Mad Max: Fury Road

Review: Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad MaxÔÇÖ world is fire and bloodÔǪ this is no understatement. After a hiatus which would seem an eternity, director George Miller finally returns to the post-apocalyptic Mad Max universe. A place in which resources such as fuel are viciously fought over and where water is ruthlessly rationed to the remaining survivors of this barren wasteland. Rust, desert and decay are in abundance and are … Continue reading Review: Mad Max: Fury Road

Review: Jurassic World

Possibly one of the most highly anticipated, highest grossing and most discussed films of 2015, Jurassic World was bound to leave a big impression on people one way or another. With an accomplished female lead (Bryce Dallas Howard), a capable velociraptor trainer (Chris Pratt), dinosaurs, dinosaurs, and did I mention dinosaurs, Jurassic World seems like an infallible formula. Indeed if you are looking for a … Continue reading Review: Jurassic World

Listen Up Phillip

Review: Listen Up Philip

Directed by Alex Ross Perry, an American director of a small number of lesser-known films, Listen Up Philip focuses on the young writer Philip Lewis Friedman from the point of publishing his first novel. Loosely based on the events of real life writer Philip Roth, the fictional Philip is selfish, egotistic, arrogant and at times harshly aggressive and denigrating towards those around him. Narrated by … Continue reading Review: Listen Up Philip

Live: Kate Tempest – Motion – 8/2/15

In a packed-out and jumper-worthy Motion, Kate Tempest holds court to the second date of her live tour, the largest venue she confesses to have played so far. Support act Loyle Carner rips out some mellow jams for the first half of his set, sticking blissfully to recorded material, making sure his presence is heard for the crowd-participation of the final minutes. Carner is new … Continue reading Live: Kate Tempest – Motion – 8/2/15

Album: Ibeyi – Ibeyi

Ibeyi, a French Cuban duo whoÔÇÖs music is eclectic as theyÔÇÖre cultural backgrounds, arrive with their self titled debut. Singing in English and Nigerian Yoruba languages, the album sees a fusion of modern music styles and cultural clashes; on paper, inconceivable to work coherently. On whole however, the album completely quells these fears. Each track flows into the next, creating a wholly fluid sound to … Continue reading Album: Ibeyi – Ibeyi

Album: Peace – Happy People

Waifish indie boys Peace return with the follow up to their 2013 debut, In Love. Similarly optimistic in title, Happy People is what the media would call the ÔÇÿdifficult secondÔÇÖ album, yet Peace have managed to create something that feels easy and natural. The album, which juxtaposes unhappy lyrics with happy melody, is full of buoyant beats and joyful vibes: the trademark sound of the … Continue reading Album: Peace – Happy People

Live Review: Enter Shikari – Y Plas 17/2/15

Y Plas has always been home to weird and wonderful sights, but tonight it bears witness to a whole new one: a floor-wide mosh pit as hardcore madmen, Enter Shikari come out to play. Before the carnage begins, Fatherson play some whole-heartedly pretty songs, which lull the crowd rather than rile them. Following are the inherently strange Allusondrugs. Bizzare movements and faces galore, the boys … Continue reading Live Review: Enter Shikari – Y Plas 17/2/15

Live: You Me At Six & All Time Low – Cardiff Motorpoint 9/2/15

  As the rumbles of ‘Ni**as In Paris’ roll out, All Time Low scuttle playfully onto stage at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena to an ear-piercing reception which, alongside a fun-fuelled rendition of ‘A Love Like War’, sets the benchmark for the nightÔÇÖs proceedings. What follows is by no means revolutionary; All Time Low are a band that wear their influences proudly on their sleeve. The onstage … Continue reading Live: You Me At Six & All Time Low – Cardiff Motorpoint 9/2/15

Live: Laura Marling – Thekla – 7/2/15

I recently suffered the indignity of going to the cinema completely alone on a Saturday night. Buying my tickets and popcorn, I could only grin sheepishly as I repeated ÔÇÿyes just the one adult ticket, thanksÔÇÖ. Not a half hour previously I was at BristolÔÇÖs Thekla enjoying a captivating, intimate performance by Laura Marling ÔÇô who is currently touring her as-yet unreleased LP Short Movie … Continue reading Live: Laura Marling – Thekla – 7/2/15

Live: Alvvays – Thekla – 31/1/15

In soft acquiescence with the melancholy, Alvvays soundtrack the adventures of post-teen life as if through an Instagram filter. A boat in Bristol is perhaps the perfect setting for the Canadian five-piece; you have to wonder if itÔÇÖs the water beneath you swaying the crowd or indeed lead-singer Molly RankinÔÇÖs crooning voice that undulates the bodies onboard The Thekla. Alvvays are captivating from the outset. … Continue reading Live: Alvvays – Thekla – 31/1/15

Review: Boyhood

Inventive in its production; Richard Linklater’s Boyhood┬ádepicts the growth of a boy through his adolescence, the trials his family face and the hardship that is living life in its mundanity. Surprising in that this film was 12 years in the making; the prolonged shooting period had no repercussions in terms of quality and performance integrity. It’s no surprise this picture has secured nominations at the … Continue reading Review: Boyhood

Review: Wild

Based on the best selling book by Cheryl Strayed; Wild┬átells the biographical tale of Strayed’s 1100 mile hike in repentance and reflection after the death of her mother and subsequent turmoil in which she fell. From director Jean-Marc Vall├®e (who directed Matthew┬áMcConaughey┬áand Jared Leto to Oscars in last year’s dramatic hit Dallas Buyers Cowboys) the imagery crafted here is powerful, thought provoking and on the … Continue reading Review: Wild

Live: Peace – The Fleece – 23/1/15

The Midlands unusual answer to a concoction of psychedelic, indie and grunge take to the stage of┬áone of BristolÔÇÖs most legendary small music venues, The Fleece. Prior to the release of PeaceÔÇÖs upcoming record, Happy People, the indie quartet are at the beginning of their fifth tour of the UK. The four walls of this intimate setting have countless stories to tell about the up … Continue reading Live: Peace – The Fleece – 23/1/15

Review: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies

This was the last move in a great master plan: to dominate the box office, capture audienceÔÇÖs hearts and bring a mythical world to life. All three have been done, the former tenfold considering the end of 2014 grossing┬áfigures for the latest instalment into this epic middle-earth saga. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (here on in referred to as Five Armies) was … Continue reading Review: The Hobbit – The Battle of the Five Armies

Review: American Sniper

After recently receiving six nominations at this yearÔÇÖs┬áAcademy Awards; including┬áBest Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, American Sniper had already established a high calibre prior to its release. The film is a┬ábiographical┬áwar┬ádrama film┬ádirected by┬áClint Eastwood┬áand written by┬áJason Hall, which centres on the awe-inspiring and melancholic tale of navy SEAL Chris Kyle, a sniper who was accredited officially with 160 kills; the deadliest marksman in US military … Continue reading Review: American Sniper

Book Review: The Gap-Year Guidebook

Thinking about taking a gap year but have no idea where to start? One such place, which guarantees to answer most of your queries, worries and qualms, is the 23rd edition of The Gap-Year Guidebook. With a new edition each year, the series of books do what they say on the tin. Its overall presentation initially seems quite dense. When picking up a guidebook you … Continue reading Book Review: The Gap-Year Guidebook