ÔÇÿManhattanÔÇÖ by New York City rock band Skaters lands into early 2014, exposing more than a sly glance to similarly Big Apple obsessed bands of recent years. ÔÇÿTo Be Young In NYCÔÇÖ is a song right on this line of thought, coming across as somewhat arrogant and indulgent, perhaps a feeling exclusive to listeners who have never had the privilege of visiting the city. In … Continue reading Album Review: Skaters – ‘Manhattan’
Playing in Cardiff for the first time since the release of mini album ÔÇÿCome What MayÔÇÖ in December, alternative folk quartet Clutching At Straws headline TRMMusic AgencyÔÇÖs new event Sway in Soda Bar on this February Thursday evening. With dimmed lights, silver silk across the ceiling and sparkling circles hanging around the barÔÇÖs logo, this isnÔÇÖt the typical venue for a group used to playing … Continue reading Live Review: Sway (Clutching At Straws), Soda Bar, 20.02.14
Swedish sensation Tim Bergling, better known by his stage name Avicii, is one of the biggest and most in-demand DJÔÇÖs in the world right now. His eagerly anticipated True Tour kicked off in Australia at the end of January and touched down in Blighty on 21st February, where the house DJ performed to a sold out EarlÔÇÖs Court in London. Following on from headline slots … Continue reading Live Review: Avicii, Earls Court (London), 21.02.14
The ÔÇÿindie kitchen sinkÔÇÖ (whatever that means) Geordie trio Little Comets have certainly come a long way since their unprecedented gigs in Marks and Spencer when they burst onto the scene in 2009. While the well-known catchy tracks such as ÔÇÿDancing SongÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿOne Night In OctoberÔÇÖ continue to attract sell-out crowds to their shows, their newest release ÔÇÿThe Gentle EPÔÇÖ greatly reflects the bandÔÇÖs … Continue reading Album Review: Little Comets – ‘The Gentle EP’
There’s been a recent trend in broadcasting theatre, either live or recorded, on the internet or in cinemas. But people have been debating about whether this encourages people and shows, or discourages them and just allows them to stay at home. Jasmine Freeman tells us both sides of the story. The latest trend of streaming live theatre is breaking down the barriers between the masses … Continue reading Into the Stream
With the beginning of the Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs new season; ÔÇÿFallen WomenÔÇÖ, in Wales Millennium Centre next week, the subject of operaÔÇÖs place in the young adultÔÇÖs life is questioned. Jordan Nicholls takes us through some of the myths that have popped up around opera, and why theyÔÇÖre false. Many young adults are culturally curious, and enjoy activities such as trips to the museum and … Continue reading Fallen Women, Falling Myths
The Killzone franchise is seemingly to Sony what the Halo franchise is to Microsoft. Both are first-person shooters set in the future, with the first three main entries being centred on an intergalactic/interplanetary war and now they can add ÔÇÿfourth entry being a sequel-reboot’ to the list of similarities. Case in point, Killzone Shadow Fall, the fourth instalment in the Killzone franchise and PlayStation 4 … Continue reading Review: Killzone: Shadow Fall
Features editor Andy Love provides a quick guide to the Quench LGBT+ section and the wider Cardiff LGBT+ community, including the society, spots in town, and events. Hello, everybody! Welcome to the first LGBT+ page of the year! We would like to take this opportunity to clarify what to expect from both this section and Cardiff University as your chosen place of study in regards … Continue reading Getting to Know your Community
ItÔÇÖs a new year and that means some great new fashion trends!┬áAdmittedly, itÔÇÖs been a cold and wet start to the year, but contrary to the weather outside, the fashion forecast for 2014 looks brighter than ever.┬áFrom classic checked patterns to loud and proud slogan-bearing t-shirts, this yearÔÇÖs styles are diverse and there is something for everyone. Nothing says spring like soft pastel colours. True, … Continue reading Spring Trend: Pastels
The length of a tea skirt falls between a maxi and a midi. Whilst the growing spectrum of hemlines may seem pedantic, the images conjured up of Alice in Wonderland style tea parties makes it all seem not so ÔÇÿmad hatterÔÇÖ. Although being pioneered as a spring trend by brand Alice + Olvia┬áthe tea skirt can be seen in many other S/S14 runways and is … Continue reading Spring Trend (Editors Pick) – Tea Skirts with Cropped Tops
