Dicepeople Music Profile

This music profile is a particular favourite: Dicepeople is a progressive audiovisual collaboration between Matt Brock and Rafael Filomeno. Brock plays and produces the music, and Rafael is the visual artist.

Dicepeople music profile

Dicepeople was originally set up in London, UK in the mid 1990s as an electronic side project when Brock was more heavily involved with industrial acts Noise Union and Replikator. In 2008, however, Brock transformed Dicepeople into his primary musical project and, with it, aimed to go beyond pure electronic music.

Dicepeople – Promo video from Dicepeople on Vimeo.

The tagline for Dicepeople is “dark electronica for the body and mind” because the aim is to create music which combines driving beats with evocative and emotionally engaging harmonies and melodies. The music has an electronic foundation with industrial and EBM components, and it mixes real instruments and voices with synthesisers to add cinematic depth and intensity.

Rafael joined in 2013 as a visual artist to take Dicepeople forward into the audiovisual realm that was always intended for it. The epic, visceral visuals produced by Rafael perfectly complement the powerful filmic soundscapes from Brock.

Dicepeople were nominated for consideration for the 2014 Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition shortlist by the judge Mark Muldoon, who said: “I’m nominating this dark electro-gothy outfit mainly for their full Soundcloud collection of 19 songs; there’s a remarkably high standard being maintained here”.

Dicepeople are currently working on a new studio album which will be released shortly.

The name “Dicepeople” is taken from the book The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart, and the comparison to diceliving is reflected in the wide range of influences and schizophrenic moments found in the music and visuals. Dicepeople recordings and performances incorporate a large variety of styles and genres; but the mood, intensity and dark atmosphere provide the necessary coherence and consistency to bind them together.

Dicepeople influences cover a very broad range of musicians, filmmakers and visionaries including Art of Noise, Black Sabbath, Can, David Cronenberg, David Lynch, Depeche Mode, The Doors, Front 242, The Future Sound of London, Hoodlum Priest, John Barry, John Carpenter, KMFDM, Marshall McLuhan, Massive Attack, Mike Figgis, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Nine Inch Nails, Oliver Stone, Pink Floyd, The Prodigy, Quentin Tarantino, Siouxsie Sioux, Tangerine Dream and Underworld.

My Skincare Secrets By Nakita Grewal

I’m going to share a skincare secret of mine, well of my mums. As the teenage years approached me I battled with the dark side of teenage acne, I tried skincare product after skin care product, spending from a few pounds into hundreds but I never found a product I was satisfied with. Not only was my skin breaking out but I also have the great honour of having dry sensitive skin so I have to be very careful with what I put on my face. After another failed battle in my war to control my breakouts, my mum made me a home remedy, a lemon and honey facemask. She never shared this with me before due to the sensitivity of my skin and how the lemon may react but since I tried anything and everything that I could find, there was no harm in trying this.

kate bosworth, beauty, skin., skincare

Get great skin like Kate’s.

 

It is a very quick and simple mask squeeze the juice of a lemon and mix it with honey in a bowl and apply to your face for about 10 – 15 minutes. After trying this the first time I’ll be honest I wasn’t that impressed but after doing this 1 -2 times a week for 3 weeks I noticed a difference I wasn’t having extreme breakouts and my complexion was starting to glow.

The lemon is the important ingredient in this. Firstly it dries up spots, and helps prevent breakouts as it is a natural cleanser. But it doesn’t stop there it helps in aiding an even skin tone and gives you a beautiful glow. But remember if you are using lemon on your face it is very very important to wear sun block as it does make your skin sensitive to the sun.

The honey works as moisturizer and a healer, as the lemon dries up and cleanses the skin, the honey works it magic to prevent over drying of the skin as well as healing the breakouts. These two natural products work hand in hand and leave you with gorgeous looking skin.

Also you can use the same ingredients to make a super face exfoliator by adding sugar. Use the scrub on your face for about 5 minutes going in circular motions to really scrub away at the dead skin cells and revive a new glow.

