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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Coming from the minds of one of the most prestigious directors and writers that the 21st Century has had the privilege to witness, Christopher Nolan continues to strike gold with his new film Interstellar. Having grossed over $3.5 billion worldwide from his previous films as director (including The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception and Memento), Interstellar had quite a reputation to live up to. Starring Oscar-winner … Continue reading Review: Interstellar
Credit: LCN Photography We review Cardiff’s premier music festival, DimSwn… Seazoo – Clwb Ifor Bach On entering the downstairs of Clwb Ifor Bach, you could be mistaken for thinking that youÔÇÖd been transported into eighties era Top Of The Pops. ItÔÇÖs a fact that Seazoo point out as they finish up their sound check. Bathed in atmospheric blue and green lights that befit the bandÔÇÖs … Continue reading Review: DimSwn
Tom Reeder reviews Fear Of Men at Clwb Ifor Bach Monday night, and as openers The Echo and The Always materialise on stage, the audience of Clwb Ifor Bach remain scattered, drawn instead to their beer and gossip. It doesnÔÇÖt take long for The Echo to steal their attention, though, and after the opening song, everyone is listening intently. ItÔÇÖs never easy to open a … Continue reading Live Review: Fear Of Men, Clwb Ifor Bach, 29/09/14
To coincide with the BFIÔÇÖs Sci-Fi season Chapter Arts and Darkened rooms hosted a screening of David CronenbergÔÇÖs The Fly at Techniquest in Cardiff Bay. The night was a celebration of all things science and grotesque and was thoroughly enjoyable. Upon entering Techniquest one is presented with a place filled with vibrant colours and knowledge. Prior to the feature those who came were allowed to … Continue reading Review: Darkened Rooms – The Fly at Techniquest
You canÔÇÖt deny that us students love a good burger. Whether youÔÇÖre veggie, health conscious or a lover of spice, youÔÇÖre guaranteed to find something that fits the bill sandwiched between two buns. YouÔÇÖve probably encountered your fair share of drunken kebab shop burgers and ever shrinking Big Macs over the past few weeks, but these donÔÇÖt always cut the mustard do they? So we, … Continue reading Review: Got Beef
Food writer, Natalie Thomas, visited Bubblebase in Cardiff’s Queens Arcade to try out one of the cities wackiest tea rooms. As one of those guilty students demanding a brew every time someone flicks the kettle on, I decided that a visit to CardiffÔÇÖs Bubblebase, the home of bubble tea, would be the perfect trip for me to write about. However, arriving at the Bubblebase cafe … Continue reading Review: Bubblebase
Whoever thought lunch-behind-bars could be so good? Before my visit to The Clink, the phrase ÔÇÿprison foodÔÇÖ brought to mind visions of mushy, boiled cafeteria chow. But thanks to this surprising new prison charity project, my preconceptions have been shattered. The Clink┬áserves up a wonderful lunch experience by any standard; all of it cooked and served by the inmates of Cardiff prison.┬áThe idea is … Continue reading Review: The Clink
Food & Drink editor, Kathryn Lewis, tries out one of Salisbury Road’s swankiest lunch stops. I can only describe CardiffÔÇÖs Salisbury Road as a hungry studentÔÇÖs mecca; bustling with greasy diners, late night takeaway stops and a gap-yaÔÇÖs checklist of continental eateries; this street is the last place you would expect to find a ÔÇÿboutique bar and eateryÔÇÖ.┬áFrom the outside, The Tucker Lounge appears to … Continue reading Review: The Tucker Lounge
Brian Fallon has been writing songs about heartbreak all his life. So what makes this collection different? The clues are in the lyrics. Gone are the yearning odes to ÔÇÿMaria,’ who one suspects was an amalgamation of teenage romances, and thereÔÇÖs scarcely a proper noun in sight. Having just come through a gruelling divorce from his wife of ten years, FallonÔÇÖs wounds are raw and … Continue reading Review: The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt
Twin Atlantic impressed with their cracking debut full length, ÔÇÿFreeÔÇÖ.┬á Since then, the amount of interest focused on their follow up has increased with every year that has gone by. The boys from Glasgow have coped with this unexpected pressure with ease. There are no second album nerves apparent anywhere on ÔÇÿGreat DivideÔÇÖ. The album is confident and cohesive. There is a clear sense of … Continue reading Review: Twin Atlantic – Great Divide
FKA twigsÔÇÖ debut album ÔÇÿLP-1ÔÇÖ is not as humble as the title would suggest. Tahliah Barnett letÔÇÖs her music do the talking without need of a fancy title. The ethereal intro of ÔÇÿPrefaceÔÇÖ takes the listener almost to another dimension; angelic vocals are backed with a deep bass and a dark, beautiful, dreamlike feeling (more so than words) is explored. This aura is very present … Continue reading Review: FKA twigs – LP1
