Invisible Creature is no stranger to making incredibly impressive, jealousy-inducing, phenomenal work. I've loved what they've been up to since Day One. That being said, I'm blown away by this latest project. Stack and Scare! is a collection of "stackable monster blocks" - eyeballs, teeth, horns, torsos and other monster heads all mixed up and ready to make your own monster creation. They have a great vintage color palette and a playful yet slightly sinister vibe that is often lacking from toys of this nature.

Do yourself a favor and watch this promo video - absolutely stunning piece of work for such a wonderful creation.

Blocks available via Uncle Goose, the IC Store or independent toy stores.

Before you immediately scroll past this because you're seeing a picture of Russel Brand and the word "Revolution" so quickly placed together, let me implore you to take a step back and reconsider. This cover story article that Brand puts forth on the idea of revolution is surprisingly compelling, eloquent, heartfelt and inspiring. Yes, all those things. I realize he's a ridiculous comedian best known for Forgetting Sarah Marshall or some MTV UK antics but forget the preconceived notion - just give this a spin.

The article is overflowing with incredibly insightful pieces like this:

The right has all the advantages, just as the devil has all the best tunes. Conservatism appeals to our selfishness and fear, our desire and self-interest; they neatly nurture and then harvest the inherent and incubating individualism.

But it's not just nuggets of goodness, the overall flow and point of the piece is worthwhile. I actually don't want to oversell it and setup expectations for disappointment.. just do me a favor and read it sometime in the next week. And then re-read it a few days later to have it fully sink in.

via Caspar.

StudioNeat (the folks that made the wonderful Glif) have a new app available for just $2. Slow Fast Slow lets you manipulate movies you shot on your iPhone to 1/8th their original speed or shoot in 60fps. The example videos are pretty cool and if you're the type that's into capturing some great higher action sequences.

I've posted about background noise generators in the past but Noisli ups the ante by offering a wide array of different sounds and a color shifting background for the "healthy benefits of the chromotherapy." It's a nice looking, simple, site that actually does serve a useful purpose. Give it a spin today - maybe you'll achieve that higher productivity level they claim it provides.

Brinn

Had a chance this morning to tour the Lite Brite Neon Studio this morning and I was absolutely stunned at the work they do. I don't think I ever associated neon sign making with high art but seeing the glass bending process, the gas injection and electronic hookup certainly changed that. Browse through the work portfolio.. it's impressive to say the least.

Just a heads up for those of you that have a fond place in your hearts for Self. The band just announced that they'll be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Subliminal Plastic Motives, with a January show at the Gramercy Theater in NYC. Oh, and more importantly, a full vinyl re-release on Fat Possum. That's some incredibly exciting news as far as I'm concerned.

sad this sold out so quick, the die cut eyeball is phenomenal

Klaus-Peter Dienst maran a magazine with his brother Rolf-Gunther called Rhinozeros that introduced a readership to a lot of Beat writers and, maybe more importantly, a lot of handmade calligraphy and artworks.

He also published a book of typography, Carmina Burana, the creates an incredibly compelling typographic take on O Furtuna. Long story short, it's a name worthy of further investigation.

The Stillness and The Shadow is just one entry in a massive PETSCII Graphics Pack of random doodles. There's a major nostalgia factor for me when viewing these kinds of works but I'm still consistently impressed by what people are able to do with such a limited palette. Maybe it's a a mundane scene or a ridiculous character or a familiar absurdity - there's lots to love.

via text-mode.

@kparish and I were JUST talking about how we need new Mogwai in our lives

I've been pretty slack in getting proper mixes out into the world this year but I'm happy to report that my latest Halloween mix, Potions & Brews for Countless Horrors, is available for download! I think it's a pretty healthy mix of legitimate creepiness and somewhat goofy goodness.

