As some of you may remember, we produced a mix with our friend DJ Kojiro from Tokyo’s Fragment Design for our Q123 anniversary event last year. What started off as a simple mix evolved into a series of parties and events in the Tokyo night scene, featuring Kojiro and other Tokyo DJs - Ryota Trigahara (Future Primitive), Daisuke Gemma, and others.

We reunited with Kojiro again this year to create a second mix, this time to create a dual CD set with another good friend of ours; the venerable Fraser Cooke. Originally from London and despite being known primarily for his role in pioneering various sub-cultures all over the world over the last 20 years and his position as a global marketing director for Nike, Fraser still returns to the DJ booth from time to time in his new hometown of Tokyo to spin a set at various venues across the vast Tokyo night scene. Much like the first edition of Vintage Noise, this mix was recorded using classic Bozak/Urei equipment and exclusively in vinyl, in accordance to both of these audiophiles’ high standards for sound quality.

Releasing tomorrow evening at our Qubic Carnivale Third Anniversary Event, the first 30 people to arrive will receive a copy of this mix, and we’ll be sending a few to friends, DJs, and fellow music aficionados around the world.

Many thanks to Kojiro and Fraser for working on this project with us, and to audio engineer Ben Lawson for the late nights and mastering. For those lucky enough to grab a copy, I hope you like what we’ve come up with for this year’s edition of Vintage Noise.

Cover art: Kojiro & Frank Liew
Mastering: Ben Lawson, Red Bull Studio NZ.

Incredible. Burn Ignite : Ride : Featuring Steve Berra.

The other night, I went for a spin in a friend’s freshly rebuilt 450bhp N1-RB26 WGNC34 Nissan Stagea.

245km/h later, I’m wondering if I’ve forgotten what a fast car driven fast felt like.

You either have it, or you don’t.

Sean Aickin, celebrated local photographer and perhaps one of the biggest camera geeks I know. He was our host during a recent trip to Wellington, and is also the manager of Wellington Photographics Supplies, the city’s largest photo store. Here’s a couple of gems we found in their cupboards.

Nikon S3 commemorative edition, a superb replica of the classic ‘58 model. Stunning.

Have you ever wished you had a wider lens when you were framing a shot? Fear no more. This panorama camera shoots four full frames at once. You’d have to be a pug dog with telescopic vision to see wider than that.

As you can see, it’s great for keeping it in your handbag and whipping it out at parties for those impromptu party snaps. Very discreet…

Thanks Sean & Louise.