These techniques have helped me with my battle to control my skin and have worked wonders even with my sensitive skin.

 

What do you think? Do you have any beauty tips?

 

Dr Beckmann Cleaning Product Review

Cleaning isn’t glamourous but it does burn calories. So there is a silver lining to every cloud. Cleaning should always be as easy as possible, and for that you need the right products that really work: easily and fast. We tested these products from Dr Beckmann to see if they passed the test.

Dr Beckmannfloorcleaner Dr Beckmann

Dr Beckmann Hardwood & Parquet Floor Cleaner and Dr Beckmann Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner

Each floor cleaner is specifically for that type of floor. Both cleaners contain a clever bio protect formula which provides a stain protection layer, ensuing a long-lasting protection from stains and scuff.

Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner has caring ingredients so it won’t ruin expensive stone flooring. It can be used on sealed and unsealed floors and gives a deep but revitalizing clean.

Wood floors can also be very delicate and moisture can affect wooden floors, causing unsightly cracks and lifting around the edges. Dr. Beckmann’s Hardwood & Parquet Floor Cleaner protects joints and edges and evens out small scratches, helping keep its perfect appearance.

Both cleaners are good. Cleaning and caring well.

Dr Beckmannovencleaner

Dr. Beckmann’s Active Oven Gel Cleaner clings to the vertical walls and doors to cut through the tough baked on food, grease and grime leaving a sparkling clean finish. It also has no nasty chemical smells.

The oven cleaner is good and relatively pain-free. You just cover the oven with it and then leave it for a certain amount of time, depending on how dirty the oven is. Then you wipe with a cloth and warm water. It works well and there is no hard scrubbing needed.

 

–       Oven Cleaner £3.19

–       Hardwood & Parquet Floor Cleaner £4.99

–       Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner £4.99

 

Benefits Street: Good TV, and Fair

Amongst people who have actually watched Benefits Street, most say that it is good TV and that it fairly portrays life in impoverished communities

BenefitsStreet_logo_wA new YouGov survey finds the programme is a big hit with viewers, and amongst those who have actually watched it, the majority do not think it is unfair or in bad taste.

Read more here.

Here is some of the YouGov Survey.

Ever since it first aired on 6th January, Channel 4’s Benefits Street has caused outrage. After episode one, a number of James Turner street residents who appeared in the programme said they had been lied to about its intentions and wrongly portrayed; after episode two, Channel 4 said they would be given right of reply in a live TV debate; by episode four, it has received 1,700 complaints.

Now a new YouGov survey finds the programme is a big hit with viewers, and amongst those who have actually watched it, the majority do not think it is unfair or in bad taste.

A sizeable third (33%) of the population have seen at least some of Benefits Street on TV. Of those, 78% say they might or will definitely watch it again and only 20% say they probably or definitely will not.

Unambiguously, 62% of viewers say the programme is ‘good TV’ while only 30% say it is bad TV.

Most interestingly, amid claims that “[James Turner] street has been turned into a zoo and the residents feel like they are exhibits”, viewers who say the programme is fair outnumber those who say it is unfair two to one.

59% of viewers say Benefits Street “fairly portrays what life is like in impoverished communities and the difficult issues it brings up”, while 23 say it “unfairly portrays poor people and creates resentment towards people in real need”.

Further, people who are actually claiming some kind of benefits are more likely to say the programme is fair (34%) than unfair (24%). 28% of those not claiming benefits say the programme is fair, and 22% say it is unfair.

The series finale airs on Channel 4 on Monday 10th February.

Do you agree?

The Refinery | Restaurant Review

The Refinery is a good-looking restaurant in Southwark. It has a great vibe, lots of buzz and a sophisticated decor. We reviewed it on a Saturday and it was absolutely heaving.