Potions & Brews for Countless Horrors
[ Stream It | Single MP3 | Single M4A | Individual MP3 ZIP ]

1. Evangelism
2. Upright T-Rex Music - Wataah DemBones
3. Goblin - Witch
4. Ultras S/C - 1417 Roberts Ave
5. The Dead Pirates - recorded by the devil
6. Penicillin Baby - Teen Wolf
7. scntfc - Lotus:Ribbon
8. Powerglove - Crypt
9. Count Drizzle - D.R.I.ZZ.L.E
10. Jookabox - Webbin'
11. Shaboi - Gozer's Boombox
12. Disasterpiece - The Outlaw
13. Vindictaphone - Unentertained
14. Audio Error
15. The Revival Hour - Hold Back
16. Forget Cassettes - Catie Age 30
17. Ral Partha Vogelbacher - Aeroflot
18. Makeup and Vanity Set - A Prologue
19. Fops - Ghoster
20. Ben Babbitt - Animal Bones (Exit)

Previous Halloween Mixes
Paralyzed with Fear (2012), Endless Hell (2011), My Descent Into Madness (2010), Dark Despair (Undead Trespass) (2009), Crepuscular (2008), Et Tu, Morte? (2007), Songs for Spooks (2006), Pure Terror (2005)

Been loving this new track, "China Plate", from Steelism. It's part of a new 7" split with Andrew Combs that happens to also be available for pre-order if you're into it.

What can be said about Scroll Down To Riker? It's perfect. Thank you Paul.

I'm not even sure how I ran across it but YouTube has a alternate "mode" of operation I never knew about. Feather is a very lightweight, barebones, stripped down version of the site with a good deal of the extraneous goods removed - including comments and share tools. You know, the stuff you probably ignore for the most part. It is noticeably faster loading but I'd love to see the video itself be a bit bigger. Give it a spin!

Hiro Murai

Halloween is right around the corner so next weeks playlist will probably come a bit early.. or maybe it'll be doubled up. Who knows what will happen! Regardless, here's this weeks distraction with a promise of plenty more on the way.

• Drink Up - nice bit of motion graphics here but the really important part is the music - composed by Upright T-Rex Music - aka Uncle Skeleton + Nahnee Bori. It's the perfect Halloween ear nugget (side note: Halloween Ear Nugget is a great, disgusting, costume idea).
• RetroReport: Burned By McDonalds - it's 12 minutes long and I don't expect anyone to watch the whole thing but the Hot Coffee Lawsuit is a case worth educating yourself on. Most people think it was flippant and a prime example of our overly litiguous society but, in reality, it was an old woman who just wanted compensation for receiving 3rd Degree Burns from a cup of joe. It's like when you hear Al Gore being mocked for inventing the Internet - the media has you believe one thing but reality is something else entirely.
• Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name (Less Angry Version) - you must stick with this until after the solo, the choral obscenities are beyond perfect.
• "I Will Always Love You" Struggle - being a child is difficult. Why you would put this online is beyond me but it's good to see that youth still struggles.
• Sleeping Cat Accordion Dreams - how does this only have 114 views? Adorable.
• Hand Feeding a Friendly Platypus - can someone add a chippering sound to this little guy? It's the only thing keeping it from ultimate perfection.

More distractions here.. Oh, and I recommend that Arcade Fire preview because, well, why wouldn't you?

Have a great weekend!

It was fully funded in a mere 26 hours but I still highly suggest investigating (and backing) Night in the Woods - a forthcoming game from Alec Holowka of Towerfall and Scott Benson of Late Night Work Club - two incredibly talented people. Seeing Benson's illustration and animation style in an interactive setting is an exciting notion and I'm happy to watch the progress.

Kate sent out this article, Google Wants You to Live 170 Years, that speaks to some of the stranger investments of the search giant, namely pharmaceuticals aimed at life extension, regenerative enhancement and anti-aging. Honestly, it's probably not as creepy as it sounds. It's just investments looking for a return. We've all been involved in drugs that enhance our livelihood in comparison to prior generations but it always feels scarier when it's not already part of the status quo. If it brings about the end of cancer or more years as a young-ish person, I'm interested.

new track from Mr. Glassmeyer. Loving the vibe.