Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi

Looking like a couple of very sharp dudes last week on BBC2's The Culture Show were producer Danger Mouse (real name Brian Burton) and composer Daniele Luppi talking about their new album Rome.

Inspired by the soundtracks of Spaghetti Western films of the 60s, the new release features vocal contributions by Jack White and Norah Jones and was five years in the making.

Summer jackets from Albam

You may have noticed I'm a big fan of a well-made jacket. And I'm also a big fan of Albam. So when Albam turns out a well-made jacket I'm doubly happy. Recently however, they've gone one better, and turned out two well-made jackets, both excellent for the sort of summer evening when a shirt alone won't suffice.

First up is this very neatly constructed Shawl Collar Deck Jacket, which comes in a 100% cotton 'loopback' fleece. Details include two pockets with studs and a zip front with hand-cut leather pull.

Next is their cotton twill Jean Jacket, cut from the same Italian cloth as their excellent chinos. I like the unfussy minimalist design of this one, just a single breast pocket and seven buttons at the front. And the classic jean jacket details at the back with two tabs.

To be honest, I haven't tried either of these on yet, but I'll definitely be popping down to their Soho branch in the next few days.

Grenson Oscar Chukka

There's always room for a great suede chukka boot in your wardrobe (or, if you're like me, sprawled over your bedroom floor). Particularly when it's from that classic Northampton shoemaker, Grenson. Their Oscar Chukka comes across as a smarter, more refined desert boot, with its beige suede uppers, leather lining and goodyear welted crepe sole. Get them now at Tres Bien shop

Review: Workers 1904 Jacket

This week, the beige Workers 1904 Jacket I ordered from Japan's K&TH Manufacturing Co. back in February was delivered by courier. The package that arrived was a very slim cream coloured envelope, branded with company and garment info, with the jacket folded inside a cellophane inner sleeve. On opening the envelope, my first impression was how light and delicate the jacket was, with only a little more weight to it than a long sleeved linen shirt. This is partly down to the jacket's lightweight construction (there's no lining) but also down to the very light, fine weave linen used in its construction. The fit is slim on the body, but also very slim on the arms - more like shirt sleeves than a traditional jacket.

If I was honest the 1904 jacket feels like a delicate version of an Engineered Garments Bedford or Andover jacket.

There are three external pockets, two internal pockets and an absence of labels (no care instructions for instance). However, there is a K&TH Manufacturing Co. patch with the size and garment name handwritten onto it.

I didn't know what to expect, this being my first piece of Workers clothing, but I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. I look forward to wearing the 1904 jacket this summer in the tropics, and ordering more pieces from them in future.

Walker Evans

A brief tribute to the photographs of Walker Evans, chronicler of Depression era America. Evans's lens found a haunting beauty in the faces of the poor and hungry as well as the facades of numerous down-at-heel businesses.