Upon being handed the menu thinks get difficult, there is just so much to choose from. The menu is good and varied, something to suit every taste; from salads, to steaks to burgers. We notice on the special menu that there is some salmon and sea bass, the waitress (who is lovely and helpful) informs us that the fish is fresh, they get it from the market in the morning. I also spot a Negroni on the specials menu and immediately order it. Negroni’s are more bitter than my usual taste but I have a soft spot for them.

After much umming and ahing we finally decide on what to eat thanks to the waitress. We have prawn lollipops and a Mediterranean flatbread sharing platter to start. As you can see, presentation is impressive. The prawn lollipops in particular look great. The lollipops are amazing, perfect prawns in perfect batter. They come with an amazing sauce which also has just enough kick.

The Mediterranean flatbread is pitta bread, roast vegetables; peppers, aubergine and courgette- all great, two dips, both stunning. The homemade hummus has ruined me. I just don’t want to eat the supermarket stuff anymore. The baby ganoush is also superb.

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strawberrylemonadeWe ordered some Strawberry Lemonade. It was delicious and fresh.

salmon

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For our main we have the Pan-Fried Salmon which comes with stir-fried vegetables and teriyaki sauce, and the Cote De Boeuf Steak. All the steaks come with onion rings, chips, roast tomato and flat mushroom. To say it is a generous portion would be a vast understatement. I am so full after eating it that I have a coke float for dessert. More of which later.

The steak is amazing, well cooked and tender. I ordered it with a great peppercorn sauce. The tomato is roasted, I love roast tomato and the chips and mushroom are just as good. The onion rings are not greasy and are fried well. This was a very good choice; excellent meal.

The Pan-Fried Salmon is delicious; tender with stir-cooked vegetables and a wonderful teriyaki sauce. A great, Asian-influenced, meal. The fish is very fresh and the meal works beautifully.

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pornstarmartiniA Porn Star Martini: great cocktail that comes with a prosecco chaser.

princecharmingA Prince Charming. Another great cocktail. This one was fun and sweet.

negroniA classic Negroni. The cocktails at the Refinery are of a very high standard, and they don’t skimp on the alcohol.

brownie

The brownie is very good. Warm and wonderfully chocolatey. It comes with ice-cream.

cocktailThe Lemonade, the strawberry comes on the side. It is fun watching it become red.

cokefloat

For dessert I had a coke float as I was so full. This is a coke float with a difference: it has rum and sherry in it. They don’t skimp on their alcohol at the Refinery. There is no watering down of cocktails. The coke float is amazing and different. Very imaginative.

The Refinery is a brilliant restaurant. Definitely go and have a meal there. You won’t regret it.

10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits

Emilia FoxIf you have ever had your portrait taken and wondered at how the photographer created such amazing images of little ol’ you, then you’ll be surprised to hear that people are actually the easiest subjects to photograph. Unlike the natural world, people are actually willing and interested in having their picture taken and that puts you the photographer, in control. All of the elements of good photography are in your hands. You choose the subject, the light, potential themes, colours, etc. Technical details are not so important, the key here is imagination. SmugMug knows a thing or two about good photography and have compiled 10 tips to help you enhance your portrait skills. Watch out David Bailey!

1. Alter Your Perspective – Some of the best portraits are the ones that break the rules. So instead of shooting your subject at eye level, try changing the angle, either get up high and shoot down on your subject or get as close to the ground as you can and shoot up. Either way you will see your subject from a different perspective which will instantly add interest.

2. Play with Eye Contact – A strong gaze will give a powerful impact to your photograph and will also create a real sense of connection between the subject and those viewing. The direction of your subject’s eyes can also give character to your image. For example, you can create a little intrigue by making your subject look off camera, at something hidden from the viewer. Alternatively, you can give your subject something to look at that is inside the frame, creating a second point of interest and a relationship between it and your primary subject. This will also help create a ‘story’ within the image.

3. Look for a Full Range of Emotions – This is a particularly good advice when taking family portraits. Do not just take pictures when a scene seems sweet. Every emotion a parent, sibling, or child display is worth capturing—fascination, tears, passion, even boredom. Interaction between family members will prompt these emotions.

