Album Review: Blitz Kids – ‘The Good Youth’

Tom ConnickFebruary 17, 2014Leave a comment

Live Review: Daniel Avery, 10 Feet Tall, 23.01.14

ItÔÇÖs safe to say that merely 12 months ago, most people would not have heard of Daniel Avery. A resident of the infamous Fabric club in London, he has been quietly grinding away, producing a handful of EP releases and remixes for larger artists. However, at the end of 2013, following the release of ÔÇÿDrone LogicÔÇÖ, his debut album, he has truly become the man … Continue reading Live Review: Daniel Avery, 10 Feet Tall, 23.01.14

Tom ConnickFebruary 17, 2014111 Comments

Album Review: Of Mice & Men – ‘Restoring Force’

Founded by original Attack Attack! vocalist Austin Carlile and bassist Jaxin Hall in 2009,┬á┬áCosta Mesa, CaliforniaÔÇÖs Of Mice┬á&┬áMen seemed set to make their biggest steps as a band yet, five years on from their formation, following the introduction of bassist and clean vocalist Aaron Pauley. Tipped to be amongst metalÔÇÖs ones to watch of 2014, the band have called their third album┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ, in reference … Continue reading Album Review: Of Mice & Men – ‘Restoring Force’

Tom ConnickFebruary 13, 2014Leave a comment

Interview: Royal Blood

Soon-to-be the hottest duo in British Rock music, Mike & Ben from Royal Blood chat to Marc Mayo about 2014, the bandÔÇÖs setup, and their upcoming tour. A year since deciding to form a band together, it seems all parts of the music industry are taking an interest in Royal Blood. Being nominated for both the MTV ÔÇÿBrand New For 2014ÔÇÖ and BBC ÔÇÿSound of … Continue reading Interview: Royal Blood

CharlieFebruary 11, 2014February 11, 20149 Comments

Gaming Has Changed

Now the next generation is well and truly here Rhys Thomas Elliott looks back at how gaming has changed, for better or worse. So the Xbox 360/PS3 generation is technically over. It was a generation that brought a lot to the gaming industry, both good and bad; here are a few of my picks for the best and worst things the 360/PS3 generation brought us. … Continue reading Gaming Has Changed

Amy PayFebruary 10, 2014February 10, 201430 Comments

Book Review: Let The Darkness In by Creative Writing Society

Review by Elouise Hobbs The self-published anthology by Cardiff University’s Creative Writing Society, which celebrates and examines internal and external darkness, contains a unique collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry. Not only did Cardiff students write the content, but a member of the society also designed the front cover. This, their third anthology, shows the development of the society, exemplified in the range … Continue reading Book Review: Let The Darkness In by Creative Writing Society

Amy PayFebruary 9, 2014February 9, 2014Leave a comment

Book Review: TASCHEN 100 Illustrators

Review by Amy Pay Taschen, for the uninitiated, produce some of the most beautiful art books in existence. Always carefully compiled, dotted with facts and printed in rich coloured ink, their publications are a real treat to flick through. 100 Illustrators is one of the latest releases from Taschen, and, like its ancestors, its massive, shiny and bright pages of eye-candy will lure you in … Continue reading Book Review: TASCHEN 100 Illustrators

Tom ConnickFebruary 4, 2014February 4, 2014Leave a comment

Live Review: London Grammar, Solus, 28.01.13

London┬áGrammarÔÇÖs UK tour has been eagerly anticipated.┬á Solus is illuminated by a thousand smartphones; Cardiff waits to watch it through a thousand cameras.┬á ThereÔÇÖs a buzz of conversation, which unfortunately fails to subside even after Hannah ReidÔÇÖs opening note. Although a complete sellout,┬áLondon┬áGrammarÔÇÖs live performance is not as gripping as expected. Reid is exceptional, and she sings beautifully, despite her obvious problems with the sound … Continue reading Live Review: London Grammar, Solus, 28.01.13

Tom ConnickFebruary 3, 2014February 9, 2014Leave a comment

Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club – ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’

Since the release of their debut album ÔÇÿI Had The Blues But I Shook Them LooseÔÇÖ in 2008, Bombay Bicycle Club have been quietly working their way to the top of the British indie scene. With the release of ÔÇÿSo Long, See You TomorrowÔÇÖ, perhaps their most inventive and exciting album yet, they donÔÇÖt look set to stop any time soon. The commercial success of … Continue reading Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club – ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’

