HomeMonthly archiveAugust 2010

Now this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I came across Sub Focus this week, and I'm loving the raw energy going down here.

The most popular track on iTunes is Rock It. It kicks off with killer guitars exploding in perfect unison with drums, then a drilling synth announces blast off on a sonic voyage through bass, through breaks, through other layers of synth worlds. The drums, an array of synths and bass lines swipe in and out, compete and swap leads. It's chaos and order at the same time. 

The mind, and soul behind this tune is clever, complex and delightfully delightfully creative.

I'll stop because I sound like a burk and lack the lexicon to describe what I hear. But I'm impressed, no its more than that, every once in a while, every few years perhaps, I've come across a sound that utterly arrests. This is one of those sounds, this is one of those rare moments.

Splash, another lovely track with sweet synths and a rising euphoric theme. A harmonious synth tethers the track, as the drums drive in a way that forces me to move. Up the track goes, and my spirit with it then wham, a new lead synth, shoves its way in tethered in perfect unison with a dirty bass, together the are rude, bold and consuming... more perfect breaks... again a very very lovely and skilled composition. 

For those who like a Psy-Trance harder edge, Timewarp is pretty intense. Those without a certain history may think this track is like being tortured back in 'nam by the VC. It's pretty trippy for sure, I can almost see the lid coming off the tent... It takes me right back to all sorts of moments of my very own sub focus.

On iTunes, it has 164 - 5 star ratings and comments like:

 

"Sub Focus has truly wowed me"

"A Landmark in Music"

"Wow"

 

Nuff said.

Sub Focus AudioFuel, I'd eat my left leg to run with that.



We were delighted to have been selected as one of the research partners for the EROS project funded by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council).

Over 1100 people responded to the Runners World invitation to participate in this reseach into runners performance and runners emotions led by Professor Andy Lane from Wolverhampton University.

In this short video (2 mins) Andy describes the research objectives, method, and findings.

And no suprise to us... independent and academically rigorous proof that AudioFuel improves performance.

You can see a longer version of this film, with more detail on the interventions here.

 


I shot this spectacularly 1970's feel video with its flicking screen by chance as Mo Farah stormed to victory in the 2010 European Athletics Chapionships in Barcelona.

What an inspiration to see Mo command the tactics, psychology and running in the final few laps.

It gives me goose pimples...



To celebrate my forthcoming holiday with Bob, here are 2 lovely photos from last weekend. 

I love that boy, even when he's standing on my head.

He can run too, with a cadence faster than Mo Farah, and I mean really fast.