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
Biffy ClyroÔÇÖs B-side compilation album, ÔÇÿSimilaritiesÔÇÖ, is not a waste of time. ItÔÇÖs not a cheap money spinner that tides keen fans over until the next album cycle. It’s a demonstration of the hugely prolific and profound songwriter, frontman Simon Neil, and an exceedingly professional band doing exactly what they do best. The very nature of a compilation dictates that ÔÇÿSimilaritiesÔÇÖ is not as coherent … Continue reading Review: Biffy Clyro – ‘Similarities’
International tensions are increasing, conflict has provoked much political debate, and whatÔÇÖs more, the UKÔÇÖs general election is fast approaching. It is the time for celebrity cynics and anarchists to force their views upon us, increase their tabloid exposure, and make some money. Unsurprisingly, Morrissey has released a new album. While the opening lyric, ÔÇÿWorld Peace is None of Your BusinessÔÇÖ, does not provide the … Continue reading Review: Morrissey – ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’
Joyce Manor have delivered an unpretentious belter of a record. Storming past at a breakneck nineteen minutes long, the Californian bandÔÇÖs third full-length almost ends too soon. More arty than pop-punk and more hectic than plain olÔÇÖ indie, ÔÇÿNever Hungover AgainÔÇÖ forms somewhat ironically the perfect soundtrack to days spent drinking with your buddies. Themes of regret seem to permeate the record and as frantic … Continue reading Review: Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again
Written concurrently with last yearÔÇÖs ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ, itÔÇÖs more accurate to describe ÔÇÿFuturologyÔÇÖ as a counterpart than a follow-up to SeptemberÔÇÖs acoustic reflection on middle age. Indeed, a lot of the songs here give a comforting feel in contrast to the heartbreaking moments of ÔÇÿRewind the FilmÔÇÖ. The opening title track bubbles through its verses until a soothing Nicky Wire vocal ÔÇ£one day we … Continue reading Review: Futurology – Manic Street Preachers
Following a successful show at Glastonbury only a week earlier, Arcade Fire are set to headline the British Summer Time festival. The atmosphere within Hyde Park is relaxed with tinges of anticipation. Combined with a wide variety of stalls and amusements that you would expect at a festival, itÔÇÖs easy to think you were a world away from the capital, rather than at its epicentre. … Continue reading Live Review: Arcade Fire, British Summer Time (03/07/14)
Following up Ed Sheeran’s chart topping album ‘+,’┬á the highly anticipated ‘x’ is set to be just as huge. Expressing his emotions of love, hurt, the pressures of stardom and of course, inebriation, we see Sheeran’s true lyrical talent in his ability to construct depth and meaning whilst keeping each track delightfully poppy. Opening track ‘One,’ whilst a seemingly bleak start to the album, is … Continue reading Review: Ed Sheeran – x
There’s a reason why Every Time I Die are heralded as one of the most consistently brilliant bands in hardcore and their latest output, seventh studio album ÔÇÿFrom Parts UnknownÔÇÖ, is definitive proof. The sombre chords at the outset of opening track, ÔÇÿThe Great EscapeÔÇÖ, signal the calm before the storm. When the song kicks in, it instigates an unrelenting torrent of pure aggression. Vocalist … Continue reading Review: Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown
To some extent, you know what youÔÇÖre going to get with a Jack White record. ‘Lazaretto’, White’s second studio album, is no exception with most of the old trademarks present.┬áRaucous riffing and squealing solos? Check. Weird, jarring lyrics? Check. And, rising above it all, you get WhiteÔÇÖs signature hair raising yelp. Although, thereÔÇÖs also a marked emphasis on the mellower side of his sound, with … Continue reading Review: Jack White – Lazaretto
Inevitable pressure and expectation: the second albumÔÇÖs labelled ÔÇ£difficultÔÇØ for a reason. Despite extra EPs and deluxe editions, Lana Del Rey has greater expectation than most for her second studio album after breakthrough ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ made her a teenage icon.┬á ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ has been received exceptionally well though, as the consensus seem to believe it eclipses ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ with its newfound sleepy psychedelica. Del … Continue reading Review: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence
What initially seems like an odd choice of venue becomes painfully clear upon entering SwanseaÔÇÖs Sin City. ItÔÇÖs packed. Perhaps something to do with the Birmingham quartetÔÇÖs recent appearance on E4ÔÇÖs hit ÔÇÿrealityÔÇÖ show Made in Chelsea? Certainly not. This crowd know exactly what theyÔÇÖre waiting for and it is by no means influenced by a controversial TV cameo. An echoing intro sets the mood … Continue reading Review: Peace – Sin City, Swansea 12/06/14
