Author Archives: admin

The Specials, Encore. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It might have come out the blue, in the eyes of the fans and the casual listener a return of a sound, the unexpected and impromptu, unassailable positive siren like melody that comes from the most feverish of expressions; out of the blue but tremendously welcome and yet arguably a sadness in that was thought diminished in the U.K., has become a battle ground to which The Specials have to stand their ground and open fire with scintillating progressive thought.

The Specials, Encore. Album Review. full post

(442 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Eabhal, This Is How The Ladies Dance. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Whichever way you choose to imagine your footsteps cavorting to the sound of music, whether it be in the realm of the Foxtrot, skipping the light fandango, the seeming purity of the ballet in Doc Martin boots or just even tapping along with your toes ever gesturing in the search for a partner to share the light with, mindful of the wallflower you have become, you can always be sure that your eyes will come across the pleasure of the well timed shuffle as you realise that This Is How The Ladies Dance.

Eabhal, This Is How The Ladies Dance. Album Review. full post

(373 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

Liverpool Acoustic Celebrates Its Tenth Birthday In Style At Leaf.

In the modern world which embraces the instant and regular change as if it is a commodity in which to brokered and haggled over, it is refreshing to find the reflection of art and music that Liverpool Acoustic offers still going strong as it reached the tremendous milestone of being part of the city’s culture for 10 outstanding years.

Liverpool Acoustic Celebrates Its Tenth Birthday In Style At Leaf. full post

(529 words, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

Ed Gamble, Blizzard. Comedy Review, Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

It is in the power of a storm that makes a Blizzard one of high tension and drama, the subtle falling of a snow that catches the lights and makes the gentle smile brighten up any face, can soon become a torrent, a fast flowing tornado of expression, a gale of the stuff that will keep you penned in your seats, absorbing every drop of nature that falls from above, and whilst it might catch you unawares, believing for a while that it will just be an inch or two to snip through with ease as you place your toes into the world of snowflakes and warm memories, instead the outpouring leaves you helpless, submerged, unable to do anything but admit that a Blizzard is a gamble worth enjoying.

Ed Gamble, Blizzard. Comedy Review, Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(446 words, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

Endeavour, Apollo. Television Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, Sean Rigby, Anton Lesser, Simon Harrison, Caroline O’ Neil, Sara Vickers, Richard Riddell, James Bradshaw, Abigail Thaw, Matthew Cottle, Michael Parkhouse, Benjamin Wainwright, Oliver Chris, Sargon Yelda, Sasha Willoughby, Sophie Winkleman, Alison Newman, Mary Stockley, Katie Faye, Robert Hands, Terenia Edwards, Alice Orr-Ewing, Blake Ritson.

To be defiant is a virtue, standing up to the lazy attitudes and closed mindedness of others is to show integrity, and yet there will always be those who seek to undermine such morality as insolent, insubordinate, they do not seek out the person who suggests with reason that something can be done a different way, preferring the hand over fist approach and the quick solution, drawn in fire and never logic.

Endeavour, Apollo. Television Review. full post

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

A Private War, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * *

Cast: Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Tom Hollander, Faye Marsay, Corey Johnson, Greg Wise, Alexandra Moen, Jesuthasan Antonyhasan, Raman Srinivasan, Natasha Jayetileke, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Amanda Drew, Hilton McRae, Fady Elsayed, Tristan Tait, Toma Shelmon, Nadeem Srouji, Mahmoud Al Fari, Rani Jalal, Thaer Manakhi, David Modigliani, Pano Masti, Stanley Tucci, Mo’ath Sharif, Rami Delshad, Bassam Hanna Touma, Jeremie Laheurte, Raad Rawi, Emil Hajj.

The line between truth and distortion lays not only in the hands of the reader, but in the sincerity of the journalist whose name appears before the attention-grabbing headline.

A Private War, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool. full post

(520 words, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

The Kid Who Would Be King. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * *

Cast: Louis Ashbourn Serkis, Rebecca Ferguson, Patrick Stewart, Mark Bonnar, Denise Gough, Dean Chaumbo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Dorris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Noma Dumezweni, Angus Imrie, Louis Martin, Joey Anash, Adam Leese, Alexandra Roach, Nick Mohammed, Myra McFadyen, Adam Buxton, Genevieve O’Reilly.

It is a desired mirror held up to our uncertain, even dangerous, times that we undoubtedly look to stories and myths in which to console us, to see us through the damage done and the spectres and evils that haunt our land. We look back through time to draw parallels, to join up the dots of mayhem and division, and come to the conclusion that it all comes down to one thing, we have become infatuated with stuff, rather than the joy of simply being free.

The Kid Who Would Be King. Film Review. full post

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

A Foreigners Journey, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

A Foreigners Journey, Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. February 2019. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

To tackle and cover the songs and emotional response of one of the greatest and intensely loved bands of all time is one thing, to do justice to two, that takes more than just the idea of a tribute, it is a carnival of appreciation brought to life as if it was theatre, a series of beautifully balanced songs, highs, expectations and genuine love for a genre’s creativity.

A Foreigners Journey, Gig Review. Epstein Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(376 words, 1 image, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

DNR (Do Not Resurrect), Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre Studio, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: Pauline Davies, Faye Caddick, Paul Codman, James O’Brien.

To honour the past is one thing, to find yourself unexpectedly in the back garden of time, spade in hand and ready with the synaptic electricity burning ready to resuscitate it so you can bring it back to life to examine it in greater detail, so you can relive the pain and the grief of all that you lost, all that was once loved. Such moments should be left to stay hidden and yet as we face the uncertain end and all we have is time, it is into that garden we go and the shovel and the spade dig eagerly.

DNR (Do Not Resurrect), Theatre Review. Royal Court Theatre Studio, Liverpool. full post

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

Alita: Battle Angel. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * *

Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Keean Johnson, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Casper Van Dien, Eiza Gonzalez, Lana Condor, Michelle Rodriguez, Ella LaMont, Jeff Fahey, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Ed Norton.

If you dare to make a film that immerses itself into a version of Earth’s future, a science fiction cake to which all will chow down upon and take delight in every ingredient, then it could be argued that what is needed is to make the characters as relatable to our current perception of life or at least incorporate that future vision as an understanding of what we fear, what will be the point of impact in which we as a species will no doubt either lose and become meaningless, or rise up, renewed, buoyed by narrowly avoiding the apocalyptic disaster.

Alita: Battle Angel. Film Review. full post

(501 words, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)