Listening to RadkeyÔÇÖs new single ‘Feed My Brain’, it is clear to see that this punk-rock group are trying a different approach to their usual style of music. Gone is the fast paced tempo seen in tracks such as ‘Romance Dawn’, as instead we are introduced to a slower-paced, yet equally rocky sound. However, far from detracting from this bandÔÇÖs compelling music, ‘Feed My Brain’ … Continue reading Single Review: Radkey – ‘Feed My Brain’
Taking their name from Andrew Bird song ÔÇÿPlasticitiesÔÇÖ, London-based indie rock four-piece Whales in Cubicles formed in 2010. ‘Death in the Evening’, recorded at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales with producer Nick Mailing, is their full-length debut album after two years of releasing singles. Stylistically, Whales in Cubicles donÔÇÖt seem to be bringing many new things to music on this heavily 90ÔÇÖs-influenced album. Short and … Continue reading Album Review: Whales In Cubicles – ‘Death in the Evening’
The Destructors are a British punk band, formed on the back of the 1977 punk revolution.┬á They have attempted to re-live this heyday on more than one occasion, having reformed alongside a continually revolving line-up, name changes and a huge catalogue of releases.┬á One cannot deny their passion for the music that changed their lives. Their latest output, ÔÇÿNew York New YorkÔÇÖ is as close … Continue reading Album Review: The Destructors – ‘New York, New York’
The way that we enjoy music has forever been subject to new media technology. From the compact disc to Spotify, and back again via music television, the music industry has altered in line with the new possibilities that technology has provided. Likewise, technology has provided new ways for fans to get hold of their favourite music with home taping and then illegal downloads making music … Continue reading Feature: Smartphones at Gigs
The Coen brothersÔÇÖ latest offering follows a heavily fictionalized recreation of the New York folk scene of the 1960s, shortly before the great folk revival. Effortlessly hilarious without sacrificing poignancy, Inside Llewyn Davis explores life in a pre-gentrified Greenwich Village through the eyes of a failing folk singer in crisis. The career of Oscar IsaacÔÇÖs Davis is loosely modeled on the influential but commercially unsuccessful … Continue reading Review: Inside Llewyn Davis
A brand new, and very well-publicised comedy night has come to Buffalo Bar. Sitting right on the doorstep of Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs student populous, Buffalo comedy promised to bring a professional comedy night with value for money, and it has already delivered with its first instalment. The room feels like home for stand-up comedy; its capacity balances intimacy and gathering perfectly, and the acoustics make every … Continue reading Review: Buffalo Comedy, Buffalo Bar
SkindredÔÇÖs take on alternative metal combined with dancehall, hip hop and electronica has proven to be one of the most exhilarating and entertaining live experiences around. All studio albums have had a good number of exciting anthems, but the band gives a sense that they are yet to deliver a consistently great┬áone that conjures up the same thrill of one of their live shows. With … Continue reading Album Review: Skindred – ‘Kill The Power’
There are three kinds of basement; that of creepy horror films, the pop-punk band and venues equipped for reams of mega-fun parties. Undertone is the latter, perhaps with a sprinkling of the second (fingers crossed). Undertone, you know, that door next to 10 Feet Tall thatÔÇÖs always blasting your favourite song out as you pass by, has recently had a compete re-vamp and it is, … Continue reading Spotlight: Undertone, Cardiff
Stallone are amongst the ranks of the recent resurgence in brilliant UK hardcore; and what an addition they are! Their debut album, ÔÇÿMireÔÇÖ, was released last October and was received exceptionally well with a notable, thoroughly deserved 8/10 review from Rock Sound magazine, including this promising line, ÔÇ£theyÔÇÖll be turning heads soon enoughÔÇØ.┬á And that statement was not wrong! With their latest output ÔÇÿCardiac BlackÔÇÖ, … Continue reading Album Review: Stallone – ‘Cardiac Black’
Despite not being the most imaginative of titles, Lewis WatsonÔÇÖs fifth EP ÔÇÿSome Songs With Some FriendsÔÇÖ does exactly what it says on the tin. After launching his career on YouTube, WatsonÔÇÖs popularity and recognition has accelerated with each EP release, and ÔÇÿSome Songs With Some FriendsÔÇÖ documents his ongoing progression as an artist. The lead track ÔÇÿEven IfÔÇÖ was initially released on his second … Continue reading Album Review: Lewis Watson – ‘Some Songs With Some Friends’
