Carl Auböck Rooster Bell

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—01. Three inches high.

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When considering Carl Auböck’s wide array of brass objects, which includes bookends, paperweights and keychains, things like this rooster-shaped bell seem to receive a little less attention. I suppose there aren’t many uses for it, but everyone should have at least one seemingly superfluous item displayed around the home that brings them joy.

—Available from The Future Perfect

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra: The Conny Plank Session

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—01. Released on LP and CD.

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"Unreleased Ellington studio sessions have a paucity to match the plentitude of his vault live releases, so this crafty little quickie – just 29 minutes – is something of a revelation. The unlikely setup: Duke in Cologne in 1970 to record for synth-maven engineer Conny Plank, a man accustomed to working with Kraftwerk rather than swing titans.

But it’s fascinating to hear late-career Ellington go all experimental, embracing studio wackery. Of the two cuts here, meted out in alternate takes, 'Alerado' has the surest form. It’s akin to a bluesy, flute-infused African samba, as though Ellington’s roots have enmeshed with Brazilian rhythms and commenced growing in Germany. One wonders how quickly the takes came after each other, if their approaches were much debated or decided on the fly. The first take is pastoral; the second has a more assertive ensemble that bucks up against Ellington’s Jimmy Smith-type organ voicings; and the third is gutbucket hoodoo driven by Harold Ashby’s tenor saxophone. This, clearly, is the Duke enjoying himself.

The three takes of 'Afrique' could have been lifted from some bizarroland Can project. The first and best is pure sound painting with sweeps of organ roiling atop a drum roll that is akin to some tribal summoning. Stabbing piano notes break in at intervals, like that needly percussion one encounters in noir films as someone creeps up the back stairs. The old Turk has gone young again." Colin Fleming, JazzTimes.

—Available from Grönland Records

Sanca Satin Field Jacket

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—01. Four front pockets with concealed buttons.
—02. Two piece sleeves with button cuffs.

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Although it's been around since 2007, Sanca is one of those brands that is still disappointingly underrepresented outside of Japan. Thankfully, The Garbstore is buying the line and one of the items they've selected is this mid-weight cotton field jacket, featuring twin needle topstitching and a personal favourite design detail of mine: useful oversized pockets.

—Available from Couverture & The Garbstore

Stevenson Overall Co. Comfortable Revolver Shirt

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—01. Woolen beaver cloth.

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This black melton shirt by Stevenson Overall Co. is a subtle stroke of genius. Featuring chunky Native American concho buttons and felled side seams, the casual staple is made in Japan from a soft woolen fabric known as beaver cloth, which was originally produced in England to resemble the animal's felted fur. 

—Available from Self Edge

Red Wing 9096 Caverly Chukka Boot

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—01. Black Esquire leather.

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I recently discovered Red Wing’s Caverly Chukka, a style which doesn't seem to be offered by many of the brand's stockists, and was duly impressed. The timeless two-eyelet boot fits my utilitarian requirements for everyday leather footwear, and would work seamlessly with any casual jeans and T-shirt uniform. Made in Minnesota on the Postman last with a Gro-Cord Medallion sole, I can only imagine how incredible they'd look after years of regular wear.

—Available from Red Wing Amsterdam

Raoul De Keyser: Drift

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24 Grafton Street
London W1S 4EZ
November 26, 2015 – January 23, 2016

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The late Raoul De Keyser's first exhibition at the David Zwirner gallery in London is nearing the end of its two-month run, but there’s still time to see the show before it finishes next week. Drift features 22 paintings known as The Last Wall, completed shortly before the artist’s death in 2012, which are being shown together for the first time. It also includes works from the 1990s and 2000s, that similarly display De Keyser’s sparse and intriguing painterly expressions.

—David Zwirner

Skultuna Kin Tea Light Holders

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—01. Silver-plated brass.

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Skultuna is a company renowned for its Swedish-made brass and sterling silver objects, established by King Karl IX in 1607. Judging by these exquisitely simple tea light holders designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune, it’s clear that with over 400 years of experience, they have beautiful everyday items down to a science.

—Available from Trunk

Wacko Maria Drunkard's Dream Shirt

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—01. 100% cotton.
—02. Chain stitch embroidery.

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A mechanic’s work shirt just this shade of green, often to be found in vintage stores, is something I’ve always kept an eye out for. This one, offered by Wacko Maria, raises the level a little bit with a mix of bold chain stitching and subtle stamped branding. The back is especially good, presenting the Japanese brand’s continual music references in a beautiful bowling-cum-filling station script. It's a great piece, even if you don’t like green as much as I do and want to play it safe with the black or navy version.

—Available from Union