Yearly Archives: 2014

Game Review: FIFA 15 (PS4).

 

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

FIFA 15 is a sports simulation football game available from retail stores and for download from the PlayStation Store for the PS4. The FIFA series started over twenty years ago when FIFA International Soccer was released in December 1993 for retro platforms such as the 3DO, SNES, Sega Mega Drive, Game Boy, Amiga and many more platforms with each iteration  ever since progressing into new realms of realism, graphical quality and atmosphere, while spanning multiple generations of consoles. The ultimate question upon the release of FIFA 15 must be how substantially it can build upon the previous game as FIFA 15 is only the second new-gen release within the FIFA series.

Game Review: FIFA 15 (PS4). full post

(4570 words, estimated 18:17 mins reading time)

Manfred Mann, Lone Arranger. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

To appreciate a craftsman can be seen as dying art. In the age of reckless disposability, of the ease of abandonment if something doesn’t work, seems scratched, useless or somehow out of flavour and fashion, people only see the final results and not the process.

Manfred Mann, Lone Arranger. Album Review. full post

(496 words, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Homotopia: Bigger And Better Than Ever Before In 2014.

Having secured their future for another 3 years with renewed Arts Council support, Homotopia is delighted to present the 2014 festival packed with exciting national premieres (DV8), regional firsts (Andy Warhol and Catherine Opie exhibitions) unique collaborations (Fenella Fielding and Le Gateau Chocolat) and exclusive appearances (Terence Davies) that appeal to audiences gay and straight alike.

This year’s festival sees Homotopia continuing its partnership with the Walker Art Gallery (Opie) and forging new partnerships with Liverpool Playhouse (DV8) and a marketing partnership with Tate Liverpool (Warhol).

Homotopia: Bigger And Better Than Ever Before In 2014. full post

(1661 words, estimated 6:39 mins reading time)

The Judge, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Billy Bob Thornton, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard, Leighton Meester, Ken Howard, Emma Tremblay, Balthazar Getty, David Krumholtz, Grace Zabriskie, Denis O’Hare, Sarah Lancaster, Lonnie Farmer, Mark Kiely, Matt Riedy, Jeremy Holm, Catherine Cummings, Tamara Hickey, Paul-Emile Cendron, Ian Nelson, Frank Ridley, Carol S. Austin, Ras Enoch McCurdie.

The Judge, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool. full post

(566 words, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

’71, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Jack O’ Connell, Paul Anderson, Sam Reid, Seam Harris, Charlie Murphy, Sam Hazeldine, Killian Scott, Richard Dormer, Barry Keoghan, David Wilmot, Martin McCann, Corey McKinley, Valene Kane, Paul Popplewell, Amy Molloy, Joshua Hill, Eric Campbell, Ben Peel, Jack Lowden, Nicola-Jayne Wells, Lee Bolton, Babou Casey, Liam McMahon, Denise Gough, Paul Bergquist, Dawn Bradfield.

In any war there are always two sides to the tale. Both sides normally deserve airing, with certain objections to history and they deserve to be told with the greatest of respect and humility; a chance for an understanding to be reached before the apportioning of blame, retribution and justice can be sought.

’71, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool. full post

(548 words, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

Tell Tale Theatre Create Stage Version Of Orwell’s Animal Farm At The East Village Arts Centre.

Tell Tale Theatre make a welcomed return to the dramatic world of George Orwell for their next production. Animal Farm will be performed at the Arts Club on Seel Street from 28th-31st October 2014.

In 2010, Tell Tale’s very first show was a visceral performance of Orwell’s 1984. They have come a long way since then. Tell Tale Theatre recently received funding from the BBC Performing Arts Fund which will support the production and will enable Animal Farm to tour to local secondary schools.

Tell Tale Theatre Create Stage Version Of Orwell’s Animal Farm At The East Village Arts Centre. full post

(473 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

Nils Lofgren Returns To Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall in January 2015.

Legendary American songwriter, virtuoso guitarist and pianist, Nils Lofgren returns to the U.K. early next year with a night at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Friday 16th January 2015 one in which audiences will no doubt be flocking to in their droves after his prestigious gig in 2011.

After touring with Bruce Springsteen as a long-time member of the E Street Band on both the 2012-13 Wrecking Ball tour and the 2014 High Hopes tour Nils Lofgren is back to perform his own legendary live show. Known for his world-class guitar playing, and his on-stage acrobatics, Nils Lofgren is a true Rock legend in his own right. A superb front-man, both with Grin and under his own name!

Nils Lofgren Returns To Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall in January 2015. full post

(190 words, estimated 46 secs reading time)

My Perfect Mind, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Edward Petherbridge, Paul Hunter.

Standing on the shoulders of giants is never easy, but the view that you see, the distance and insight made possible because of their shining example is worth more than mere currency, it is the opportunity granted to learn and take note. Such is the effect that the return to Unity Theatre of Told By An Idiot’s My Perfect Mind has on the audience that it time to come it will surely be looked upon as a classic piece of theatre of the early 21st Century.

My Perfect Mind, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(515 words, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)

Slipknot, 5: The Gray Chapter. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8/10

Regret is such a hard emotion to deal with, especially when passions run deep at the loss of a friend or valued colleague. Things unsaid, half remembered conversations which were taken the wrong way can come back to haunt you and the only way at times to deal with the unhinged sentiment is write about it, no matter how long it takes, Time, in the end, has all the time it needs and for Metal sensations Slipkot, Time perhaps is on their side in their new release .5: The Gray Chapter.

Slipknot, 5: The Gray Chapter. Album Review. full post

(509 words, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

Half Man Half Biscuit. Urge For Offal. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * *

The rage of satire, the cleverness of using the English language to its fullest, most surreal and outspoken is something that should be encouraged daily. Not to be cruel, nor to be vile, disgusting and downright nasty, but to hold a beacon up against those that have those merciless qualities stoked within their hearts and to provide a radiating smile against the darkness that sometimes threatens those with joy in their souls.

Half Man Half Biscuit. Urge For Offal. Album Review. full post

(396 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)