berlin is Setting the Standard

Industry-Standard-Berlin-Venue-620x350Berlin does not have to hide behind London, Paris and New York when it comes to innovative food. Industry Standard in the middle of Neukölln is a good example.  This is what they say about themselves:

We believe in giving whole beasts their due, and that extends not only to offal and off-cuts, the high-lights and low-lights of the flesh, but to the radishes and rutabagas that went into making them. We want to extend this philosophy into everything on offer at Industry Standard: From the inspired witchery of our house-made bitters to our selection of natural and biodynamic wines (curated by Viniculture) that express the soil and sea, the sky and the sweat that fed them. Forgotten or unexpected connections. Whole beasts, some of which, admittedly, may be mythical.

We think that “comfort food” is a played-out conceit signaling compromise more than any attempt to really connect. Food can be challenging as well as comforting – comforting because it is just goddamn delicious.

Industry-Standard-Berlin-Beef-TartarSo for drinking, fighting, feasting, lusting, larding and barding, reverent riffs on deserved classics, come to Neukölln. We will feed you.

Well  – this is what TrendEngel says: This is one of the most surprising discoveries of the year. The tartar is extraordinary and very very special and the cauliflower to die for.

TOPS – Montreal at its Best Picture You Staring

tops11_rebeccastorm_web-1024x678TOPS are a four-piece band from Montreal, equal parts girls and guys, delivering a raw punk take on AM studio pop. Their new record, Picture You Staring, is a lush array of timelessly crafted songs.

Picture You Staring gathers strength through intimacy. Self-written, recorded, produced, and the result of 12 months holed up in Arbutus Records’ Montreal warehouse. This album contains 12 impeccable examples of pop craftsmanship that will reward repeat listeners. This has still not been properly discovered. It’s about time.

Deutsches Theater Berlin – Herbstsonate

hp1herbstsonate18This is without a doubt the best play in German TrendEngel has seen in years. Adapted from the movie Autumn Sonata (Herbstsonate) by Swedish master Ingmar Bergmann this is captivating theater from the get go. Deutsches Theater in Berlin is the gold standard in German theatre. Now you know why. Seven years after last seeing her family, the world-famous pianist Charlotte Andergast visits her daughter Eva, who lives with her husband in the Norwegian countryside. Both Eva and Charlotte – who has consistently neglected her family for the sake of her career – hope for a reconciliation.

hp1herbstsonate81Charlotte’s second daughter Helena was admitted to a private clinic years before because of an incurable illness. When Charlotte arrives, she is surprised to find that her daughter Helena is now living with and being cared for by Eva. Charlotte covers up her annoyance about this unwanted confrontation with Helena. In an argument with Eva at the piano about the interpretation of a Chopin sonata, she upsets her daughter with her condescending tone, and the harmonious facade begins to crack. Director Jan Busse is almost as good as Ingmar Bergmann and the cast is the best of the best. You will leave the theatre a changed person. Go and see the play – There aren’t too many chances to do so.

Wayward Pines – Looks Like Great TV

wayward-pinesThe premiere is May 14th and TrendEngel has only seen the trailer. But looking at the cast with Matt Dillon, Juliette Lewis, Terence Howard, Carla Gugino and Toby Jones makes us think: Fox has a special treat in store for us. And yes, t is very mysterious thanks to M. Night Shyamalan. Watch this:

Yak – Smile – Nick Cave Reborn

Yak-Emma-Swann-18“I never said romance was dead”, Yak frontman Oli Burslem booms, channelling his inner Nick Cave over a sleazy guitar riff that’s positively dripping with darkness. This track, from the London-based trio’s forthcoming ‘Plastic People’ EP, clamps a vice-like grip on the temples and will leave your eyes bloodshot. Explosive and magnetic, it’s the kind of song reputations are built on. Smile is a great song and deserves your attention

The song is not on youtube yet – total grass roots. Here is the link to Soundcloud

True Detective – Nothing Stays The Same

What an idea. You have an amazing hit show everybody loves. You have McConaughey and Harrelson and you have critics at your feet. Then you start season 2 with a completely different cast. Crazy. But maybe not. True Detective is going down that route. Season 2 has Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Taylor Kitch and Rachel McAdams. I don’t want to tell you too much about the plot of the season – but check out the trailer before the season starts June 26th:

Touchnote Wins the Race For Best Postcard App

unnamedThe idea is simple. Take a picture anywhere in the world on the smart phone touch the send button and a real postcard is on its way to whoever you want. Oh, real means PRINTED – on paper or whatever they use.  This is not new and there are many apps doing this. PostDroid, Postino and Postagram are some of them. The best is Touchnote. No doubt.  Just phantasmic. Check it out. One of Touchnote’s novel features is the optional map print out. When you’re sending out a postcard from your phone, Touchnote reads your GPS location and can include a micro Google map image of your whereabouts, which it prints above the ‘TO’ address. This map block also includes the date and the city or town name, printed in text.

Tadao Ando: Houses

cn_image_3.size.tadao-ando-houses-cover-h545Tadao Ando is one of the most important architects of our time. Many architects begin their careers designing private houses, but few continue doing so after they have achieved a certain level of fame. And is one of those. The book: Tadao Ando: Houses is not brand new – but TrendEngel thinks this is one of the most beautiful books about architecture ever made and deserves to be on every books shelf.cn_image_2.size.tadao-ando-01-invisible-house-living-room-treviso-italy