CharlieFebruary 2, 20141 Comment

Review: Xbox One

The Xbox One was marketed by Microsoft as being more than simply a gaming console with more emphasis being placed on it being an entertainment device. Now while this might have swayed some people in direction of its competitor the PS4; it is fair to say that Microsoft has delivered the next-gen experience with the entertainment features that it focused so much on. The first … Continue reading Review: Xbox One

CharlieFebruary 2, 20142 Comments

Festival of Diversity: How Culture Leads to Art

Every year, CardiffÔÇÖs Malaysian Students Society puts on an extravaganza of a show, called Festival of Diversity. MalaysocÔÇÖs FOD director Xue Ying Tan tells us how this meaningful occasion comes to be. Cr: Shermin.T Photography Malaysia, Truly Asia – thatÔÇÖs what they said about this kaleidoscopic country. This is the land of paradise ÔÇô a heartwarming country with the perfect tropical climate and abundance of … Continue reading Festival of Diversity: How Culture Leads to Art

CharlieFebruary 2, 2014February 2, 20141 Comment

Review: Bravely Default

Bravely Default is the best final fantasy game in a long while. It says a great degree about Square EnixÔÇÖs flagship franchise that this is the line most game reviewers have opened with, but itÔÇÖs true; Bravely Default captures the spirit of Final Fantasy V and brings it into the modern era. But how does it hold up? A game that has much in common … Continue reading Review: Bravely Default

Film & TV

The Tomorrow People: “Kill or Be Killed” Review

Warning! Spoilers follow John took centre stage in this week’s episode The Tomorrow People follows up last weekÔÇÖs promising episode with another entertaining hour. There were good stories here as we got JohnÔÇÖs origin story, but the dynamic presence of guest-star Jason Dohring only highlighted how lifeless the show can be. As for the overall plot of the series this was JohnÔÇÖs hour, showing how … Continue reading The Tomorrow People: “Kill or Be Killed” Review

CharlieFebruary 2, 20141 Comment

charliemockJanuary 31, 20142 Comments

Review: Billie Joe and Norah – ‘Foreverly’

It doesnÔÇÖt seem like the most natural fit at first sight. The idea of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong releasing an album with Norah Jones may make listeners imagine a strange jazz/soul/pop-punk fusion album, but on ÔÇÿForeverlyÔÇÖ, the woman behind ÔÇ£my heart is drenched in wineÔÇØ and the man behind ÔÇ£do you have the time to listen to me whine?ÔÇØ are paying tribute to … Continue reading Review: Billie Joe and Norah – ‘Foreverly’

CharlieJanuary 26, 2014January 26, 20142 Comments

Review: PlayStation 4

Despite the issues new consoles have on day one, the Playstation 4 (PS4) set-up seemed to go quite comfortably – 45 minutes from un-boxing it, the PS4 had done its required updates with no hassle and was ready to go. The interface is somewhat visually similar to the Playstation 3’s as both use a horizontal bar with an icon to represent a menu, although where … Continue reading Review: PlayStation 4

Film & TV

The Tomorrow People: “Girl, Interrupted” Review

Warning! Spoilers follow Cara and Stephen discuss how to use their telepathy to help “humans” In this third episode of The Tomorrow People the show took some baby steps towards moving beyond its early routine of having Stephen find a problem, argue with John and Cara about whether heÔÇÖs allowed to help, and have the obligatory sneaking around Ultra sequence. We still got all of … Continue reading The Tomorrow People: “Girl, Interrupted” Review

CharlieJanuary 26, 2014Leave a comment

CharlieJanuary 25, 20142 Comments

Review: Blue/Orange, Sherman Cymru

For such a colourfully titled show, Canoe TheatreÔÇÖs Blue/Orange is set in a blandly sterile consultation room, illuminated by fluorescent lights. The audience is placed in the round ÔÇô except itÔÇÖs not round, but quadrilateral, perhaps reflecting the rigidly technocratic themes of the story. The technocracy in this case is the British healthcare system, and its inherent problems in trying to cater for a large … Continue reading Review: Blue/Orange, Sherman Cymru