4. Experiment with Lighting – The power of lighting is sometimes overlooked and there are almost unlimited possibilities when it comes to using light in portraits. For instance, side-lighting can create mood, whilst backlighting and silhouetting your subject to hide their features can be powerful. Window light is also very beautiful for taking photos indoors, but you will need a reflector to put light back onto the shadowed side of your subject’s face. You can buy a reflector or even try making your own from a large piece of white card or a white sheet.

5. Move Your Subject Out of their Comfort Zone – Head and shoulder shots and other standard pose images can be nice but will they really make your picture stand out from the crowd? Agree with your subjects to create something special and out of the box, make them jump for instance or do something with their body that might sound silly at first but might turn out to be surprising and create a unique portrait.

6. Shoot Candidly – Posed portraits can sometimes limit your creativity and also block your subject to standard expressions. Adopting a candid approach is particularly good when photographing children or really any active subject that is changing their position or pose in quick succession.

Photograph your subject in a familiar space or doing something that they enjoy. This will put them more at ease, reacting naturally to the situation that they are in. Get them to have some fun and be spontaneous. The resulting photos will be full of life.

7. Use Accessories – Your subject still need to be the main point of interest but by adding accessories to your shot such as a piece of jewellery, a hat or simply a beautiful textured fabric you will instantly create another point of interest that will help enhance your subject and add an extra layer of depth.

8. Play with Background – Once again, the person in your portrait should be the main point of interest. However, you can dramatically alter the mood in a shot when you place your subject in different contexts. For example, choose a dramatic or colourful background, or be as minimalistic as possible and make you subject stand out. Experimenting is the key.

9. Go with a Wide Angle – Shooting with a wide angle lens can help produce creative and memorable portrait shots. Often overlooked as just a landscape lens, a wide focal length can open up a whole new world of opportunities and, contrary to popular belief, you can still get a flattering portrait of your subject – you just need to shoot in a slightly different way. If you are planning to take a distorted style wide angle portrait it is crucial to make the effect look as deliberate as possible, otherwise it will simply seem as if you have used the wrong lens.

10. Share Your Photos with the Right Tools – Finally, what’s the point of taking stunning portraits if nobody sees them? You can share your portraits with your friends and family by using SmugMug. With secure photo sharing you can create an online photo album where you can store and share all of your photographs in a simple, safe and secure place.

Visit www.smugmug.com for a free 14-day trial. Membership starts at $5/month.

How To Take A Good Selfie

Selfies are hugely popular, but surprisingly hard to do. Taking your own picture can take hours to perfect and can result in arm strain and dropped phones. Selfies on mobile phones are just ripe for disaster, if only you could have a self timer like on a real camera…well, of course you can. This is 2013, anything’s possible. And it costs under a fiver. Impressed? So were we. Thank us later.

How to take the perfect selfie

Fed up of trying to take selfies on your mobile phone? Or maybe you struggle to take pictures of you and your mates on a night out? You need the Snap remote, the simple remote links to a free downable app, and all you have to do is position the camera, step back and snap away.

The Snap remote costs just £4.95 from prezzybox.com

Top Beauty Products

There are millions of beauty products out there, so Frost did the hard work and sourced the top beauty products for September.

The Nail Polish and lipstick.

Gothic Glam from Collection. From the 25th of September the Gothic Glam Collection will be available in Superdrug. Perfect for vampy dark nails and statement lips. There are three new shades of lipstick and four darkly chic nail colours. At £2.99 for the lipstick and £3.19 for the nail polish, you can afford to experiment.

The Health Kick

We reviewed Krill Oil. Full of Omega-3 fatty acids. Harvested from Antarctic krill, a shrimp like crustacean that lives below the ocean. Full of DHA, EPA’s and astaxanthin. Our writer had less joint pain and an improvement in their back pain. They also think their memory improved. Sounds good. www.krilloil.com

The Calmer

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During these hot summer months  Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray has been a godsend. Cooling us off and improving our skin tone. This 50ml can is even small enough to take traveling. It is perfect for planes. Celebrity fans include Gwyneth Paltrow who says it is a ‘soothing water spray for irritated skin. It’s also good as a quick refresher on a hot day. I know lots of makeup artists who use it, as it helps set makeup.” and Sophie Dahl says it keeps her skin from getting dry. Angelina Jolie is also a fan. It is only £3.15 for the 50ml spray and £6.50 for 50ml. Bargain.

