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

charliemockFebruary 17, 2015February 16, 2015

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

charliemockFebruary 9, 2015March 9, 2015

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

charliemockFebruary 3, 2015February 16, 2015

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

Aaron RobertsJanuary 29, 2015February 14, 2015

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

Aaron RobertsJanuary 28, 2015

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

charliemockJanuary 25, 2015February 16, 2015

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

Aaron RobertsJanuary 24, 2015January 24, 2015

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

Aaron RobertsJanuary 24, 2015January 24, 2015

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

Travel, uncategorized

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

oliviawalthoDecember 10, 2014

Food

Review: Wahaca

Co-founded by 2005 Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers, Wahaca promises a Mexican eating experience with a street-style twist. Situated on the outskirts of the St DavidÔÇÖs Centre opposite John Lewis, the restaurant oozes modernity yet with a hint of Mexican liveliness. The many lights hanging from the second floor ceiling create an intimate yet sophisticated atmosphere, bringing street-food into the realms of the restaurant and … Continue reading Review: Wahaca

emmagilesDecember 1, 2014December 1, 2014

charliemockNovember 26, 2014February 16, 2015

Album: Savages & Bo Ningen – Words To The Blind

Words To The Blind sees two of LondonÔÇÖs most exciting alternative bands, the post-punk institution Savages and Japanese noise rockers Bo Ningen, perform simultaneously. At the heart of this 38 minute long experimental track is the early 20th century art movement Dadaism, in which artists valued and expressed irrational thought through visual chaos and unconventional structures. Words To The Blind finds the practice of automatic … Continue reading Album: Savages & Bo Ningen – Words To The Blind

Album: Parkay Quarts – Content Nausea

Parkay Quarts – Parquet CourtsÔÇÖ offshoot consisting of Andrew Savage, Austin Brown and a few friends ÔÇô return with Content Nausea, juxtaposing the last Parquet Courts release, Sunbathing Animal, which heavily featured ideas of freedom, with the idea of ÔÇÿcontent.ÔÇÖ Content Nausea is a slower, plodding release compared to the more up-beat, aggressive albums previously released, but the characteristics of a sharp punk band are … Continue reading Album: Parkay Quarts – Content Nausea

Album: One Direction – Four

Despite their meteoric rise to fame and global success, Four does nothing to cement One DirectionÔÇÖs status as the most successful boy band since The Beatles. The aptly-titled fourth album from the band boasts a more sophisticated 70s pop-rock sound with Fleetwood Mac-esque guitar riffs and layered choruses reminiscent of EaglesÔÇÖ Hotel California. On paper, this sounds like a step in the right direction (pun … Continue reading Album: One Direction – Four

Live: The Kooks – The Great Hall – 22/11/2014

ItÔÇÖs been a bit of a musical rollercoaster for The Kooks; with a slippery on-record slope since finding an incredible debut inInside In/Inside Out, theyÔÇÖve been hanging by a thread for the past few albums. But, having ownership over the odd tune to keep them in contention has helped with 2014 seeing them pick up the slack with their fourth LP┬áListen.┬á Walking On Cars bring … Continue reading Live: The Kooks – The Great Hall – 22/11/2014

Live: The Gaslight Anthem – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 22/10/14

On a night where they’re competing with the Welsh rugby team for punters, there’s a worry that The Gaslight Anthem could play their joint largest ever show to a half-full room. Indeed, during openers BaysideÔÇÖs angst-punk set, the throng was barely ten deep with many electing for the seating at very back of the arena. The veteran New Yorkers pound through a half-hour set characterised … Continue reading Live: The Gaslight Anthem – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 22/10/14

Aaron RobertsNovember 24, 2014November 26, 2014

Genre in Review: Musical

Continuing Film & TVÔÇÖs exploration into narrative film genres; this instalment tackles the spectacle that is the Musical. Dating back to when our parents were growing up, musical movies inspired images in our minds of nuns running through the mountains or a boy and his grandpa singing about their impending trip to a chocolate factory. These classics of the genre have stayed strong with children … Continue reading Genre in Review: Musical

charliemockNovember 20, 2014November 21, 2014

Review: Simple Things – 25/10/14

We review Bristol’s premier electronic and alternative music festival, Simple Things… How To Dress Well ÔÇô Colston Hall 1 The Colston Hall has an unwelcome habit of swallowing up anything that steps inside it; itÔÇÖs no secret that it takes something, or someone, special to counteract its consuming capabilities. Tom Krell is an unassuming man, not the sort youÔÇÖd expect to kill a crowdÔÇÖs chatter … Continue reading Review: Simple Things – 25/10/14

Aaron RobertsNovember 19, 2014November 19, 2014

Review: Nightcrawler

After a somewhat lacklustre summer for major blockbusters in terms of originality, the winter seems to be providing us with what we needed. After the release of films such as Fury, Interstellar and The Imitation Game;┬áNightcrawler slots neatly into the mix of these outstanding cinematic experiences. Set in Los Angeles, Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) survives by scavenging and petty theft. He quickly stumbles on to … Continue reading Review: Nightcrawler