Amid the flurry of stuffy and more “proper” high-end labels at fledgling mall The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, new multi-label store The Society of Black Sheep (if the name is anything to go by) stands out for its unpredictable and quirky mix of clothes, shoes and accessories; spanning underground labels like Sydney’s Mjolk, Injury and Friedrich Gray, Helsinski’s Minna Parikka and London’s People’s Market, House of Holland and Lungta de Fancy. Not necessarily the kind of clothes that will tickle the fancy of the preppy set that frequents the mall, but the trio behind Black Sheep—Lim Li Hsien, LY Lim and Eric Lim—are undeterred with their more leftfield selections. “We put the clothes together with a thought for the individual who appreciates incongruity, but with the preference to express their uniqueness in a subtle way,” says Lim. “The three of us come from a generation that has the freedom to travel and shop almost anywhere. We enjoy having the ability to make style discoveries on our own, and put together unique personal looks. So we created a slice of everywhere right here in Singapore, and put in pieces that work for a grown up lifestyle that is still subtly edgy.”

That said, the design, aesthetics and layout of the store are by no means as unconforming. Old gentleman style meets vintage cool is the overall direction here, with British Raj style antique tables, iron bound chests, an ornate silver vase and portraits with sheep’s heads standing out among the wooden panelling and floors. Peppered throughout are a compelling mix of deconstructed and distressed pieces from Friedrich Gray’s Dislocation collection, Lungta De Fancy’s romantic styles, and wearable, casual pieces and shoes from House of Holland and Bstore. Upcoming in the next month or so are rock ‘n’ roll-inspired T-shirts and jeans by Bolongaro Trevor and flowy dresses by Handwritten.

The juxtaposition of the boutique’s direction with the rest of The Shoppes’ more conventional offerings is what gives it its edge. “We give a lot of thought to our displays ... to give our customers the inspiration to have the same playfulness and irreverence towards fashion that we feel,” adds Lim. “But we also never forget that our customers are busy people; so while they love their style, they don’t have to fuss about it while they go about their day, so comfort is always key for us.”

#B1-64 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7223. Open daily 11am-11pm.

Kanye West

Rating 4/5
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy / Roc-A-Fella
Never mind what you think of the man’s behavior; Kanye’s bad boys antics are played to the hilt here, his fourth and probably catchiest release yet. With beats and samples so infectious, who needs the likes of Jay-Z and Usher anymore? Check out the album’s signature nine-minute “Runaway,” a tribute to the douchebags and assholes in the world with samples from Rick James and Backyard Heavies fused with unforgettable piano tinkling—acting like a bad-ass has never sounded this good. TO

Twin Sister

Rating 4/5
Vampires with Dreaming Kids / Color Your Life / Domino
Looking for something upbeat and kooky enough to add some bounce to your weekday? This double EP by Brooklyn newbies Twin Sister (comprising of young hipsters Andrea, Dev, Gabe, Eric and Bryan) should do the trick. Equal parts The Knife and Velvet Underground with a sprinkling of Isobel Campbell, the latter whose voice can be heard in a few tracks, the album may be fun, but its hodgepodge of ideas and influences get a little lost in translation along the way. But for the most part, the album remains fantastically intriguing and gratifyingly unconventional all the same. TO

Chromeo

Rating 4/5
Business Casual / !K7
P-Thugg and Dave 1 of Chromeo almost single (or perhaps double)-handedly lay to rest the myth that music from the 1980s is nothing to celebrate. Bass slapping, robotic vocals and banging synths are the foundations of the band’s tracks. Business Casual is their third studio album featuring electro-funk jams like “Hot Mess” and “Night By Night” and other tracks inspired by cheesiness from the likes of Rockwell, Lionel Ritchie and Oran Juice (nice). Check out offbeat director Keith Schofield’s (who worked on Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck’s “Heaven Can Wait” and the infamous XXX video for Diesel) work on the music video for “Don’t Turn The Lights On” for some serious WTF moments. ZA

Asa

Rating 4/5
Beautiful Imperfection / Naive
Exciting times for the souland-pop genre with the emergence of talented Nigerian singer Asa. Her organically raw and husky vocal prowess seals the gap between what Amy Winehouse offered when she first burst onto the scene and the lyrical maturity of Erykah Badu. From the uplifting opening track “Why Can’t We,” to the melodiously upbeat “Maybe,” and the African-inspired “Ore,” Asa works her lyrical magic in beautiful, serene fashion. ZA

John Adams

Rating 4/5
I Am Love / Nonesuch
This is probably one of the year’s most hypnotic soundtracks; not surprising since it’s basically reworked materials based on acclaimed composer John Adams’ earlier brilliant work—from 1978’s Shaker Loops to 1996’s Century Rolls. Film director Luca Guadagnino conceived his arthouse film I Am Love with Adams’ music in mind, and the result is music that is at once bravura and stirring—especially the 13-minute opener “The Chairman Dances,” which shimmers, bubbles and boils with its playful orchestral tones. TO

Mt. Desolation

Rating 4/5
Mt. Desolation / Cooperative Music
Keane’s pianist and second vocalist Tim Rice Oxley and bassist Jesse Quinn take center stage with their new band Mt. Desolation; and they are not alone. The self-titled debut album features a star-studded cast of some of the best names in alternative rock including Ronnie Vannucci from The Killers and Country Winston from Mumford & Sons. Oxley’s raspy vocals and songs endowed with warm spirited play and atmospheric quivers are the finer details that set the band apart from their contemporaries. More than a worthwhile listen if you can detach yourself from the Keane sound and enjoy this for what it is. ZA

Jerry Lee Lewis

Rating 4/5
Mean Old Man / Verve Forecast
Rock ‘n’ roll music legend Jerry Lee Lewis shows he’s still a mean musical force to be reckoned with in his latest collaboration effort Mean Old Man. There’s still a hint of the rockabilly goodness that Lewis was known for during his Sun Records days. The opening title track with Ronnie Wood certainly get things going with its catchy guitar hooks, while other frolicking numbers are with the likes of Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, John Mayer and Sheryl Crow; Lewis proves that he pretty much still has his groove on. TO

Esperanza Spalding

Rating 4/5
Chamber Music Society / Head Up
One of the latest toasts on the fusion jazz and chamber music scene, Portland native Esperanza Spalding’s debut album is an intoxicating mix of tinkling piano chords, precise bass lines and groovy trumpets, topped with Spalding’s soaring soprano voice. The result: Something that you’d play over and over again at cocktail parties where you can still have a decent conversation along the way. Spalding quotes William Blake’s poems in tracks such as “Little Fly” (go figure), so it’s not just all bubbly here. TO