The Unsung Beauty Hero

Cuticura-Anti-Bacterial-Hand-Serum-181563

How many times a day do you think you touch your face? Research shows that we touch common objects 3.3 times per hour and our face 3.6 times. The germs transfer to the face and may lead to skin irritations, bacterial and viral infections. Step in Cuticura and its range of antibacterial skin care solutions.

I always carry their Cuticura Anti Bacterial Hand Serum in my bag. Especially as a women’s handbag is supposed to have as much bacteria as the average toilet. Ew. It protects hands from germs for up to 8 hours. It kills 99.99% of germs and only costs £3.49 for 200ml. Unlike other antibacterial hand gels, it also keeps hands soft and smells nice.

I also love their Cuticura Hand Hygiene Anti-Bacterial Wipes Which I use to clean my makeup bag, brushes and my handbag. I also use their Anti Bacterial Hand wash. It is good for my dry skin and also protects for up to 3 hours. They cost £2.49 from Sainsbury’s, Superdrug and independent pharmacies.

The Toxin Free Nail Polish

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Toxin Free Nail Polish is huge now. People are taking much more care about what they put on their face and nails. Dielle Nail polish is made in France and free from toluene, formaldehyde, DBP, camphor and pthalic acid. Great quality and the polish will dry in seconds. www.dielle.co.uk

The Tough Love

beauty, beauty review, top beauty products

The Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter Tough Stuff Body Scrub may have a very long name but just call it CB Tough Stuff. These great sachets from tanning brand Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter tackles rough areas for a smooth silhouette. It also removes stubborn old tan and prepares skin for the next application. This scrub from the best-selling Irish brand is perfect for knees, elbows, feet, ankles and hands. £4.50 for 50ml X 2 at feelunique.com

The Vegan Multi-tasker.

steamcream, moisturiser, beauty, tin, beauty review

I saw Steamcream being made recently. It was pretty cool. They use the finest 100% vegan, fresh ingredients. This amazing moisturiser is made with steam, this unique method creates a super moisturising cream with added essential oils. Available in over 25 countries and suitable for sensitive skin. The beauty elite love it. Available from Selfridges and John Lewis.

The Exfoliating Body Cream

Top Beauty Products

Docteur Renaud Peach Exfoliating Body Cream. Brilliant stuff that leaves you silky smooth. Helps with lumps and bumps. Just really good stuff that works. Available from Marks & Spencers.

The Organic Balm

organic, beauty, balm.

Niki’s Organic Balm’s are a blend of organic oils, essential oils and beeswax. Niki trained as a homeopath and a reflexologist. She was surprised how many balms were petroleum or mineral based oil. She bought beeswax, oils, essential oils and started making her own foot balms. Her balms are antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. They smell fantastic and she now has a few different varieties. Her original balm is good for everything from cold sores, insect bites and cracked heels. I talked to Niki’s son about her balms and the family passion really came through. Great balms that work. http://www.nikisbalms.co.uk

The Water

Volvic Tropical-Fruits-50cl review

Keeping hydrated is very important for good skin and health. Volvic Touch of Fruit’s newest edition, Tropical Fruits Flavour tastes great. Combining Volvic Natural Mineral Water and a tasty blend of pineapple, mango, and passion fruit flavours, it made us feel like we were on holiday. Great when you want something more than water, watch out for the sugar content though. 

Volvic Touch of Tropical Fruits is available in 50cl and 1.5l bottles from Tesco and independent stores (RRP 80p for 50cl, and 99p for 1.5l.

 

What is your top beauty product?